Vast amounts of attapulgite clay in Hanggin Banner. [Photo/Nuan News]

In Ordos' Hanggin Banner, attapulgite clay has become a "golden engine" for rural vitalization, giving rise to a full-fledged industrial chain that spans from raw mineral to high-tech applications.

Attapulgite is a rare silicate clay mineral characterized by a unique nanostructure that resembles sponge-like tubes, endowing it with numerous physicochemical properties, including strong adsorption and catalytic capabilities. Hanggin Banner boasts a verified reserve of 340 million metric tons, with an estimated total resource of 2 billion tons – the largest in China.

With its abundant reserves and wide range of applications, local innovators are exploring new ways to unlock its potential.

In the desert trial fields of Huhemudu town, Wang Xuezhong from Ordos Hengyi Attapulgite Technology Co demonstrates a breakthrough: a water-retaining agent mixed with attapulgite acts like a subterranean reservoir, conserving rainwater and anchoring nutrients in sandy soil.

The results speak volumes. After using the attapulgite-based soil conditioner on 3,000 mu ( 200 hectares) of desertified land in Changhanbai village, average yields increased by nearly 250 kg per mu, earning farmers an extra 600 yuan ($83.57) per mu.

To further promote innovation, the local government has allocated 5 million yuan in special funding for science and technology, fostering a collaborative model that unites government, research institutions, and businesses. This partnership has already resulted in four new products, including enzyme-free feed additives.

Attapulgite is now a true "multi-tasker" – a soil conditioner in agriculture, a purifier in chemical processes, a decolorizer in edible oils, and a base ingredient in sunscreen and whitening creams.

The future looks even more promising. In January, Hanggin Banner launched a dedicated PhD research station for attapulgite. Here, scientists explore its role in achieving carbon neutrality and developing new energy materials, pushing the boundaries from lab experiments to industrial applications and shaping a comprehensive industrial chain for the years ahead.