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A large deposit of low-grade kaolinite is occurring within the rocks of Lower Vindhyan Supergroup southwest of Chittaurgarh, Rajasthan. The deposit is being utilised by open-cast, manual to semi-mechanised methods of mining. Kaolinite produced is being marketed without processing. Earlier, nearly 60% of the kaolinite produced from the area was consumed by cement industries, but in recent past, utilisation of low-grade kaolinite has been minimised by cement industries in production of ordinary cement and hence its production has significantly declined. Mineralogical studies reveal that kaolinite is the main clay-mineral and quartz, calcite, iron-oxides and biotite are present as non-clay minerals in clay deposit of the area. Chemical analysis of the kaolinite show that alumina ranges from 15 to 35% while, silica and iron varies from 51 to 78% and 0.25 to 2.50% respectively.

Keywords

Kaolinite, China Clay, Mineralogy, Mineral Economics, Vindhyan Supergroup, Rajasthan.

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References

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Mineralogical Characteristics and Mineral Economics of Sanu and Gotan SMS Grade Limestone Deposits of Rajasthan

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Authors

M. S. Shekhawat ¹, G. Prabhulingaiah ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, M. L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur - 313 001, IN
2 Wharton Overseas F.Z.E., Azman, AE

Source

Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78), Vol 75, No 5 (2010), Pagination: 739-748

Abstract

Two large, chemically similar, SMS grade limestone deposits occur in Sanu area of Jaisalmer and Gotan area of Nagaur, Rajasthan. The Sanu deposit belongs to Khuiala Formation of Tertiary sequence of lower Eocene age, while Gotan deposit belongs to Bilara Group of Marwar Supergroup of late Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian. These deposits are being developed and utilised as flux in the steel plants of India. The Sanu limestone of Jaisalmer is more suitable compared to Gotan and other limestone deposits of the country due to its superior and favourable physical properties. Mineralogically, it consists of fine-grained, sub-rounded to rounded grains of calcite mainly replacing tests of the larger foraminifera. While, the Gotan limestone is composed of fine to coarse-grained, angular to sub-rounded grains of calcite. In Sanu area, about 54% of the limestone produced is being generated as -30 mm grit during the process of sizing for SMS grade. This lower size of limestone is suitable for making cement but due to non-avaibility of rail transport facility from Sanu to Jaisalmer for a distance of about 60 km, it remains unutilised as mineral reject.

Keywords

SMS Grade Limestone, Mineralogy, Mineral Economics, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

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