Abstract: The "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals" of China has raised more requirements for protection and utilization of non-metallic minerals. Halloysite is one type of kaolin clay with 1 GA6FA 1 aluminosilicate layered structure. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) show unique empty lumen morphology, which have advantages such as high aspect ratio, large surface area, high porosity, good adsorption ability, low toxicity, and numerous application fields. In this paper, the physicochemical and morphological properties of HNTs were introduced. The related mineral processing, purification method, structural tailoring, chemical modification, assembly behavior of HNTs were involved. Then, the applications of HNTs in high-performance composites, environmental protection, biomedicine, new energy materials and catalyst were systematically reviewed. Finally, the problems of the research and development of HNTs were pointed out, and the development direction of the tubular clay mineral materials was prospected.