Kaolin Quarries Geography-Wise Database

Industry Overview

Kaolin (China clay) is an aluminosilicate. It is a soft, white mineral powder consisting of kaolinite. Kaolinite is a hydrous aluminum silicate, which is formed by the chemical weathering of minerals like feldspar. It has varying quantities of quartz, feldspar, mica, chlorite, and other clay minerals. Compared to other industrial clays, kaolin is softer, whiter, has a fine particle size, and easily disperses in water. Its white color can either be naturally occurring or a result of the removal of other minerals and color-bearing compounds.

The deposits of kaolin contain impurities, and some can nearly be pure kaolinite. The impurities alter the characteristics of clay. The deposits can be classified as primary and secondary. Primary is developed by the alteration of feldspar-rich rocks, and secondary is the redeposition, i.e., deposition of kaolin in lakes, streams, and basins as a product of eroded residual deposits.

The global kaolin reserves account for 32 billion tons. The U.S. kaolin reserves account for the highest percentage share of 26%, having 8,200 million tons of kaolin reserves. Brazil has a percentage share of over 23%, which accounts for 7,360 million tons of reserves. India and China have around 9% of the total kaolin reserves, accounting for 2,941.2 and 3,000 million tons, respectively. Russia, which accounts for around 1/9th of the total land area in the world, has only 3% of the kaolin reserves that account for 960 million tons.

The global kaolin market is characterized by the presence of multiple manufacturing companies engaged in the production of kaolin coupled with the concentration of end-use companies in the global market. These prominent manufacturers compete with each other on the basis of product quality and prices. Countries like the U.S., China, India, and other Asia countries are some of the leading exporters of Kaolin in the world.

The kaolin market witnessed tremendous growth on account of increased utilization in several applications such as paper, plastic, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Metakaolin grade observed high demand from concrete products owing to its flexural and tensile strength. The rising need for housing, along with various government schemes and subsidies, is anticipated to drive market growth over the near future.

Key global players in the kaolin industry include Sibelco N.V. and Imerys SA. Most of the players in the market are focused on increasing their presence in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the business. Asian countries such as China and India have gradually increased their production levels in order to cater to global demand for lower-grade kaolin. Since the price per ton of this grade is lower than high-grade kaolin, their impact on global pricing remains minimal, though they cater to large volumes.

Deliverable Overview

The deliverable consists of more than 1,000 quarries along with their coordinates, Köppen climate type,county/city, state, country, deposit type, and minerals.

Scope Details