Attapulgite is a unique type of Fullers Earth clay found in the United States only in Decatur County, Georgia, and Gadsden County, Florida, and also in Spain, Russia, and China. When mixed with fresh or salt water, it forms a gel. Fullers Earth, a nonplastic clay or claylike earthy material used to filter animal, mineral, and vegetable oils, is composed mainly of alumina, silica, iron oxides, lime, magnesia, and water in extremely variable proportions. It was used to bleach petroleum oil and took its name from its earlier use in fulling, or cleaning grease from wool. Fullers Earth has been refined near here since 1907, Georgia has led its production since 1924, and although new oil-refining processes ended its importance as a major use, other uses were developed in cosmetics, paint, medicine, dry wall taping, and oil drilling. All processing of the clay was moved to Quincy, Florida, in 1998, though some mining is still done in the area.