Abstract: An aluminosilicate in an acicular form, a platy form, or a columnar form and having the composition represented by aM2O.bAl2O3.cSiO2.dRmAn.yH2O, wherein M is at least one of Na and K; R is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Ca and Mg; A is one or more members selected from the group consisting of CO3, SO4, NO3, OH and Cl; a is from 1 to 6; b is from 2 to 8; c is from 2 to 12; d is from 0 to 4; m is from 1 to 2; n is from 1 to 3; and y is from 0 to 32; a polishing agent including the aluminosilicate; and a detergent composition including the aluminosilicate.

Abstract: A method for producing a crystalline inorganic builder having the following composition in its anhydrous form: xM.sub.2 O.ySiO.sub.2.zMeO, wherein x, y and z are numerical values satisfying the following relationships: y/x is 1.0 to 4.0, z/y is not more than 1.0, M stands for Na and K, K/Na is 0.01 to 2.0, and Me stands for Ca and/or Mg, the method comprising the steps of (a) adding water, a Na-containing compound, a K-containing compound, and at least one member of Ca-containing compounds and Mg-containing compounds to silica sand, to give a mixture; (b) subjecting the resulting mixture to a hydrothermal treatment; and (c) baking the resulting treated mixture. Also, a method for producing a crystalline inorganic builder having the following composition in its anhydrous form: xM.sub.2 O.ySiO.sub.2, wherein x and y are numerical values satisfying the following relationships: y/x is 1.0 to 4.0, M stands for Na and K, K/Na is 0.01 to 2.