M.Sc. (Geology) / The purpose of this investigation is to produce a' general survey of palygorskite deposits in South Africa with reference to their probable extent, mineralogical composition and the most important chemical and physical properties of the clay. Furthermore it is an attempt to provide a suitable beneficiation process so as to make beneficiated local palygorskite comparable with or superior to imported palygorskite. It is also an attempt to determine whether South African beneficiated palygorskite could replace imported material in e$tablished industrial applications. To these ends pa1ygorskites from seven geographical areas in South Africa were investigated. The characterization of the pa1ygorskites involved the following tests: Identification and semi-quantitative analysis of mineral phases in each sample by means of X-ray diffraction. Chemical analyses, differential thermal analyses, oil absorption measurements, surface area determinations, pH measurements, bulk density measurements and viscosity determinations. Electron microscopy of two end products of the beneficiation pro~ess was also carried out to determine the physical difference between magnetic and non-magnetic palygorskite.