Kaolinite and advanced living materials
Phil Jones
Kaolinite is the most common clay mineral and forms a dominant component in mud huts and adobe buildings. The widespread use of dung and urine as additives is now being vindicated in the development of advanced living materials. Bacteria play a greater role in our existence that previously understood. In the case of mud huts bacteria play a role in releasing enzymes that break down urea and liberate carbon dioxide that reacts with calcium ions to form calcium carbonate thereby strengthening the mud.