Kaolin clay is a widely known mineral for improving a product’s quality.
And if you’re looking to use it to make your product more efficient, then you may have these questions in your mind:
- Where is kaolin clay found?
- Is it available within my country, or do I need to source it from a nearby country?
You have come to just the right place to get your answers!
We’ll help you find the best market for a kaolin china clay manufacturer, and also suggest a reliable supplier you can count on!
Kaolin clay, or china clay, is a naturally occurring mineral with a soft texture and a generally white color.
In this blog, we’ll give you an overall understanding of where to find kaolin clay and why Indian kaolin holds unique value in the global market.
Where Is Kaolin Clay Found? Table of Contents
- Global Overview of Kaolin Clay Deposits
- Where Are The Major Kaolin Clay Deposits In India?
- Geological Formation and Characteristics of Kaolin Clay
- Where Is Kaolin Clay Applicable?
- Get The Best Kaolin Clay From Us
- Where Is Kaolin Clay Found?: FAQs
Global Overview of Kaolin Clay Deposits
Kaolin clay is a very important mineral for several industries, and you’ll find kaolin mines in the following regions:
- Asia Pacific: India, China, and Australia
- Europe: Germany, France, Spain and the United Kingdom
- North America: United States and Canada
- South America: Brazil
- Africa: South Africa and Nigeria
Among all these regions, the Asia-Pacific countries contributed the most to the kaolin market in 2024.
India is among those Asian Pacific countries with immense kaolin reserves, and its market is expected to grow significantly in the next five years.
Reports say the Indian kaolin market will reach $491.5 million by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 5%.
India has vast reserves in many of its states, and many of them are yet untapped. So, it is the Indian kaolin china clay manufacturers that can keep your production process running smoothly without any material supply issues.
Where Are The Major Kaolin Clay Deposits In India?
In India, we have combined 986 million tonnes of china clay and ball clay reserves.
All these kaolin mine reserves are spread across different states of the country. If we talk about the major deposits, then they are:
- Gujarat
- Rajasthan
- West Bengal
- Karnataka
- Odisha
- Kerela
According to our experience, Gujarat is the most strategic location you can rely on to get kaolin clay.
In this section, we’ll discuss why and also give you a brief overview of all major kaolin clay-producing states.
1. Gujarat
The reason Gujarat tops this list is mainly due to two reasons:
- There are many kaolin deposits in Gujarat where the clay is mainly extracted for industries like ceramics, paper, paint, and rubber, etc.
- Gujarat districts like Kutch and Bhavnagar have excellent infrastructure and international ports nearby. Thus, it becomes easy for kaolin china clay manufacturers to export their products.
Simply put, if you need a kaolin clay supplier in India, then you can select the one that is Gujarat-based, and you’ll never have to worry about production shortages.
2. Rajasthan
The kaolin clay deposits in Rajasthan are known for the properties of the clay produced from there.
They have a low percentage of iron and a higher percentage of alumina.
You’ll find kaolin mines the most in Chittorgarh, Bhilwara, and Nagaur. Cement manufacturers are the major clients of these deposits.
3. West Bengal
West Bengal’s Birbhum and Bankura districts are where you’ll find most of the kaolin clay mines and manufacturers in this state.
The major clients of their kaolin clay are the ceramics and paper manufacturers.
4. Karnataka
Karnataka’s contribution to the national kaolin deposits mainly comes from the Mysore and Hassan districts.
The kaolin clay found in these two districts is used in ceramics, paper, and paint industries.
5. Odisha
You’ll mostly find kaolin clay in Odisha around the Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts.
Right now, the kaolin industry over there isn’t fully developed. But remember, that there’s serious potential if the right investments flow in.
Geological Formation and Characteristics of Kaolin Clay
Let’s discuss how kaolin clay is formed so you can get an idea of the regions where you can find it the most.
How Is Kaolin Clay Formed?
The entire formation of kaolin happens in these five stages:
- Stage 1: Rainwater gets combined with carbon dioxide
- Stage 2: This combination creates carbonic acid
- Stage 3: The carbonic acid water penetrates through the granite rocks
- Stage 4: Hydrolysis reactions begin, which break the granite rocks and take away soluble ions such as potassium, sodium, and calcium
- Stage 5: The residue that is left is called Kaolinite
The process occurs in places with more rainfall, high temperatures, and humidity. In short, tropical regions like India are where kaolin clay formation occurs, and that’s where you’re most likely to find its mines in vast numbers, making India a major kaolin producer.
What Are The Properties Of Kaolin Clay?
You’ll find several unique properties of kaolin clay, and for your better understanding, we have discussed this by segmenting it into these three categories:
Visual Properties
Kaolin clay particles appear in a powdery form and range from white, yellow, red, pink, and brown colours.
Physical Properties
When you mix it with water, you’ll start observing the physical benefits of kaolin clay, such as:
- You can shape it easily, making it ideal for ceramic products or face masks
- It doesn’t scratch surfaces, making it ideal for products that need smooth and gentle materials
- Its excellent binding capability helps in construction sites or paper coatings
Chemical Properties
In terms of chemical properties, kaolin clay forms when granite rock goes through hydrothermal decomposition. This process takes millions of years.
These are the granite rocks we are talking about:
- Muscovite
- Quartz
- Feldspar
- Anatase
This hydrothermal decomposition residue is arranged and called Kaolinite, which is Kaolin clay.
Pro Tip: Check out this quick guide, which discusses kaolin clay properties in more detail. You may end up getting this versatile mineral for your product line and improving its quality.
What are the Applications of Kaolin Clay?
Many industries are including kaolin clay in their product lines and processes, and this mineral is serving its purpose very effectively and efficiently.
Let’s have a quick look at the industry applications of kaolin clay:
- Paper Manufacturing: You’ll find kaolin clay working behind the scenes in paper production. It’s used as a filler and coating to make the paper look smoother and brighter.
- Ceramic Product Manufacturing: Kaolin is a go-to element in the ceramics industry. It adds strength and that clean, white finish you see in porcelain and bathroom fixtures.
- Paints Manufacturing: This industry uses kaolin as a product ingredient to improve the opacity, gloss, and viscosity of paint products.
If your business belongs to any of these industries and you are still not using kaolin clay, then it is high time you start using it and improve your product quality further.
Get The Best Kaolin Clay From Us
The kaolin clay market in India is huge and growing, with demand from the industries we discussed.
Your business might belong to one of them.
As demand grows, the current price of kaolin might decrease, which could immediately benefit your business.
If you are looking for the best-in-class kaolin clay for your business that always arrives at your preferred timeline, India is the right place for you.
As a trusted and reliable kaolin china clay manufacturer in India, we are here to help you improve your product line.
At The Sharad Group, you’ll get the best quality kaolin clay that is backed by:
- 65 Years of kaolin clay mining and mineral processing experience
- Easy access to 3 international ports and well-connected roads
- Advanced China Clay Processing Plant
- 300+ million tons of reserves
- The most competitive rates
So, if you want kaolin clay or any other mineral with such a strong track, contact us today!
Where Is Kaolin Clay Found: FAQs
1. Where is kaolin clay found in India?
In India, you will find kaolin clay majorly in the following states:
- Gujarat
- Rajasthan
- West Bengal
- Karnataka
- Odisha
2. What is the natural source of kaolin?
The natural sources of Kaolin clay are granite rock, like:
- Muscovite
- Quartz
- Feldspar
- Anatase
They weather out gradually to form Kaolinite.
3. Is Multani Mitti kaolin clay?
No. Multani Mitti is basically Bentonite clay, which is formed in a completely different way from Kaolin clay. Plus, its chemical composition is also different from kaolin clay.
4. What is kaolin clay used for?
Kaolin Clay is mainly used in the manufacturing of:
- Paper
- Ceramic products
- Paints
- Rubber
- Cosmetics
- Pharmaceuticals
