Abstract: The instant invention generally relates to absorbents formed from compacting bentonite-containing materials containing an effective amount of the bentonite particles of a size under 100 U.S. mesh. The absorbent is compacted under effective compacting pressures to form a bentonite material suitable for use as an absorbent and is characterized as having lower costs, increased absorbency over similarly sized and compositionally similar non-compacted bentonite-containing materials and/or improved clump strength when used as an absorbent.