Two general approaches are used to achieve low-temperature syntheses of kaolin minerals. Since octahedral coordination of aluminum ions to O (or OH) appears to be a necessary prior condition, syntheses have been attempted using (a) various aluminum hydrates and gels in which the six-fold coordination is already satisfied, and (b) systems in which the rate of supply of silica is approximately matched to the rate of conversion of Al from four- fold to six-fold coordination. Both methods have yielded kaolin minerals, but conditions of temperature, pH, cationic and anionic impurities are found to be critical. Platy, lath-like, and rod- like (or tubular) forms have been synthesized and their growth and identification followed by a variety of analytical methods.