Chapter 23: DRUGS OF MINERAL ORIGIN

INTRODUCTION

The substances of mineral origin have been used for various pharmaceutical purposes ranging
from therapeutic agents to nutritional supplements to pharmaceutical EXCIPIENT. These inorganic
substances are found as mineral deposits of different types such as terrestrial deposits or fossil
deposition of geological origin in ocean and seabeds. The natural ores or minerals are collected by
mining in open quarries, and the product is further purified for various pharmaceutical uses

Mineral Source Chemical Uses

constituent
KAOLIN Kaolin is a Chemical Uses
purified native Constituents It is used as an
Synonyms hydrated Chemically adsorbent by
China clay aluminium kaolin is oral
silicate free anhydrous administration,
from gritty aluminium in the
particles. It is silicate with a treatment of
obtained by chemical enteritis,
powdering the formula: dysentery and
native Al2O3 in alkaloidal
kaolin, 2SiO2 and food
elutriating and 2H2 poisoning. It is
collecting the O or H4 also applied
fraction, Al2 externally as a
which Si2O9 dusting
complies with . The powder
the percentage and also as
requirements composition clarifying
of particle are as agent during
size. The follows: the filtration.
native clay is silicon Mostly,
derived from dioxide light kaolin
decompositio (wt %): with a particle
n of the 56.91, iron size less than
feldspar oxide: 0.93, 10 μ is used in
(potassium titanium pharmaceutica
aluminosilicat dioxide: 0.54, l preparations.
e) or granite aluminium Heavy kaolin
rock and oxide: 39.68, with particle
contains silica calcium size up to 60 μ
(47%), oxide: 0.16, is only used in
alumina magnesium the
(40%), and oxide: 0.16, preparation of
water (13%). sodium kaolin
oxide: 0.60, poultice.
 potassium It is used as
oxide: 0.60, filler in paper,
and water: rubber,
12.6. Natural ceramics,
kaolinite cement, and
usually fertilizer
contains industries. It is
small used in
amounts of anticaking
uranium and preparations,
thorium, cosmetics,
octahedral insecticides,
sheet of paints, and as
alumina source of
octahedral alumina
ASBESTOS Asbestos is a It is a double Uses
naturally silicate of It is used as
occurring calcium- filtering
mineral which magnesium medium for
differs with little caustic
from other amount of alkalies, for
minerals in its iron which bacterial
crystal gives colour filters, heat
development. to asbestos. resistant
The crystal insulators,
formation of proof gloves,
asbestos is in break
the form of lining, and fire-
long thin proof clothing
fibers.
TALC Talc is a Talc Uses
mineral with composed of Talc is used as
Synonym perfect hydrated a cosmetic
French cleavage and magnesium (talcum
chalk, soapy feel, silicate with powder), as a
Talcum which occurs the lubricant,
as foliated to chemical as a dusting
fibrous masses formula H2 powder for
and some Mg3 coating and
times (SiO3)4 dusting pills
in coarsely or Mg3 and as
granular, Si4O10(OH)2 a filler in paper
finely and manufacture.
granular, or usually It is used as
cryptocrystalli consist of astringent in
ne small baby powders
masses. quantities of for the
nickel, iron prevention of
 and rashes in area
aluminium as covered
impurities. with dipper.
The variation Talc is used in
of colour of making paper
talc to (as a filler),
greenish soap,
or greyish lubricants,
tint indicates electrical
the presence insulation
of iron oxide. stoves, sinks. It
is used as a
filter aid for
filtration and
clarification of
cloudy liquids.
BENTONITE Bentonites are The chemical The hardness
clays formula of of bentonite
Synonyms composed of bentonite is makes it
Whilkinite. very fine BaTiSi3O9 suitable for its
particles (barium use as a
derived titanium gemstone. It is
usually from silicate). also used as
volcanic ash. It Generally gel in
is chiefly Bentonite ointment, in
composed of occurs along creams as a
the with base, in
hydrous some unique lipsticks,
magnesium- set of depilatories
calcium- minerals and and rouges.
aluminium the Highly
silicate called frequently absorbent
montmorilloni associated bentonite is
te minerals are used for facing
natrolite the moulds
(Na2 and preparing
Al2 the
Si3O10 2H2 moulding
O), albite sands for
(NaAlSi3O8 casting metals.
), neptunite The less
[KNa2 absorbent
Li (Fe, Mn)2 bentonite is
Ti2 used chiefly in
Si8O24], the oil
serpentine industry.
[(Mg, Fe)3 Bentonite is
Si2O5 also used
 (OH)4 as suspending
] and and
joaquinite emulsifying
[NaBa2 agent and base
FeCe2 for plasters
(Ti,
Nb)2
(SiO3)8
(OH, F) 1H2
O].
FULLER’S Fueller’s earth It is used as It is used as
EARTH is mined in decolourizer decolourizer
open quarry. for oils and for oils and
Synonyms It is a other liquids, other liquids,
Floridin, nonplastic as as
multani type clarifying and clarifying and
mitti of kaolin, filtering filtering agent
containing agent and for and for
aluminium cleansing of cleansing of
magnesium woollen woollen
silicate. fabrics. Due fabrics. Due to
to absorbent absorbent
property, it is property, it is
used in the used in the
preparation preparation of
of dusting dusting
powders powders.
PREPARED Chalk is a It contains Prepared chalk
CHALK native form of calcium is used as an
calcium carbonate antacid, a
Synonyms carbonate, (96%), dietary
Chalk, Creta, freed from magnesium supplement,
Paris-white, most of the carbonate a dusting
Whiting, impurities by (0.5%), 0.5– powder, and
English elutriations. It 1.0% of silica, an
white. contains not traces of antidiarrhoeal.
less iron, It is used in
than 97.0% manganese, face
w/w of and powders, and
calcium aluminium as an abrasive
carbonate oxides. in tooth
(CaCO3 powders and
), when toothpastes. It
dried at is also used in
100°C. the
manufacture
of antibiotics
and
 pharmaceutica
ls.
KIESELGUHR It is a natural Diatomite Uses
Synonyms diatomaceous contains 75 It is used as a
Diatomaceo earth to 90% of filter aid, and
us earth, consisting of silica, 1 to 5% for clarification
celite siliceous of aluminium and
supercel, skeletons of oxide; decolourizatio
industrial fossils, family calcium oxide n of liquids. It
Earth Baciliariceae (1.5%), is used for the
(subdivision of magnesium manufacture
the oxide of tooth
algae), (1.5%) and powder, face
purified by iron oxide power, and
treating with (5%) nail polishes.
dilute
hydrochloric
acid,
washings with
water and
drying
CALAMINE Calamine is an It contains It is used
ore and 99% zinc topically as
Synonyms chemically it oxide and astringent and
Prepared contains zinc 0.5% of ferric skin
Calamine. oxide oxide. The protectant. It
with a small colour of is
amount of calamine is an ingredient
ferric oxide due to ferric of lotions and
and contains oxide only. It cosmetics.
after should not
ignition not contain
less than calcium for
98.0% of zinc pharmaceutic
oxide. al purposes.