The Science of Ghassoul
Ghassoul, also written rhassoul, takes its name from the Arabic rassala, to wash. For centuries, women across North Africa and the Middle East have used it in place of soap, in the hammam and at home, for skin and hair. Mixed with warm water it becomes a smooth mud that cleanses and softens without stripping.
The only deposit of its kind
Commercial ghassoul comes from one place: deposits on the edge of the Middle Atlas, in Morocco's Moulouya Valley, 150 to 200 km from Fes, mined in underground galleries worked for centuries. Geologists have studied it since Damour's first chemical analysis in 1843. In 1977, N. Trauth showed how it formed: ancient lake sediments slowly transformed in an environment rich in magnesium and silicon.
What it is made of
Ghassoul is a natural mineral clay, a magnesium-rich stevensite. Analyses published from 1843 to 1959 agree on its make-up: about 50–58% silica and 21–28% magnesium oxide, with small amounts of iron, aluminium, calcium, potassium and sodium oxides. Under the microscope it shows fine flakes on a colloidal background, with no plant debris; its clay layers measure roughly 100 × 50 × 2 nanometres. Mineral and chemical checks are carried out regularly against standards set by the Moroccan government.
From mine to Ghassool
Mined
Washed
Sun-dried
Sifted
extracted from underground galleries in the Moulouya Valley
rinsed repeatedly in water to remove impurities
spread on flat surfaces and dried in the sun into traditional platelets
finely sifted into FaceMask powder, or kept as platelets for MudBath
75 meq/100 g
Cation exchange capacity, double that of stevensite. This is how it lifts impurities.
1.66x its weight
Water absorption. Common pottery clay absorbs only 0.4x.
4x bone charcoal
1 g absorbs 80 mg of methylene blue, against 20 mg for bone charcoal.
Ghassoul cleans by absorption and ion exchange, not detergents. No surfactants, no aggressive effect on skin, hair or mucous membranes.
How to use it
Hair
Face
Body & hammam
A natural, soap-free wash. Absorbs excess sebum, sweat residue and styling build-up while leaving the scalp's protective film in place. Hair is left clean, shiny and supple.
Mix with lukewarm water into a smooth paste, apply, let it rest, then rinse. Skin feels clean and soft.
Dilute in warm water into a creamy mud. Apply to damp skin with a massage, let it dry, rinse, then finish with witch hazel water.
Product specification
Ingredient: 100% ghassoul clay (Moroccan Lava Clay) · Origin: Moulouya Valley, Morocco · Appearance: fine brown powder
Particle size: < 500 µm · Loss on drying: < 15% · Total ash: < 15%
Total germ count: < 10,000 / g · Yeasts & moulds: < 1,000 / g
Full spec sheet and certificate details available to trade buyers on request.