(440) 286-9516What type of clay is this in the park. It left our hands very soft!!!
What type of clay is this in the park. It left our hands very soft!!!
Hello! Looks like Nature did double duty, providing a fun experience getting your hands “dirty” while you explore and softening them at the same time!
Northeast Ohio has glaciated soils, which means the sediments were formed in association with the glaciers of the Ice Age. The composition of the clay is generally hydrous aluminum silicate plus various impurities (see this page on the Ohio Division of Natural Resources website for more).
From what I found, clay is used in certain types of skin cleansers to help remove dry skin, or exfoliate, and unclog pores, which is probably why your hands felt soft after handling it. However, it does absorb oils and moisture, so overtime it can actually cause skin to dry out if used often.
Thank you for your curiosity and interest in our natural resources. Have a great time exploring!
-Naturalist Nora Sindelar
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