Science in Practice Portal

The Bureau of Land Management's standard criteria for evaluating bentonite allows for the provision of blending samples on a claim in order to achieve quality standards with the product of an interclaim blend (IM-77-226 VI. C, 1977). Samples of bentonite were collected from 21 sites, and run in 131 separate tests over ranges in viscosity, (ll-llU barrel yield) and blend volume (1:1, 2:1, 3:l). An empirically based method is presented that will allow blending to be assessed in the Bureau's bentonite patent applications.