Adducts of clay and activated mixed metal oxides

A method for creating an adduct of clay and an activated hydrous mixed metal oxide compound, said method comprising

• mixing together, with stirring, an aqueous dispersion of clay and an amount of activated hydrous mixed metal oxide compound sufficient to thicken the aqueous dispersion of clay or to modify the viscosity of the aqueous dispersion of clay, by the formation of an adduct of the activated hydrous mixed metal oxide compound with the clay, wherein said activated hydrous mixed metal oxide compound comprises at least one compound conforming substantially to the empirical formula
• Li.sub.m D.sub.d T(OH)(m+2d+3+n.a)(An).sub.a.xH.sub.2 O
• where m is an amount of Li of from zero to one,
• where D represents at least one divalent metal cation and d is an amount of from about zero to about 4,
• where T represents at least one trivalent metal cation,
• where A represents at least one monovalent or polyvalent anion or negative-valence radical,
• a is an amount of A ions of valence n, with n.a being an amount of from about zero to -3,
• where (m+2d+3+n.a) is equal to or more than 3, and where xH.sub.2 O represents excess waters of hydration, with x being zero or more.