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OAR Box 1413 

Prepped by Ollie Stewart 

Document Number: 

95) 11-1-96 

Docket Number: 

A-94-52 

Prinled 7/9/2008 3:11:24 PM Sheet 95 of 114 
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CLAYS V'tf 

By Robert L. Virta 

The amount of clay sold or used by domestic producers decreased 

slightly to 42 million metric tons valued at $1.67 billion in 1997. 

Production of ball clay, bentonite, fire clay, and kaolin increased 

while production of common clay and fuller's earth decreased. 

Common clays accounted for 58% of the tonnage and kaolin 

accounted for 62% ofthe value of clays produced in 1997. Imports 

of all clay types increased to 63,700 tons valued at $23.2 million. 

Exports increased to 5.08 million tons valued at $860 million. (See 

table I.) 

Legislation and Government Programs 

Clay mining has an environmental impact because of the 

disturbance to the land. Overburden is moved and clays are 

removed, leaving a depression or pit. State laws usually require 

leveling or recontouring ofthe disturbed area and planting trees or 

grasses to prevent or minimize erosion. For processing, the 

impoundment of slimes and dust control are usually required. The 

rules for disposal of coarse tailings are similar to or included within 

those laws governing reclamation ofthe mined area. 

An issue that has recently arisen concerns dioxins in ball clay 

deposits. The dioxins were brought to the attention ofthe Food and 

Drug Administration when elevated levels of dioxins were detected 

in poultry. The source was traced to ball clay, which was used as a 

flow control agent in the chicken feed. No apparent anthropogenic 

sources for the dioxins in the ball clay were detected. Studies 

currently are underway to determine if the dioxin could have 

occurred naturally (Food and Drug Administration, 1997). 

Production 

Approximately 240 companies operating 766 clay pits or quarries 

reported production in 1997; of these, 21 companies, many with 

multiple operations, accounted for approximately 50% ofthe tonnage 

and 74% ofthe value for all types of clay produced and sold or used. 

Clay production was reported in most States except Alaska, 

Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, and the 

District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. (See table 2.) 

The 10 leading producer States, in descending order of tonnage, 

were Georgia, Wyoming, Alabama, North Carolina, Texas, Missouri, 

South Carolina, Ohio, California, and Tennessee. The 10 leading 

producing companies, in decreasing order of production, were 

Engelhard Corp. (fuller's earth and kaolin); American Colloid Co. 

(bentonite and fuller's earth); ECC Intemational (kaolin); General 

Shale Products Corp. (common clay and shale); Holnam Inc. 

(common clay and shale); Thiele Kaolin Co. (kaolin); Dry Branch 

Kaolin Co. (kaolin); Solite Div., Big River Industries Inc. (common 

clay and shale); J.M. Huber Corp. (kaolin); and Livelite Corp. 

(common clay and shale). 

Most clay mining in the United States was by open pit methods; 

less than 1% of U.S. clay output was from underground"mine§r*Xll 

of the underground production was in Ohio, where the clays are 

mainly underclays associated with coal. 

Domestic production data for clays were developed by the U.S. 

Geological Survey from a voluntary survey of U.S. operations. Of 

the 681 survey forms issued, 481 were completed, representing 71% 

ofthe total clay and shale production sold or used shown in table 1. 

Production data for the nonrespondents were estimated from reported 

prior-year production levels adjusted by trends in the industry and 

other guidelines. 

Ball Clay.—Six companies mined ball clay in 1997 from 32 

quarries in 5 States. Two of the producers were large, diversified 

firms with widespread foreign and domestic mineral interests. 

Production of domestic ball clay increased to 1.04 million tons 

valued at $48.1 million. Tennessee supplied 63% ofthe Nation's 

output, followed by, in descending order of production, Kentucky, 

Texas, Mississippi, and Missouri. Although the data are withheld, 

production increased in Kentucky, Mississippi, and Texas and 

decreased in Missouri and Tennessee. Water-slurried ball clay was 

produced only in Tennessee. Air-float ball clay was produced in 

Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Unprocessed clay was mined 

and then sold or used from mines in all five ball-clay-producing 

States. {See table 3.) 

United Clays Inc. reported the installation of new blending and 

processing equipment at their facility in Huntingburg, IN. Beside 

processing ball clay, the facility also handles talc from the company's 

Texas operation and recycled tile from nearby tile plants (Watts 

Blake Beame & Co. PLC, WBB report and accounts 1997, accessed 

June 30, 1998, at URL http://www.wbb.co.uk/page9.htm). 

Bentonite.—Eighteen companies produced bentonite from 57 

quarries in 10 States. Six producers were large, diversified firms 

with intemational mineral operations or interests in other types of 

clay in the United States. 

The quantity and value of all varieties of bentonite sold or used 

decreased to 4.02 million tons valued at $ 169 million. Production of 

nonswelling bentonite decreased to 397,000 tons valued at $13.5 

million. Alabama led all States in the production of nonswelling 

bentonite, followed by Mississippi, Arizona, Texas, Utah, Nevada, 

and Califomia. 

Production of swelling bentonite increased to 3.63 million tons 

valued at $156 million. Wyoming led all States in the production of 

swelling bentonite, followed by Montana, Utah, California, Oregon, 

Nevada, and Texas. (See table 5.) 

American Colloid announced plans to build a blending plant in 

Indiana. The plant will produce custom blends of bentonite and 

other components for the foundry industry (European Chemical 

News, 1997). 

Basic Resources Corp. has received most ofthe permits necessary 

to begin mining a calcium bentonite near Ephrata, WA. The deposit 

consists of a sequence of bentonite beds between basalt layers. 

Reserves are estimated to exceed 9 million tons. Production will be 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1997 
P.3 

approximately 36,000 tons per year, mainly for the production of 

agricultural pellets (North American Minerals News, 1997f). 

Common Clay and Shale.—One hundred and seventy-four firms 

produced common clay and shale from 454 pits in 42 States and 

Puerto Rico in 1997. Most of these companies also were 

manufacturers of structural clay products such as clay pipe, drain tile, 

and sewer pipe; lightweight aggregates; and cement. More than 90% 

ofthe total production is used by the producer itself to manufacture 

structural clay products, aggregate, and cement or for civil 

engineering applications. 

Domestic sales or use of common clay and shale increased to 24.5 

million tons, valued at $149 million. The major producing States 

were Alabama, North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, South 

Carolina, Missouri, Arkansas, Indiana, ahd California, in descending 

order of tonnage. (See table 7.) 

Fire Clay.—Fire clay producers were mostly refractories 

manufacturers that used the clays in firebrick and other refractories. 

Forty-nine quarries were operated in 1997 by 17 firms in 6 States. 

Fire clay sold or used by domestic producers increased to 649,000 

tons valued at $9.45 million. Ohio was the leading producing State, 

followed by Missouri, California, Alabama, Kentucky, and New 

Mexico. (See table 9.) 

Fuller's Earth.—Seventeen companies produced fuller's earth 

from 30 quarries in 12 States. Ten of the mines were in the 

attapulgite-type fuller's earth areas of Florida and Georgia; these two 

States accounted for all ofthe domestic attapulgite production. Most 

producers were small, independent firms, but five were large, 

diversified corporations with international mineral interests. 

Production of fuller's earth decreased to 2.37 million tons valued 

at $255 million. Production of attapulgite-type fuller's earth was 

707,000 tons valued at $90 million in 1997. Over one-half of this 

production came from Georgia, followed by Florida and Nevada. 

Production in Nevada was of sepiolite-type fuller's earth. 

Production of montmorillonite-type fuller's earth was 1.66 million 

tons valued at $165 million. Montmorillonite-type fuller's earth was 

produced in Mississippi, Illinois, Missouri, California, Georgia, 

Florida, Kansas, Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah, in decreasing 

order of production. (See table 11.) 

Engelhard Corp. finalized its purchase of the Floridin Co. from 

U.S. Borax Inc. Engelhard has shifted its sorbent granular 

attapulgite production from its Attapulgus, GA plant to Floridin's 

Quincy, FL plant. Engelhard will continue to produce slurry 

products at its Attapulgite plant. As part ofthe sale of Floridin, ITC 

Inc. acquired the Floridin product line and trademarks. Lime 

Mountain Co. purchased Industrial Mineral Ventures (IMV), a 

division of Floridin. IMV produces sepiolite, bentonite, and saponite 

from mines in Nevada (Chemical Week, 1997; North American 

Minerals News, 1997c). 

Kaolin.—Thirty firms mined kaolin from 120 quarries in 11 

States. Domestic production was 9.41 million tons valued at $1.04 

billion. Georgia was the largest kaolin producer, followed by South 

Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, California, North Carolina, Florida, 

Texas, Nevada, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania, in decreasing order of 

production. (See table 13.) 

Approximately 50% ofthe kaolin produced was water-washed, 

followed by calcined (18%), delammated (15%), airfloat (14%), and 

unprocessed kaolin (3%). (See table 14.) Production of lowtemperature (pigment) and high-temperature (refractory) calcined 

kaolin was 784,000 and 909,000 tons, respectively. (See table 15.) 

Kaolin production in Georgia was 8.30 million tons valued at $981 

million. Approximately 56% ofthe production was sold as waterwashed, followed by delaminated (17%), calcined (15%), airfloat 

(10%), and unprocessed (2%). (See table 16.) Production in South 

Carolina was 447,000 tons valued at $29 million, most of which was 

airfloat or unprocessed. (See table 18.) 

Engelhard Corp. increased capacity on its hydrous kaolin 

processing line at its middle Georgia facility. The expansion is part 

of a 4-year, $142 million program designed to improve its kaolinbased paper coatings business (Chemical Market Reporter, 1997). 

Thiele Kaolin Co. began construction of a new calciner at its 

Sandersville, GA plant. The new calcining facility will increase the 

company's calcining capacity to 100,000 tons per year. The calcined 

products will be destined primarily for the paper industry. The 

company also will build a slurry plant in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. 

Initial output will be 100 tons per day and the plant will serve 

surrounding paper mills (North American Minerals News, 1997g). 

Nord Resources Corp. sold its subsidiary, Nord Kaolin Co.; to Dry 

Branch Kaolin Co. With the purchase, Dry Branch acquired 31 

million tons of kaolin reserves in Georgia, gained access to Nord's 

Norplex hybrid pigment products, and added an additional 300,000-

ton-per-year capacity to its own existing capacity of 1.2 to 1.3 

million tons per year of water washed and calcined kaolin (Industrial 

Minerals, 1997g). 

Cytec Industries Inc. sold its kaolin reserves and calcining facility 

in Georgia to GEO Specialty Chemicals Inc. The reserves, located 

near Andersonville, GA, include 30 million tons of kaolin, bauxitic 

clay, and bauxite. The calcining facility has a capacity of 146,000 

tons per year. The products are used for alum manufacture, high and 

low alumina refractories, and paint fillers (Industrial Minerals, 

1997c). 

Consumption 

Ball Clay.—The principal domestic ball clay markets were floor 

and wall tile, pottery, and sanitary ware. (See table 4.) Consumption 

increased approximately 11% in 1997. The largest increases were 

in sales for floor and wall tile. Increases in ball clay sales for the past 

4 to 5 years have resulted from the expanding home building market 

with its demands for sanitaryware and tile. 

Zte/fto«/7e.—Major markets for bentonite were drilling mud, 

foundry sand, iron ore pelletizing, and pet waste absorbents. 

Consumption increased about 7% in 1997, mainly on the strength of 

sales for animal feed, civil engineering and sealing, drilling mud, 

filtering and clarifying of oils and greases, foundry sand, and paint 

markets. Total sales of bentonite for iron ore pelletizing (domestic 

and export) were 590,000 tons versus 685,000 tons in 1996, a 14% 

decline. (See table 6.) 

With regard to the sales of swelling versus nonswelling bentonite, 

most of the data were concealed to avoid disclosing company 

proprietary data. More than 95% ofthe bentonite sold for pet waste 

absorbent and more than 90% for adhesives applications was the 

swelling variety. For animal feed applications, more than 80% of 

bentonite sold was the swelling variety. Approximately two-thirds 

of the bentonite sold for ceramics was swelling bentonite and 

essentially all ofthe bentonite used in drilling mud applications was 

the swelling variety. Swelling bentonite accounted for almost 90% 

ofthe bentonite sold for filler and extender applications. More than 

two-thirds of the bentonite sold for foundry sand applications was 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1997 
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swelling bentonite. Most of the bentonite sold for filtering, 

clarifying, and decolorizing applications was of the nonswelling 

variety. Bentonite sold for pelletizing iron ore was exclusively 

swelling bentonite. More than 90% ofthe bentonite used for civil 

engineering, waterproofing and sealing was swelling bentonite. The 

major domestic uses for swelling bentonite were drilling mud, 

foundry sand, pet waste absorbent, iron ore pelletizing, 

waterproofing and sealing, and animal feed, in decreasing order of 

consumption. Major export markets were in foundry sand, drilling 

mud, and iron ore pelletizing applications. The major domestic uses 

for nonswelling bentonite were in foundry sand, filtering, clarifying, 

and decolorizing of oils and greases, miscellaneous civil engineering 

applications, animal feed, absorbents, and drilling mud, in decreasing 

order of consumption. Exports were limited to foundry sand. 

Common Clay and Shale.—Common clay was used most 

frequently in the manufacture of heavy clay products such as building 

brick, flue linings, sewer pipe, drain tile, structural tile, and terra 

cotta; portland cement clinker, and lightweight aggregate. (See table 

8.) Consumption of common clay and shale decreased about 6% in 

1997. The largest losses were made in sales for civil engineering 

and sealing, cement, and miscellaneous heavy clay products. 

Fire Clay.—Fire clays were used in refractory products such as 

firebrick and block, grogs and calcines, high-alumina brick and 

specialties, saggers, refractory mortars and mixes, and ramming and 

gunning mixes. Fire clays also were used to produce such items as 

brick and pottery. 

Consumption of fire clay increased approximately 29% in 1997 to 

649,000 tons. Major markets for fire clay were common brick, 

firebrick, refractory mortar and cement, grogs and calcines, and 

pottery, in decreasing order of consumption. (See table 10.) 

Increased sales forthe production of common brick accounted for the 

bulk ofthe increase in overall sales of fire clay. 

Fuller's Earth.—The major uses for attapulgite-type and 

montmorillonite-type of the fuller's earths were as pet waste 

absorbents, oil and grease absorbents, pesticide carriers, and flow 

control agents in animal feed, in decreasing order of consumption. 

(See table 12.) Overall consumption of fuller's earth decreased 9% 

in 1997. Sales of attapulgite-type fuller's earth decreased 19% in 

1997 primarily because ofthe sale and subsequent split of Floridin 

operations and products between Engelhard Corp. and ITC Inc. 

Overall sales of montmorillonite-type fuller's earth decreased 4% in 

tonnage. However, sales for oil and grease absorbents, drilling mud 

applications, and miscellaneous floor and wall tile markets increased. 

Consumption of montmorillonite-type fuller's earth declined for most 

ofthe remaining markets. Most ofthe sales loses were in the export, 

pesticide carriers, and pet waste absorbent markets. 

With regard to the saies of attapulgite-type fuller's earth versus 

montmorillonite-type fuller's earth, most ofthe data were concealed 

to avoid disclosing company proprietary data. Major markets for 

attapulgite were pet waste absorbents, oil and grease absorbents, 

pesticide carriers, ceramic tile, fertilizer carriers, drilling mud, 

gypsum products, cement clinker, animal feed, and adhesive 

applications, in decreasing order of consumption. Major markets for 

montmorillonite-type fuller's earth were pet waste absorbents, oil 

and grease absorbents, pesticide carriers, and fertilizer carrier 

applications, in decreasing order of consumption. 

Attapulgite sales account for less than one-third and one-quarter 

ofthe fuller's earth sold for oil and grease absorbents and pet waste 

absorbents, respectively. Attapulgite accounted for all ofthe sales 

for adhesive, asphalt tile, cement, drilling mud, gypsum products, 

paint, tile, and miscellaneous refractories and less than 20% of 

animal feed sales. More than 75% of the fertilizer sales were 

attapulgite. More than one-half of the fuller's earth used as pesticide 

carriers was montmorillonite and most ofthe fuller's earth sold for 

filtering, clarifying, and decolorizing oils and greases was attapulgite. 

Kaolin.—The major markets were for paper coating, paper filler, 

refractories, fiberglass, paint, catalyst, rubber, and chemical 

manufacture, in decreasing order of consumption. (See table 20.) 

Consumption increased approximately 3% in 1997. The largest 

gains from a tonnage standpoint were made in fiber glass (about an 

8% gain), paper coating (6%), paper filler (7%), paint (14%), and 

refractories (11%). Major domestic markets for kaolin from Georgia 

were paper coating, paper filling, refractories, fiber glass, and paint, 

in decreasing order of consumption. Major gains were made in 

paper coating (4%), paper filler (7%), paint (13%), and refractories 

(8%). Loses were reported in rubber and export markets. The major 

market for kaolin from South Carolina was rubber, followed by 

catalyst, fiber glass, common brick, face brick, roofing granules, 

adhesives, paper coating and filler, pesticide carriers, and firebrick, 

in decreasing order of consumption. Gains made in the rubber and 

fiberglass sales were offset by loses in sales to the common brick and 

export markets. (See tables 17 and 19.) 

Absorbent Uses.—Absorbent uses for clays were about 2.44 

million tons, a decrease of 4% from that of 1996. Fuller's earth 

accounted for more than 70% of the clay used for absorbent 

purposes, followed by bentonite (more than 20%), and kaolin (less 

than 1%). (See tables 6 and 12.) Pet waste absorbents accounted 

for approximately 85% of absorbent consumption, followed by oil 

and grease absorbents (11%), and miscellaneous absorbent 

applications (4%). 

Ceramics.—All varieties of clays were used in ceramics. Demand 

for clay in the manufacture of ceramics, ranging from china to 

sanitaryware to tile to roofing granules, was approximately 1.81 

million tons, an increase of 12% from that of 1996. The largest 

ceramics market was in ceramic floor and wall tile (40% of the 

market), followed by sanitaryware (15%), catalyst (13%), roofing 

granules (10%), pottery (9%), quarry tile (4%), electrical porcelain 

(1.8%), fine china (1.6%), and glaze applications (0.5%). Ball clay 

accounted for 38% ofthe clay used in ceramics, followed by common 

clay and shale (31 %) and kaolin (26%). Small amounts of bentonite, 

fire clay, and fuller's earth also were used in the manufacture of 

ceramics. With regard to individual ceramics markets, ball clay 

dominated the electrical porcelain, glazing, pottery, and sanitaryware 

markets. Common clay and shale was the predominant clay used in 

roofing granules. Kaolin dominated the catalyst,'crockery, and fine 

china markets. Common clay and shale and ball clay were the 

predominant clays used in floor and wall tile manufacture. (See 

tables 4, 8, 10, and20.) 

Construction.—Common clays and shales were used to 

manufacture a wide variety of construction materials such as 

expanded aggregates, hydraulic cement, and structural clay products. 

Expanded Clay and Shale.—Approximately 3.99 million tons 

of clays was used in the production of lightweight aggregate. Nearly 

all of the clay used to manufacture lightweight aggregate was 

common clay and shale. Lightweight aggregates were used in 

concrete block, structural concrete, and highway surfacing, in 

decreasing order of consumption. (See tables 8 and 21.) 

Hydraulic Cement.—Clays provide the alumina and silica 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1997 
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required to manufacture hydraulic cements. Approximately 5.96 

million tons of clays was consumed, a 17% decrease from that of 

1996. Common clays, kaolin, fuller's earth, and fire clay, in 

decreasing order of consumption, were used in the manufacture of 

portland cement clinker. More than 99% ofthe clay consumed by 

the cement industry was common clay and shale. (See tables 8 and 

20.) 

Metakaolin, which is kaolin that has been calcined over a 

controlled temperature range, can be used in cement to improve the 

life ofthe concrete, reduce permeability, and improve resistance to 

chemical attack. The metakaolin is used as a pozzolan, partially 

replacing some ofthe portland cement in the mix. The metakaolin 

reacts with lime produced by the portland cement hydration reaction, 

converting the lime to a cementitious product that increase the 

density and fills channels in the concrete (Gypsum, Lime, & Building 

Products', 1997). 

Structural Clay Products.—Approximately 13.5 million tons of 

clays was used in the manufacture of structural clay products such as 

building brick, roofing tile, and sewer pipe. Common and face brick 

accounted for 98% ofthis total. Other markets, in decreasing order 

of consumption, were flue linings, flower pots, sewer pipe, drain tile, 

structural tile, terra cotta, and roofing tile. Approximately 97% of 

the clay used in these applications was common clay and shale. (See 

tables 8, 20, and 22.) 

Surface pigments can be used to expand product lines for brick 

manufacture. The pigments typically are oxides of iron, manganese, 

zinc, titanium, tin, cobalt, and zirconium. The color is determined by 

the stability ofthe oxide during firing, the kiln atmosphere, the firing 

temperature, and source ofthe individual pigments. Sometimes the 

pigments are mixed with inert and reactive fillers to produce colors 

normally not associated with the pure oxide compounds. By using 

pigments, the manufacturer can produce unique finishes, use inferior 

color quality clays if necessary, and produce more uniform product 

colors (Barber, 1997). 

The U.S. Bureau ofthe Census reported domestic shipments of 

7.71 billion building and face bricks valued at $1.34 billion, an 

increase from 7.62 billion bricks in 1996. Shipments of clay floor 

and wall tile were 59.2 million square meters valued at $874 million 

compared with 54 million square meters in 1996. Shipments of 

vitrified clay and sewer pipe fittings were 134,000 tons valued at 

$44.4 million, a 7% decrease from that of 1996. The increase in 

shipments of brick and tile is corroborated by statistics on housing 

starts; the Bureau of the Census estimated that the seasonally 

adjusted annual rate for privately owned, housing starts in December 

was 1.52 million units in 1997, compared with 1.35 million units in 

1996. 

Drilling Mud.—Reported demand for clays in drilling muds 

(domestic and exports) was 837,000 tons, a 38% increase from that 

of 1996. This magnitude! of increase is partially corroborated by the 

higher domestic rotary drill rig count for 1997 (Oil & Gas Journal, 

1997). The sizable increase in exports of drilling grade bentonite 

also suggests healthy oil drilling markets. Swelling-type bentonite 

remained the principal clay used in drilling mud mixes (more than 

90%). Fuller's earth, used mostly in saltwater drilling techniques, 

accounted for less than 10% ofthe total. Some ball clay and kaolin 

also were used in drilling mud applications. (See tables 6 and 12.) 

Fillers, Extenders, and Binders.—Approximately 5.61 million 

tons of clays was used as fillers, extenders, and binders, an increase 

of 11% from that of 1996. Clays are used in a wide variety of 

products, such as adhesives, flooring products, paint, paper, and 

rubber. Paper coating and filling accounted for 70% ofthe filler and 

extender market consumption, followed by paint (6%), pesticides 

(6%), animal feed (4%), rubber (4%), and wallboard production 

(2%). Asphalt emulsion, fertilizer carrier, plastic, gypsum products, 

asphalt tile, textile, medical (pharmaceutical and cosmetic), vinyl 

flooring, and ink each account for less than 1% ofthe fillers and 

extenders markets, in decreasing order of consumption. 

Kaolin accounted for approximately 84% ofthe clay used in filler 

and extender applications, followed by fuller's earth (7%), common 

clay and shale (4%), bentonite (3%), ball clay (1%), and trace 

amounts of fire clay. (See tables 4, 6, 12, and 20.) Ball clay 

dominated the asphalt emulsion market. Bentonite was the 

predominant clay used for ink applications. Common clay was the 

predominant clay used in wallboard production. Fuller's earth was 

the predominant clays used in fertilizer, gypsum product, and 

pesticide applications. Kaolin dominated the adhesive, paint, paper, 

plastics, rubber, textile, and vinyl flooring markets. Bentonite, 

fuller's earth, and kaolin were the major clays used in asphalt tile. 

Bentonite and fuller's earth were the predominant clays in animal 

feeds and medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications. 

Bentonite is used in paints as rheological additives. Having a large 

particle diameter-to-thickness ratio and a negative charge on the 

surface and positive charge on the edges, smectites act as thixotropic 

agents. They thicken the paint to prevent settling under low shear 

conditions. When stirred, the edge to surface bonding of the 

bentonite is disrupted and the viscosity ofthe paint is reduced. The 

result is a paint that has a high solids content while remaining 

pourable. Another advantage is that flow and leveling properties 

also are improved in some paints. Smectite has been used to replace 

attapulgite and cellulose thickeners in many water-based paints 

(Brennan, 1997). 

G/ass—Approximately 479,000 tons of kaolin was consumed in 

the manufacture of fiberglass and mineral wool. This was an 

increase of 8% from that of 1996. (See table 20.) 

Iron Ore Pelletizing.—Domestic demand decreased to 536,000 

tons in 1997. This represents a decrease of 20% of bentonite 

reported as domestic sales. Total sales (including exports) were 

598,000 tons, approximately 12% less than in 1996. This 

corresponds to a slight decline in the production of pelletized iron ore 

for blast furnaces. Demand also may be lower due to improved 

pelletizing properties of new bentonite products and different 

pelletizing characteristics ofthe iron ore mined during the year. At 

least one iron ore pelletizer noted that pelletized ore also faced 

competition from the use of steel scrap in minimills, iron ore 

agglomerates, and steel slab imports. All of the clay used in 

pelletizing was bentonite. (See table 6.) 

Paper Products.—Kaolin accounted for essentially all ofthe clay 

used for paper coating (3 million tons) and all ofthe clay used for 

paper filling (918,000 tons). Sales for both markets increased 7% 

over that of 1996. (See table 20.) Small amounts of fuller's earth 

were used in paper coating applications. 

The paper industry recovered somewhat from the downturn that 

occurred in late 1995 and early 1996 with growth rates expected to 

be approximately 3% per year (Bums, 1997). Monthly capacity 

utilization rates for paper and products ranged from 87% to 91 % in 

1997. This compares with monthly rates of 85.5% to 90% in 1996. 

Kaolin-based pigments are widely used by the paper industry. The 

standard hydrous kaolin-based product finds uses in number 3 and 4 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1997 
P.6 

coated woodfree papers and number 4 and 5 coated groundwood 

papers. In contrast, the premium hydrous kaolin-based pigments are 

used in number 1 and 2 coated woodfree paper. Delaminated grades 

are used in high quality, art-type paper and calcined grades are 

particularly valuable as more cost-effective opacifiers than other 

pigments. To meet the needs of the paper industry, the kaolin 

industry has made several advances. These include tighter control on 

particle size distributions, reduction of impurities and improvements 

in brightness, whiteness and rheological properties and development 

of co-pigments (Jeffries, 1997). 

Refractories.—Approximately 2.94 million tons of clays was used 

for the manufacture of refractories, a 13% increase from that of 1996. 

The largest markets were foundry sand (31%), grogs and calcines 

(30%), refractory mortar and cement (14%), firebrick (9%), high 

alumina brick (1%), and high alumina specialties (less than 1%). 

The market percentages for refractories must be used with caution 

for all but the foundry sand and refractory mortar and cement 

categories because ofthe uncertainty in the data for specific market 

destinations. 

Ball clay, bentonite, common clay and shale, fire clay, fuller's 

earth, and kaolin accounted for 2%, 31%, 21%, 12%, less than 1%, 

and 33%, respectively, of the refractories markets. Fire clay 

dominated the firebrick market, bentonite dominated the foundry 

sand market, and kaolin dominated the grog, calcine, high alumina 

brick, kiln furniture, and plug, tap, and wad markets. Common clay 

dominated the refractory mortar and cement market. (See tables 4, 

6, 8, 10, and20.) 

Production data for refractories manufactured in 1997 are not 

available at this time from the U.S. Bureau ofthe Census. For 1996, 

the Bureau reported shipments of clay refractories to be valued at 

$944 million in 1996, a slight increase from those of 1995. 

Shipments of clay refractory brick and shapes were 815,000 tons 

(280 million bricks) valued at $559 million. This can be broken out 

into fire clay brick and shapes at 386,000 tons (128 million bricks) 

valued at $209 million; high alumina brick and shapes, 371,000 tons 

(100 million bricks) valued at $286 million; and insulating brick and 

shapes, 57,400 tons (51.9 million bricks) valued at $64.3 million. 

Shipments of unshaped clay refractories were 648,000 tons valued 

at $330 million. This is broken out into refractory mortars, 48,200 

tons valued at $25.4 million; plastic refractories, 144,000 tons 

valued at $76.8 million; castable refractories, 292,000 tons valued 

at $166 million; and fire clay gunning mixes, 164,000 tons valued at 

$61.7 million. Approximately 194,000 tons of miscellaneous 

refractories valued at $24 million also were sold in 1996. 

Prices 

Ball Clay.—The average value for ball clay reported by domestic 

producers was $46.34 per ton. The average values for imported and 

exported ball clay were $317.13 and $64.86 per ton, respectively. 

Bentonite.—The average value reported by domestic producers 

for nonswelling bentonite was $33.91 per ton. The average value for 

swelling bentonite was $42.92 per ton. The average value for all 

types of bentonite was $42.03 per ton. The average value of 

imported bentonite was $371.33 per ton. The average value of 

exported bentonite was $99.67 per ton. 

Common Clay and Shale.—The average value for all common 

clay and shale produced in the United States and Puerto Rico was 

$6.09 per ton. The average value of clay and shale used in 

lightweight aggregate was $14.63 per ton. 

Fire Clay.—The average value for fire clay reported by domestic 

producers was $14.57 per ton. The average of imported fire clay 

was $1,144.93 per ton. The average value of exported fire clay was 

$105.65 per ton. The unit value of domestically produced fire clay 

decreased because of increased sales for lower value applications 

such as brick manufacture. 

Fuller's Earth.—The average value of attapulgite-fuller's earth 

reported by domestic producers was $127.28 per ton. The average 

value of montmorillonite-fulier's earth was $99.02 per ton. The 

average value of all types of fuller's earth was $107.45 per ton. The 

average value of imported fuller's earth was $133.88 per ton. The 

average value of exported fuller's earth was $112.05 per ton. 

Kaolin.—The average value of kaolin was $120.19 per ton for all 

kaolin grades. The average value for airfloat kaolin was $54.44 per 

ton; for high-temperature calcined (refractory grade) kaolin, $17.74; 

for low-temperature calcined (pigment grade) kaolin, $322.64; for 

all types of calcined kaolin, $158.90 per ton; for delaminated kaolin, 

$101.63 per ton; for water-washed kaolin, $116.99 per ton; and for 

unprocessed kaolin, $23.97 per ton. The average value of the 

imported kaolin was $239.14 per ton. The average value of exported 

kaolin was $172.48 per ton. Prices for paper-grade kaolin products 

declined, resulting in lower unit values for pigment-grade, 

delaminated, and water-washed kaolin in 1997. 

Foreign Trade 

Ball Clay.—Ball clay exports increased to 91,000 tons valued at 

$5.90 million, according to the Bureau ofthe Census. (See table 23.) 

Domestic ball clay producers reported that 146,000 tons of ball clay 

was exported in 1997. The discrepancy observed between the export 

tonnage reported by the U.S. Bureau ofthe Census and that reported 

by producers probably results from a combination of factors. One 

reason is that the producers often do not control the final sale and 

movement ofthe clays, as when a mineral broker is involved. Some 

clays originally destined for export may be sold domestically and vice 

versa without the knowledge ofthe producer. Another reason is that 

some clay may be exported under an export code other than that 

corresponding to ball clay to the U.S. Bureau ofthe Census. 

Ball clay exports were used mainly for floor and wall tile 

production and sanitaryware production. Other markets include 

asphalt emulsions, china, dinnerware, and miscellaneous refractory 

and filler and extender applications. 

In 1996, imports were 823 tons of ball clay valued at $261,000. 

(See table 24.) 

Bentonite.—Bentonite exports increased to 850,000 tons valued 

at $84.7 million. Domestic bentonite producers reported exports of 

544,000 tons. The discrepancy between producer and U.S. Bureau 

of Census appears to result from producers including most of the 

exports destined for Canadian and Mexican markets (approximately 

195,000 tons) under domestic sales. Also see the discussion under 

ball clay concerning discrepancies between export data reported by 

producers and those reported by the U.S. Bureau ofthe Census. (See 

tables 6and23.) 

Bentonite imports consisted mainly of untreated bentonite clay and 

chemically or artificially activated materials. Imports of untreated 

bentonite were 7,560 tons valued at $2.81 million. Imports of 

chemically activated material were 18,600 tons valued at $10.3 

million. (See table 24.) 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1997 
P.7 

Fire Clay.—Approximately 222,000 tons of fire clay valued at 

$23.5 million was exported. Sixty-nine tons of fire clay valued at 

$79,000 was imported in 1997. (See tables 23 and24.) 

Fuller's Earth.—Approximately 144,000 tons of fuller's earth 

valued at $16.1 million was exported. Domestic producers reported 

more than 44,000 tons of exports in 1997. Again, the discrepancy 

between producer and U.S. Bureau ofthe Census data is partially 

explained by the fact that producers apparently include much ofthe 

exports destined for Canada and Mexico (approximately 65,000 

tons) under domestic sales. Several of producers manufacture 

commercial products such as pet waste absorbent and commercial 

absorbents that may have been reported under export classifications 

other than fuller's earth. Also see the discussion under ball clay 

concerning discrepancies between export data reported by producers 

and those reported by the U.S. Bureau ofthe Census. (See table 12.) 

Approximately 3,530 tons of decolorizing and fuller's earth valued 

at $473,000 was imported in 1997. (See tables 12, 23, and24.) 

Kaolin.—The U.S. Bureau of the Census reported that 3.38 

million tons of kaolin valued at $583 million was exported in 1997. 

Producers reported exports of 2.39 million tons. Most ofthe kaolin 

destined for Canadian and Mexican markets (approximately 800,000 

tons) appears to have been reported under domestic consumption. 

Also, discrepancies between producer and Bureau ofthe Census data 

are similar to the situation with ball clay. (See tables 20 and 23.) 

Kaolin imports increased to 30,400 tons valued at $7.27 million. 

(See table 24.) 

World Review 

World production of bentonite was approximately 9.68 million 

tons, fuller's earth production was estimated to be 3.45 million tons, 

and kaolin production was about 39.1 million tons. The United States 

continued to be the leading producer of all three clay types, followed 

by the former U.S.S.R. for bentonite, Germany for fuller's earth, and 

Uzbekistan for kaolin. Spain led all countries in the production of 

sepiolite. (See tables 25, 26, and27.) 

Australia.—CRA Ltd. completed a 3-year exploration program for 

high whiteness kaolin. The company located several promising 

locations in the Wickepin District (Industrial Minerals, 1997k). 

Commercial Minerals Ltd. purchased Australian Bentonite from 

Cudgen R.Z., Ltd. The purchase included the 60,000-ton-per-year 

mine and a 120,000-ton-per-year mill. Commercial Minerals also 

operates a bentonite mine in New South Wales (Industrial Minerals, 

1997b). 

Australian Kaolin NL proceeded with the development ofa kaolin 

deposit in Queensland. The company initially expects to produce 

75,000 tons and 100,000 tons annually of calcined kaolin and 

hydrous kaolin, respectively. Production is expected to begin in 

1998 (Industrial Minerals, 1997h). 

Brazil.—Companhia de Pesquisas de Recursos Minerais, the State 

geological survey, announced plans to auction its kaolin deposit in 

Rip Capim. The deposit contains approximately 560 million tons of 

kaolin reserves. The move is an effort by Brazil to privatize its 

holdings (Industrial Minerals, 1997a). 

Kaolin deposits in Brazil are remarkably similar to those ih 

Georgia Both are sedimentary deposits, laid down in fluvial deltaic 

and foreshore environments. Deposition was followed by subsequent 

intense weathering by ground water. As in Georgia, there are hard 

kaolins (finer grained) and soft kaolins (consisting of books of 

kaolin). The coarse kaolin was likely to have been at least partially 

recrystallized during the weathering process (Pickering and Linkous, 

1997). 

Canada.—ECC International announced plans to build a kaolin 

slurry plant in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia. The plant will receive 

dry kaolin from ECC's operations in England. The plant will supply 

140,000 tons annually for the paper market (North American 

Mineral News, 1997b). 

, Bruneau Minerals Inc. continued testing of its kaolin deposit in St. 

Jovite, Quebec. The 5.4-million-ton deposit consists of brown kaolin 

containing no alkali. The kaolin will probably be marketed for 

cement and concrete manufacture (North American Minerals News, 

1997a). 

China.—ECC International announced a joint venture with Fujian 

Jiuzhou Longyan Kaolin Clay Co. to produce ceramic-grade kaolin. 

Production capacity ofthe operation will be 100,000 tons per year 

with an estimated 50-year reserve of kaolin (American Ceramic 

Society Bulletin, 1997). 

Volclay International and Jianping Redhill Bentonite Co. formed 

a joint venture, which now operates as Beijing Prosperity Clay & 

Construction Materials. The venture will focus on the foundry sand, 

oil drilling, construction, and cat litter markets in the Pacific Rim 

area (Industrial Minerals, 1997j). 

Watts Blake Beame & Co. PLC entered into a joint venture with 

Jianbei (Group) Co. Ltd. to produce ball clay near Qingyuan, 

Guangdong Province. The new venture will serve the growing 

Chinese ceramics market. Production is scheduled to begin in 1998 

(Watts Blake Beame & Co. PLC, What's new at WBB, accessed 

June 30,1998, at URL http://www/.wbb.co.uk/ pagel0.htm). 

India.—Volclay Intemational finalized a joint venture with 

Ashapura Minechem Ltd. The venture will operate as Ashapura 

Volclay Ltd. and manufacture and sell value-added bentonitic 

products (Industrial Minerals, 1997j). 

Italy.—Sud-Chemie AG acquired 50% of Laviosa Minerals SpA's 

ownership in Society Sarda di Bentonite SpA. Under the agreement, 

one mine and two plants were transferred to Siid-Chemie. The 

180,000-ton-per-year mine is located in northwest Sardinia and the 

plants are located in Oristano and Sant Antioco, southwestern 

Sardinia (Industrial Minerals, 1997e). 

Mexico.—Volclay de Mexico SA de CV built a new blending 

facility at its Gomez Palacio operation. The facility, which is highly 

automated, prepares blends of bentonite and coal for its foundry 

customers. The foundry market is believed one ofthe major growth 

areas for the Mexican bentonite industry. There has been increased 

investment in the foundry industry and major plant expansions in the 

past 2 years. This has resulted in large part because ofthe large 

growth in the automobile manufacturing industry in Mexico (North 

American Minerals News, 1997e; Nebergall, 1997). 

Spain.—Tolsa SA agreed to purchase the Iboughardian bentonite 

mine from the Bureau de Recherches et de Participations Minieres. 

The mine is nearNador and has reserves of 600,000 tons (Industrial 

Minerals, 1997i). 

Guzman Minerales SA and Stephan Schmidt KG formed a joint 

venture to mine and process clay for the tile and sanitaryware market 

(Industrial Minerals, 1997f). 

Laporte PLC sold its subsidiary, Minas de Gador SA, to a Spanish 

investment bank. Minas de Gador has a production capacity of 

130,000 tons per year of bentonite and saponite. The sale is part of 

a reorganization that Laporte is currently undergoing (Industrial 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1997 
P.8 

Minerals, 1997d). 

Thailand.—Volclay Siam Ltd. Co. built a bentonite processing 

plant in Rayong. Volclay International, the parent company of 

Volclay Siam, will provide technical support and assist with new 

product development (Industrial Minerals, 1997j). 

Turkey.—Kalemaden Endiistriyel Sanayii ve Ticaret A.§. 

completed a processing facility for kaolin and other ceramic-grade 

clays. The plant will supply clay for engobe, glaze, and sanitaryware 

markets (Asian Ceramics, 1997). 

Research 

Research was conducted on the use of montmorillonite to improve 

the properties of polymers. Tests showed increases in tensile 

strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, and flexural modulus. In 

addition, the polymers exhibited better resistance to heat distortion 

and were less flammable (lower heat release rates). A purified 

montmorillonite is produced for this application by separating the 

montmorillonite from a bentonite sample and modifying its surface 

to make it organophilic. The fine grain size ofthe montmorillonite 

improves its dispersion in the polymer. The attached organic 

molecules on the montmorillonite improve its bonding with the 

polymer. Courser, untreated clay particles are dispersed throughout 

the polymer as clusters of platelets rather than individual platelets 

and tend to behave an immiscible components, resulting in two 

distinct phases. (Chemical & Engineering News, 1997; North 

American Minerals News, 1997d). 

Bentonite which has been surface treated with quaternary amines 

such as alkyl di-methyl ammonium halide effectively removed oils 

and other organic compounds from water treatment systems. The 

amines rendered the bentonite lipophilic and hydrophobic, permitting 

it to absorb up to 50 weight-percent of organics (Chemical 

Engineering, 1997). 

Outlook 

The outlook for the domestic clay industry looks promising with 

modest growth expected for the next couple of years. The U.S. 

economy has been growing over the past 6 or 7 years with an 

accompanying growth in industrial manufacturing, housing, and other 

industries that consume clays. The strength ofthe economy should 

ensure that clay markets remain strong for several years to come. 

Chemical Week, 1997, Attapulgite shift: Chemical Week, v. 159, no. 47, December 

10, p. 36. 

European Chemical News, 1997, American Colloid builds blending unit: European 

Chemical News, v. 68, no. 1792, December 8-14, p. 45. 

Food and Drug Administration, 1997, FDA requests that ball clay not be used in 

animal feeds: Washington, DC, Food and Drug Administration/Center lb 

Veterinary Medicine press release, October 14, 1997,2 p. 

Gypsum, Lime, & Building Products, 1997, Concrete proof of lifespan: Gypsum, 

Lime, & Building Products, April, p. 29. 

Industrial Minerals, 1997a, CPRM to privatise kaolin deposit-again: Industrla 

Minerals, no. 362, November, p. 9. 

1997b, Cudgen offloads Australian bentonite: Industrial Minerals, no. 354, 

March, p. 9. 

1997c, Cytec sells alum & kaolin assets: Industrial Minerals, no. 353, 

Febniary, p. 16. 

1997d, Laporte Out ofPet Uter &. Minas de Gador Sold: Industrial Minerals, 

no. 363, December, p. 8. 

1997e, Laviosa/SOd-Chemie bentonite agreement: Industrial Minerals, no 

359, August, p. 15. 

1997f, New Spanish clays jv: Industrial Minerals, no. 359, August, p. 74. 

1997g, Nord sells kaolin subsidiary to Dry Branch: Industrial Minerals, no. 

357, June, p. 23. 

1997h, Skardon kaolin to go into production: Industrial Minerals, no. 358, 

July, p. 9. 

1997i,Tolsahiys Moroccan clay mine from BRPM: Industrial Minerals, no. 

363, December, p. 14. 

-1997j, Volclay moves into Asian botonite: Industrial Minerals, no. 356, May, 

p.9. 

-1997k, Western's Australia's industrial minerals: Industrial Minerals, no 

354, March, p. 58-75. 

Jeffries, Jan, 1997, Kaolin-based pigment use shifts with customized formulations 

Pulp & Paper, v. 71, no. 5, May, p. 21 -25. 

North American Minerals News, 1997a, Bruneau Minerals inches towards mine 

development: North American Minerals News, no. 31, December, p. 3. 

1997b, ECC invests in Nova Scotia slurry plant: North American Minerals 

News, no. 26, July, p. 2. 

1997c, Engelhard & ITC get Floridin: North AmericarMinerals News, no. 

26, p. 1-2. 

-1997d, Nano-clays: North American Minerals News, no. 30, November,'p. 

9-12. 

—1997e, New blending plantfor Volclay de Mexico: North American Minerals 

News, no. 31, December, p. 2. 

—1997f,New westem Ca-bentonite source: North American Minerals News, 

no. 25, June, p. 16. 

-1997g, Thiele Kaolin in $40 million expansion: North American Minerals 

News, no. 30, November, p. 3. 

Nebergall, R.S., 1997, Bentonite in Mexico—A changing and growing marketjn 

North American Industrial Minerals Annual Meeting, 2nd, Cancun, Mexico, 

1997, Proceedings: Industrial Minerals Information Ltd., 13 p. 

Oil &. Gas Journal, 1997, Baker Hughes rig count: Oil & Gas Journal, v. 95, no. 51, 

p. 113. 

Pickering, S.M., Jr. and Linkous, M.A., 1997, Comparison of fine and coarse 

commercial kaolin deposits fiwi Georgia (USA) and Brazil: SME preprint 97-

163, Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, CO, 4 p. 

References Cited SOURCES OF INFORMATION 

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, 1997, ECCI establishes joint venture in China: 

American Ceramic Society Bulletin, v. 76, no. 9, September, p. 29. 

Asian Ceramics, 1997, Kalemaden offers new material source: Asian Ceramics 

December, p. 8. 

Barber, Martyn, 1997, Surface pigments expand product range for brit 

manufacturers: Ceramic Industry, v. 147, no. 11, October, p. 44-48. 

Brennan, T.P., 1997,A novel liquid smectite additive for water-based coatings: Paint 

& Coatings Industry, v. 13, no. 10, October, p. 94-100. 

Burns, R. A., 1997, Kaolin and calcium carbonate-markets, supply andhe future: 

SME preprint 97-62, Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inp. 

Littleton, CO, 4 p. 

Chemical & Engineerhg News, 1997, Making polymers take the heat: Chemical and 

Engineering News, v. 75, no. 40, October 6, p. 35. 

Chemical Engineering, 1997, Use organoclay to extend the life of filter media: 

Chemical Engineering, v. 104, no. 2, February, p. 109. 

Chemical Market Reporter, 1997, Engelhard is bullish on kaolin: Chemical Market 

Reporter, v. 252, no. 23, December 8, p. 7. 

U.S. Geological Survey Publications 

Clays. Ch. in Mineral Commodity Summaries, annual.' 

Clays. Ch. in United States Mineral Resources, U.S. Geological 

Survey Professional Paper 820, 1973. 

Other 

American Forest and Paper Association. 

Clays. Ch. in Mineral facts and problems, U.S. Bureau of Mines 

Bulletin 675, 1985. 

Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association. 

'Prior to January 1996, published by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1997 
P.9 

Engineering and Mining Journal. 

Industrial Minerals and Rocks, 6th ed., AIME, 1994. 

Mining Engineering. 

Mining Journal (London). 

Mining Magazine. 

National Paint and Coatings Association. 

North American Minerals News. 

Society ofthe Plastics Industry. 

World Mining. 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—MINERALS INFORMATION—1997 
P.10 

TABLE 1 

SALIENT U.S. CLAY STATISTICS 1/2/ 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

Domestic clays sold or used by producers: 

Quantity ' 

Value 

Exports: 

Quantity 

Value 

Imports for consumption: 

Quantity ' 

Value 

1993 

40,700 

$1,470,000 

4,150 

$670,000 

39 

$17,600 

1994 

42,000 

$1,590,000 

4,620 

$739,000 

36 

$14,900 

1995 

43,100 

$1,730,000 

4,680 

$812,000 

35 

$16,000 

1996 

43,100 

$1,710,000 

4,830 

$825,000 

45 

$21,000 

1997 

42,000 

$1,670,000 

5,080 

$860,000 

64 

$23,200 

1/ Excludes Puerto Rico. 

2/ Data are rounded to three significant digits, where applicable. 
TABLE 2 

CLAYS SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1997, BY STATE 1/ 2/ 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

P.11 

State 

Alabama 

Arizona 

Arkansas 

Califomia 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Montana 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Jersey 

New Mexico 

New York 

North Carolina 

North Dakota 

Ohio 

Oklahoma 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

South Carolina 

South Dakota 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah 

Virginia 

Washington 

West Virginia 

Wyoming 

Total 

Ball 

clay 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W 

-

-

-

-

-

-

W 

W 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

659 

W 

-

-

-

-

-

1,040 

Bentonite 

W 

W 

-

29 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-' 

-

-

W 

-

W 

-

W 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W 

-

-

-

-

w 

w 

-

-

-

. 3,340 

4,020 

Common 

clay and 

shale 

2,590 

W 

979 

937 

258 

48 

w 

1,820 

100 

947 

287 

545 

865 

556 

W 

287 

W 

712 

W 

502 

1,050 

W 

279 

-

w . 

32 

477 

2,460 

56 

1,210 

653 

w 

839 

1,080 

182 

W 

2,150 

299 

830 

165 

151 

W 

24,500 

Fire 

clay 

W 

-

-

W 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

7 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

291 

-

-

-

-

1 

- . 

-

-

301 

-

-

-

-

-

-

- • 

-

-

-

-

-

649 

Fuller's 

earth 

-

- -

W 

-

-

w 

576 

W 

-

-

W 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

388 

W 

-

-

W 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W 

W 

w 

w 

-

-

-

2,370 

Kaolin 

w 

-

W 

75 

-

-

W 

8,300 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W 

-

-

-

w 

-

-

-

-

w 

447 

-

w 

35 

-

-

-

-

-

9,410 

Total 

2,590 

W 

979 

1,040 

258 

48 

w 

10,700 

100 

947 

287 

545 

872 

556 

W 

287 

W 

712 

W 

890 

1,340 

W 

279 

W 

W 

33 

477 

2,460 

56 

1,510 

653 

W 

839 

1,520 

182 

659 

2,190 

299 

830 

165 

151 

3,340 

42,000 

Total 

value 

25,400 

W 

1,400 

13,700 

1,970 

90 

W 

1,060,000 

533 

2,040 

976 

2,500 

3,910 

9,060 

W 

1,010 

W 

3,750 

W 

31,600 

8,400 

W 

1,090 

W 

131 

185 

12,100 

11,900 

W 

9,910 

4,430 

W 

2,740 

31,900 

W 

27,400 

21,200 

4,510 

3,160 

715 

323 

140,000 

1,670,000 

W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included in "Total.' 

1/ Excludes Puerto Rico. 

11 Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 
P.12 

TABLE 3 

BALL CLAY SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS IN THE UNITED STATES, BY STATE 1/ 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

State 

Airfloat Water-slurried Unprocessed Total 

Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value 

1996: 

Tennessee 

Other 2/ 

Total 

1997: 

Tennessee 

Other 2/ 

Total 

255 13,900 

118 r/ 6,990 r/ 

373 r/ 20.800 r/ 

252 13,400 

178 13,000 

187 

(3/) 

187 

157 

8,270 

(3/) 

8.270 

6,960 

236 

139 

375 

249 

202 

6,870 

5,920 

12.800 

7,120 

7,650 

679 29,000 

257 r/ 12,900 r/ 

935 r/ 41.900 r/ 

659 27,400 

379 20,700 

430 26,400 157 6,960 451 14,800 1,040 48,100 

r/ Revised. 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Includes Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. 

3/ Included with "Unprocessed." 

TABLE 4 

BALL CLAY SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS 

IN THE UNITED STATES, BY USE 1/ 

(Metric tons) 

Use 1996 1997 

Filler, extenders, binders 2/ 

Floor and wall tile 

Miscellaneous ceramics 3/ 

Pottery 

Refractories 4/ 

Sanitaryware 

Miscellaneous 5/ 

Exports 6/ 

Total 

74,900 r/ 

223,000 

45,500 

118,000 

78,900 

207,000 

59,800 r/ . 

129,000 

935,000 r/ 

78,600 

315,000 

26,500 

102,000 

68,500 

219,000 

82,800 

146,000 

1,040,000 

r/ Revised. 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits, may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Includes animal feed, asphalt emulsions, pesticides, rubber, and other filler, extenders 

and binders. 

3/ Includes catalysts, electrical porcelain, fine china/dinnerware, glazes, and miscellaneous 

ceramics. 

4/ Includes firebrick, blocks, and shape, high-alumina brick and specialties, and miscellaneous 

refractories. 

5/ Includes brick (common), waterproofing seals, drilling mud, and other unknown uses. 

6/ Includes ceramics and glass, fillers, extenders and binders, floor and wall tile, miscellaneous 

refractories, and other unknown uses. 
TABLE 5 

BENTONITE SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS IN THE UNITED STATES, BY STATE 1/ 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

P.13 

State 

Nonswelling Swelling Total 

Quantity 

W 

1 

145 

W 

W 

- • 

315 

Value 

W 

19 

4,480 

W 

W 

-

17,400 

Quantity 

W 

-

-

W 

W 

3,030 

251 

Value 

W 

-

-

W 

w 

98,400 r/ 

13,500 r/ 

Quantity 

148 

1 

145 

6 

33 

. 3,030 

566 

Value 

13,900 

19 

4,480 

580 

1,530 

98,400 r/ 

15,000 tl 

1996: 

Califomia 

Colorado 

Mississippi 

Nevada 

Oregon 

Wyoming 

Other 2/ 

Total 

1997: 

California 

Colorado 

Mississippi 

Nevada 

Oregon 

Wyoming 

Other 2/ 

Total 

461 

W 

397 

21,900 

W 

13,500 

3,280 112,000 

W W 

3,630 156,000 

3,740 

29 

4,020 

134,000 

3,420 

w 

w 

-

-

397 

w 

W 

-

- ' 

13,500 

W 

W 

W 

3,340 

283 

W 

W 

W 

140,000 

15,900 

W 

W 

W 

3,340 

651 

W 

W 

W 

140,000 

25,900 

169,000 

r/ Revised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Other" or "Total." 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Includes Alabama, Arizona, Montana, Texas, and Utah. 
TABLE 6 

BENTONITE SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS 

IN THE UNITED STATES, BY USE 1/ 

(Metric tons) 

Domestic: 

Absorbents: 

Pet waste absorbents 

Other absorbents 

Adhesives 

Animal feed 

Ceramics (except refractories) 2/ 

Drilling mud 

Filler and extender applications 3/ 

Filtering, clarifying, decolorizing: minerals oils and greases, 

vegetable oils, desiccants (1997) 

Foundry sand 

Pelletizing (iron ore) 4/ 

Miscellaneous refractories and kiln furniture 5/ 

Miscellaneous 6/ 

Waterproofing and sealing 

Total 

Exports: 

Drilling mud 

Foundry sand 

Other 7/ 

Total 

Grand total 

P.M 

Use 1996 1997 

607,000 

90,500 

11,200 

65,200 

W 

572,000 

33,500 

W 

772,000 

674,000 

16,700 

242,000 

227,000 

3,310,000 

102,000 

278,000 

46,400 

426.000 

3,740,000 

604,000 

W 

15,100 

110,000 

W 

789,000 

41,300 

82,400 

901,000 

536,000 

7,800 

126,000 

267,000 

3.480.000 

150,000 

293,000 

101,000 

544.000 

4,020,000 

W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Miscellaneous." 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Includes floor and wall tile, and pottery. 

3/ Includes medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, paint, pesticides and related products, plastics, asphalt 

emulsions and tiles, ink, and miscellaneous fillers and extenders applications. 

4/ Excludes shipments to Canada. Total sales were 685,000 tons in 1996 and 598,000 tons in 1997. 

5/ Includes kiln furniture (1996), plugs, taps, wads, and miscellaneous refractories. 

6/ Includes chemical manufacturing, filtering and clarifying oils, heavy clay products, and other unknown uses. 

7/ Includes absorbents, waterproofing and sealing, fillers and extenders, and pelletizing refractories, and 

miscellaneous refractories. 
TABLE 7 

COMMON CLAY AND SHALE SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS 

IN THE UNITED STATES, BY STATE 1/2/ 

P.15 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

State 

1996 1997 

Quantity Value Quantity Value 

Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Georgia 

Indiana 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Michigan 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

New York 

North Carolina 

Ohio 

Oklahoma 

Pennsylvania 

South Carolina 

Texas 

Virginia 

Other 3/ 

Total 

2,290 

939 

1,340 

1,660 

1,510 

548 

823 

652 

534 

849 

652 

2,400 

1,960 

799 

753 

1,260 

2,290 

883 

4,060 

26,200 

17,100 

2,390 

12,600 

11,200 

3,500 

2,250 

3,680 

3,410 

3,610 

3,250 

14,000 

12,400 

7,450 

4,090 

2,420 

4,860 

15,000 

3,220 

17,500 

144,000 

2,590 

979 

937 

1,820 

947 

545 

865 

712 

502 

1,050 

477 

2,460 

1,210 

653 

839 

1,080 

2,150 

830 

3,820 

24,500 

25,400 

1,400 

10,300 

11,600 

2,040 

2,500 

3,910 

3,750 

3,500 

4,140 

12,100 

11,900 

5,600 

4,430 

2,740 

2,850 

13,600 

3,160 

24,700 

149,000 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Excludes Puerto Rico. 

3/ Includes all other States except; Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Hampshire (1997), 

Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. 
P.16 

TABLE 8 

COMMON CLAY AND SHALE SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS 

IN THE UNITED STATES, BY USE 1/2/ 

(Metric tons) 

Use 1996 

Ceramics and glass 3/ 142,000 

Civil engineering and sealing 279,000 

Floor and wall tile: 

Ceramic 293,000 

Other 4/ 61,900 

Heavy clay products: 

Brick, extruded r 11,300,000 

Brick, other 1,730,000 

Drain tile and sewer pipe 123,000 

Flowerpots 47,400 ' 

Flue linings 45,200 

Structural tile 21,500 

Other 5/ 505,000 

Lightweight aggregate: 

Concrete block 2,450,000 

Highway surfacing 245,000 

Structural concrete 887,000 

Miscellaneous 6/ 471,000 

Portland and other cements 7,000,000 

Refractories 7/ 519,000 

Miscellaneous 8/ 117,000 

Total 26,199,488 

W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with 

"Miscellaneous." 

1997 

158,000 

W 

318,000 

57,700 

10,900,000 

1,940,000 

56,800 

W 

59,900 

w 

122,000 

2,550,000 

278,000 

740,000 

429,000 

5,720,000 

619,000 

513,000 

24,466,984 

Other" or 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Excludes Puerto Rico. 

3/ Includes pottery and roofing granules. 

4/ Includes quany tile and miscellaneous floor and wall tiles. 

5/ Includes flower pots (1997), roofing tile, structural tile, terra cotta, and miscellaneous 

clay products. 

6/ Includes miscellaneous lightweight aggregates. 

7/ Includes firebrick, blocks and shapes, grogs and calcines, mortar and cement, and 

miscellaneous refractories. 

8/Includes asphalt emulsions, civil engineering and sealing (1997), pelletizing (iron ore) 

(1996), exports, and other unknown uses. 

TABLE 9 

FIRE CLAY SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS 

IN THE UNITED STATES, BY STATE 1/2/ 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

1996 1997 

State 

Alabama 

Missouri 

Ohio 

Other 3/ 

Quantity 

52 

223 

103 

127 

Value 

2,800 

3,220 

3,230 

1,450 

Quantity 

W 

291 

301 

57 

Value 

W 

4,270 

4,310 

874 

Total 505 10,700 649 9,450 

W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Other." 

1/ Refractory uses only. 

2/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

3/ Includes Arkansas (1996), Califomia, Kentucky (1997), Montana (1996), New Mexico, Oklahoma 

(1996), and South Carolina (1996). 
P.17 

TABLE 10 

FIRE CLAY SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS 

IN THE UNITED STATES, BY USE 1/ 

(Metric tons) 

Use 1996 1997 

Ceramics and glass 2/ 

Heavy clay products and lightweight aggregates 3/ 

Refractories: 

Firebrick, block and shapes 

Other refractories 4/ 

Miscellaneous 

Exports 

w 

78,800 

166,000 

188,000 

72,800 

W 

W 

W 

176,000 

168,000 

306,000 

-

Total 505,000 649,000 

W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Miscellaneous." 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/Includes pottery. 

3/ Includes portland cement, terra cotta, and other unknown uses. 

4/ Includes common brick, flue linings (1996), foundry sand, grogs and calcines, mortar and cement, 

plug, tap and wad, terra cotta (1997) and other unknown uses. 

TABLE 11 

FULLER'S EARTH SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS 

IN THE UNITED STATES, BY STATE 1/ 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

State 

1996: 

Florida 

Georgia 

Southem States 3/ 

Western States 4/ 

Total 

1997: 

Florida 

Georgia 

Southern States 3/ 

Western States 4/ 

Total 

Attapulgite 

Quantity 

377 

739 

(5/) 

1.120 

(5/) 

576 

(5/) 

576 

Value 

58,900 

89,200 

(5/) 

148.000 

(5/) 

70,500 

(5/) 

70,500 

Montmorillonite 

Quantity 

(21) 

(.21) 

504 

981 

1.490 

W 

(2/) 

840 

955 

1,800 

Value 

(21) 

(21) 

38,500 

91,100 

130.000 

W 

(21) 

101,000 

83,300 

184,000 

Tota 

Quantity 

377 

739 

504 

981 

2.600 

W 

576 

840 

955 

2,370 

Value 

58,900 

89,200 

38,500 

91,100 

278.000 

W 

70,500 

101,000 

83,300 

255,000 

W Withheld to avoid disclosing company propietary data. 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits: may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Included with "Attapulgite." 

3/ Includes Florida (1997), Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia. 

4/ Includes California, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Texas, and Utah. 

5/ Included with "Montmorillonite." 
TABLE 12 

FULLER'S EARTH SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS 

IN THE UNITED STATES, BY USE 1/ 

P.18 

(Metric tons) 

Use 1996 1997 

Absorbents: 

Oil and grease absorbent 

Pet waste absorbent 

Miscellaneous absorbent 

Animal feed 

Drilling mud 

Fertilizers 

Fillers, extenders, binders 2/ 

Filtering, clarifying, decolorizing, animal, mineral, vegetable oils, 

and greases 

Pesticides and related products 

Miscellaneous 3/ 

Exports 4/ 

Total 

258,000 

1,530,000 

W 

89,600 

24,000 

48,900 

76,600 

8,170 

261,000 

145,000 

164,000 

2,600,000 

274,000 

1,470,000 

W 

113,000 

W 

42,500 

73,000 

5,930 

176,000 

173;000 

44,000 

2,370,000 

W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Miscellaneous." 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Includes adhesives, asphalt tiles, gypsum products, medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics (1996), 

paint, paper coating (1997), plastics (1996), asphalt emulsions, textiles, and other unknown uses. 

3/ Includes catalysts (oil-refining), roofing granules, chemical manufacturing (1996), portland 

cement, refractories, waterproofing and sealing (1997), and other unknown uses. 

4/ Includes absorbents, fillers, extenders and binders, floor and wall tiles, refractories, and other 

unknown uses. 

TABLE 13 

KAOLIN SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS 

IN THE UNITED STATES, BY STATE 1/ 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

State 

Arkansas 

Florida 

Georgia 

South Carolina 

Other 2/ 

Total 

1996 

Quantity 

161 

35 

8,040 

442 rl 

494 .1 

9,180 r/ 

Value 

W 

3,760 

1,050,000 

21,400 r/ 

23,400 

1,100,000 r/ 

1997 

Quantity 

W 

W 

8,300 

447 

617 

9,410 

Value 

W 

W 

981,000 

29,000 

26,900 

1,040,000 

r/ Revised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Other 

or Total." 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Includes Alabama, California, Colorado, Minnesota (1996), Nevada, North Carolina, 

Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and items indicated by symbol W. 

TABLE 14 

KAOLIN SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS 

IN THE UNITED STATES, BY KIND 1/ 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

Kind 

Airfloat 

Calcined 2/ 

Delaminated 

Unprocessed 

Water-washed 

Total 

1996 

Quantity 

1,210 .1 

1,670 

1,520 

450 

4,340 

9,180 r/ 

Value 

66,200 r/ 

309,000 

191,000 

8,430 

525,000 

1,100,000 r/ 

1997 

Quantity 

1,320 

1,690 

1,440 

296 

4,670 

9,410 

Value 

71,900 

269,000 

146,000 

7,090 

546,000 

1,040,000 

r/ Revised. 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

21 Includes pigment-grade and refractory-grade calcined kaolin. 
P.19 

TABLE 15 

CALCINED KAOLIN SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS 

IN THE UNITED STATES, BY STATE 1/ 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

State 

High-temperature 

Quantity Value 

Low-temperature 

Quantity Value 

1996: 

Alabama and Georgia 

Other 2/ 

Total 

1997: 

Alabama and Georgia 

Other 2/ 

Total 

858 

99 

957 

W 

W 

13,900 

4,190 

18,100 

W 

W 

670 

38 

708 

742 

41 

285,000 

6,580 

291.000 

244,000 

8,550 

909 16,100 784 253,000 

W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Total." 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Includes Arkansas, California, Colorado (1996), Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and 

Texas. 

TABLE 16 

GEORGIA KAOLIN SOLD OR USED 

BY PRODUCERS, BY KIND 1/ 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

Kind 

Airfloat 

Calcined 2/ 

Delaminated 4/ 

Unprocessed 

Water-washed 

Total 

1996 

Quantity 

832 

1,270 

1,500 

133 

4,300 

8,040 

Value 

38,300 

293,000 

191,000 

5,220 

523,000 

1,050,000 

1997 

Quantity 

849 

1,200 

1,440 

190 

4,630 

8,300 

Value 

37,800 

244,000 3/ 

146,000 

W 

545,000 

981,000 

W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Total." 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Includes pigment-grade and refractory-grade calcined kaolin. 

3/ Excludes value for high-temperature; included in "Total" 

4/May include some sales of water-washed kaolin in 1996. 
TABLE 17 

GEORGIA KAOLIN SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS, BY USE 1/2/ 

(Metric tons) 

Domestic: 

Ceramics and glass: 

Catalysts (oil-refining) 

Electrical porcelain 

Fiber glass 

Roofing granules 

Sanitaryware 

Other 3/ 

Fillers, extenders, and binder: 

Adhesives 

Paint 

Paper coating 

Paper filling 

Plastic 

Rubber 

Other 4/ 

Heavy clay products 5/ 

Refractories 6/ 

Undistributed 7/ 

Total 

Exports: 

Paint 

Paper coating 8/ 

Paper filling 8/ 

Rubber 

Undistributed 9/ 

Total 

Grand total 

P.20 

Use 1996 1997 

W 

5,930 

418,000 

9,660 

64,200 

234,000 

78,400 

262,000 

2,800,000 

847,000 

31,000 

112,000 

86,500 

20,900 

523,000 

150,000 

5.650.000 

66,300 

2,000,000 

142,000 

8,570 

185,000 

2,400,000 

8,040,000 

W 

W 

429,000 

W 

W 

319,000 

71,100 

296,000 

2,980,000 

905,000 

33,600 

84,500 

98,400 

46,600 

565,000 

137,000 

5.970.000 

72,800 

2,010,000 

105,000 

7,020 

138,000 

: 2.330.000 

8,300,000 

W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Other" or "Undistributed." 

I / Includes high-temperature calcined, low-temperature calcined, and delaminated. 

2/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

3/ Includes crockery/earthenware, fine china/dinnerware, glazes, glass and enamels, pottery, and miscellaneous ceramics. 

4/ Includes asphalt emulsion, asphalt tile, fertilizers, gypsum products, medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics, pesticides and 

related products, textiles and miscellaneous fillers, extenders and binders, and ink. ' 

5/ Includes brick (common and face), portland cement, and miscellaneous clay products. 

6/ Includes firebrick, blocks and shapes, grogs and calcines, high-alumina specialties, kiln furniture, and miscellaneous 

refractories. 

7/ Includes chemical manufacturing, civil engineering and sealings, drilling mud, filtering, clarifying, and decolorizing, floo 

and wall tilesE pet waste absorbents, and other unknown uses. 

8/ Some export sales may be included under Domestic sales. 

9/ Includes fiber glass, sanitaryware, ink, miscellaneous fillers, extenders and binders, and other unknown uses. 
P.21 

TABLE 18 

SOUTH CAROLINA KAOLIN SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS, 

BY KIND I / 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

Kind 

Airfloat 

Unprocessed 2/ 

Total 

1996 

Quantity r/ 

276 

166 

442 

Value 

20,000 r/ 

1,460 

21,400 r/ 

1997 

Quantity 

390 

57 

447 

Value 

27,500 

1,540 

29,000 

r/ Revised. 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Includes pigment-grade calcined kaolin. 

TABLE 19 

SOUTH CAROLINA KAOLIN SOLD OR USED 

BY PRODUCERS, BY KIND AND USE 1/ 

(Metric tons) 

Kind and use 

Adhesives 

Animal feed and pet waste absorbent 

Ceramics 2/ 

Fertilizers, pesticides and related products 

Fiber glass 

Paper coating and filling 

Plastics 

Rubber 

Refractories 3/ 

Other uses 4/ 

Exports 5/ 

Total 

1996 

W 

W 

18,900 r/ 

5,220 

W 

8,290 

W 

119,000 r/ 

10,200 

253,000 r/ 

27,400 r/ 

442,000 r/ 

1997 

14,800 

W 

24,400 

W 

W 

W 

5,290 

133,000 

10,300 

201,000 

57,500 

447,000 

r/ Revised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Other uses" 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Includes crockery and earthenware (1996), fine china/dinnerware, floor and wall tile, pottery, 

roofing granules, and sanitaryware (1997). 

3/ Includes refractory calcines and grogs, firebrick, blocks and shapes, refractory mortar and cement 

(1996), and high-alumina refractories. 

4/ Includes brick (face and common), catalysts (oil refining), asphalt emulsion, asphalt tile (1997), 

gypsum products, and unknown uses. 

5/ Includes paint, paper filling, and rubber. 
TABLE 20 

KAOLIN SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS IN THE UNITED STATES, BY USE 1/ 

(Metric tons) 

P.22 

Use 1996 1997 

Domestic: 

Ceramics: 

Catalyst (oil and gas refining) 

Electrical porcelain 

Fine china and dinnerware 

Floor and wall tile 

Pottery 

Roofing granules 

Sanitaryware 

Miscellaneous 

Chemical manufacture 

Civil engineering 

Glass fiber, mineral wool 

Filler, extender, binder: 

Adhesive 

Fertilizer 

Medical, pharmaceutical cosmetic 

Paint 

Paper coating 

Paper filling 

Pesticide 

Plastic 

Rubber 

Miscellaneous 

Heavy clay products: 

Brick, common and face 

Portland cement 

Refractories: 

Firebrick, block and shapes 

Grogs and calcines 

High alumina brick, specialties, kiln furniture 

Foundry sand, mortar, cement, miscellaneous refractories 

Miscellaneous applications 

Total 

Exports: 

Ceramics 

Foundry sand, grogs and calcines; other refractories 

Paint 

Paper coating 

Paper filling 

Rubber 

Miscellaneous 

Total ' 

Grand total 

212,000 

12,300. 

26,400 

31,800 

25,700 

21,300 

72,100 

100,000 

W 

7,780 

458,000 

93,700 r/ 

W 

W 

288,000 

2,810,000 

854,000 

16,700 

36,300 

231,000 r/ 

94,500 r/ 

214,000 

W 

565,000 

173,000 

86,800 

78,000 

231,000 

6,740,000 r/ 

179,000 

W 

66,300 

2.000,000 

142,000 

35,800 

19,900 

2.440,000 

9,180,000 r/ 

227,000 

13,700 

19,800 

33,400 

27,100 

22,900 

53,700 

66,700 

W 

6,930 

496,000 

85,900 

5,200 

W 

329,000 

2,'990,000 

918,000 

19,000 

38,900 

218,000 

114,000 

105,000 

71,000 

13,700 

867,000 

45,700 

73,300 

163,000 

7.020.000 

129,000 

W 

72,800 

2,010.000 

105,000 

64,600 

10,500 

2.390.000 

9,410,000 

r/ Revised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Miscellaneous" or "Miscellaneous 

applications." 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 
TABLE 21 

COMMON CLAY AND SHALE USED IN LIGHTWEIGHT AGGREGATE PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES BY STATE 1/ 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

State 

Concrete 

block 

Structural 

concrete 

Highway 

surfacing Other Total 

Total 

value e/ 

1996: 

Alabama and Arkansas 

California 

Florida and Indiana 

Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana 

Mississippi and Missouri 

New York 

North Carolina 

Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania 

Texas 

Utah and Virginia 

Total 

1997: 

Alabama and Arkansas 

Califomia el 

Florida and Indiana 

Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana 

Missouri 

New York 

North Carolina el 

Oklahoma and Ohio 

Texas e/ 

Utah and Virginia 

Total 

792 

141 

153 

295 

15 

265 

301 

187 

49 

255 

103 

104 

36 

128 

1 

235 

52 

26 

157 

45 

21 

222 

67 

76 

60 

86 

116 

31 

35 

2,550 740 277 430 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

983 

321 

249 

509 

134 

500 

353 

213 

459 

335 

3,990 

13,200 

7,540 

1,650 

1,180 

1,560 

13,200 

4,050 

1,430 

2,520 

4,850 

2.450 

926 

141 

190 

334 

-

201 

300 

211 

49 

194 

887 

104 

104 

42 

70 

-

152 

52 

14 

157 

45 e/ 

245 

25 

-

-

30 

-

-

-

-

222 

-

471 

_ 

76 

-

160 

128 

-

-

-

31 

35 el 

4.060 

1,060 

321 

232 

594 

128 

354 

353 

224 

. 459 

274' 

51.200 

15,600 

7,540 

1,470 

8,380 

1,690 

11,300 

4,050 

1,240 

2,520 

4,680 

58,400 

e/ Estimated. 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

TABLE 22 

COMMON CLAY AND SHALE USED IN BUILDING BRICK 

PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES, BY STATE 1/ 2/ 

State 

1996 1997 

Quantity 

860 

448 

288 

295 

287 

1,250 

128 

383 

760 

277 

541 

1,940 r/ 

835 

445 

654 

819 

1,120 

671 

966 

Value 

2,160 

375 

1,390 

2,190 

1,370 

8,950 

634 

1,180 

2,080 

706 

2,210 

7,310 

3,990 

2,260 

2,140 

3,290 

7,840 

2,030 

3,860 

Quantity 

917 

449 

254 

240 

243 

1,410 

92 

365 

816 

271 

507 

1,980 

573 

405 

646 

922 

1,020 

689 

1,040 

Value 

2,030 

464 

1,160 

1,880 

971 

9,410 

W 

1,110 

2,350 

884 

2,230 

5,960 

2,470 

2,690 

2,020 

2,180 

5,580 

2,180 

4,580 

Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Colorado 

Connecticut, New Jersey, 3/ New York 3/ 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana and Iowa 

Kentucky 3/ and Tennessee 3/ 

Maryland and West Virginia 4/ 

Mississippi and Missouri 

North Carolina 

Ohio 

Oklahoma 

Pennsylvania 

South Carolina 

Texas 

Virginia 

Others/ 

Total 13,000 56,000 12,800 50,100 

r/ Revised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Other." 

1/ Includes extruded and other brick. 

2/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

3/ Extruded brick only. 

4/ Includes other brick only. 

5/ Includes Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon 

(1996), Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. 
TABLE 23 

U.S. EXPORTS OF CLAYS IN 1997, BY COUNTRY 1/ 

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) 

P.24 

Country 

Argentina 

Australia 

Belgium 

Brazil 

Canada 

Finland 

France 

Germany 

Indonesia 

Italy 

Japan 

Korea, Republic of 

Malaysia 

Mexico 

Netherlands 

Singapore 

South Africa 

Taiwan 

Thailand 

United Kingdom 

Venezuela 

Other 

Total 

Argentina 

Australia 

Belgium 

Brazil 

Canada 

Finland 

France 

Germany 

Indonesia 

Italy 

Japan 

Korea, Republic of 

Malaysia 

Mexico 

Netherlands 

Singapore 

South Africa 

Taiwan 

Thailand 

United Kingdom 

Venezuela 

Other 

Total 

< Ball clay 

Quantity 

1 

(21) 

2 

(21) 

-

1 

7 

(2/) 

-

-

4 

(2/) 

(21) 

27 

(2/) 

' 

-

7 

-

(21) 

12 

30 

91 

Kaolin 

Quantity 

15 

15 

38 

6 

701 

305 

7 

23 

70 

141 

869 

163 

4 

182 

307 

4 

15 

146 

18 

62 

22 

268 

3,380 

Value 

26 

3 

40 

5 

-

56 

126 

8 

-

-

127 

5 

6 

1,640 

25 

-

-

707 

-

3 

1,210 

1,920 

5,900 

Value 

2,760 

8,700 

10,200 

1,660 

81,100 

50,400 

1,850 

9,060 

14,500 

20,500 

174,000 

27,000 

1,210 

18,900 

46,100 

988 

3,370 

20,600 

4,100 

8,060 

5,480 

73,400 

583,000 

Bentonite 

Quantity 

(21) 

7 

1 

23 

256 

(2/) 

41 

14 

6 

(2/) 

202 

18 

16 

31 

45 

17 

1 

29 

21 

58 

22 

42 

850 

Clays, n.e.c 

Quantity 

3 

4 

2 

4 

196 

(21) 

2 

9 

3 

3 

26 

6 

2 

.9 

16 

3 

4 

14 

4 

26 

16 

38 

390 

Value 

683 

1,240 

583 

3,390 

16,400 

108 

1,960 

1,340 

1,450 

356 

17,400 

5,330 

1,240 

2,510 

4,010 

2,050 

358 

5,220 

1,920 

5,480 

2,650 

9,040 

84,700 

3/ 

Value 

1,380 

3,860 

1,990 

3,530 

30,600 

756 

1,760 

3,710 

2,330 

1,390 

15,300 

6,850 

1,260 

3,020 

13,000 

3,210 

1,940 

3,800 

2,380 

20,400 

5,140 

19,100 

147,000 

Fire clay 

Quantity 

(21) 

3 

3 

(2/) 

5 

-

(2/) 

3 

1 

2 

28 

5 

-

69 

71 

-

1 

19 

(2/) 

3 

(2/) 

9 

222 

Total 

Quantity 

20 

29 

46 

33 

1,250 

307 

57 

50 

80 

149 

1,130 

192 

31 

318 

456 

25 

20 

215 

43 

151 

73 

403 

5,080 

Value 

47 

1,050 

192 

102 

884 

-

49 

333 

143 

156 

2,600 

657 

-

5,380 

8,160 

-

59 

2,110 

54 

280 

74 

1,110 

23,500 

Value 

5,020 

14,900 

13,100 

8,710 

137,000 

51,300 

5,780 

14,500 

18,400 

23,000 

209,000 

39,800 

5,080 

31,500 

73,100 

6,430 

5,740 

32,500 

8,500 

34,500 

14,800 

108,000 

860,000 

Fuller's earth 

Quantity 

(21) 

-

(2/) 

(2/) 

96 

-

(2/) 

(2/) 

-

3 

(2/) 

(2/) 

9 

1 

17 

1 

(2/) 

-

(21) 

2 

1 

14 

144 

Value 

122 

-

19 

25 

8.000 

-

33 

14 

-

613 

34 

6 

1,370 

124 

1,720 

180 

15 

-

47 

361 

289 

3,170 

16,100 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/Less than 1/2 unit. 

3/ Also includes chamotte or dinas earth, activated clays and earths, and artificially activated clays. 

Source: Bureau ofthe Census. 
P.25 

TABLE 24 

U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF CLAY IN 1997, BY KIND 1/ 

Kind 

Quantity 

(metric tons) 

China clay or kaolin: 

Brazil 

China 

New Zealand 

United Kingdom 

Other 

Total 

Fire clay: 

Canada 

France 

United Kingdom 

Other 

Total 

Canada 

France 

Netherlands 

Switzerland 

Total 

Bentonite: 

Canada 

Japan 

Mexico 

United Kingdom 

Other 

Total 

Germany 

United Kingdom 

Total 

Other clay: 

Canada 

Italy 

South Africa 

United Kingdom 

Other 

Total 

Chamotte or dina's earth: Denmark 

Austria 

Canada 

Germany 

Mexico 

Other 

Total 

Grand total 

17,400-

3,230 

1,380 

8,030 

342 

Decolorizing earths and fuller's earth: 

Common blue clay and other ball clay: 

Artificially activated clay and activated earth: 

63,700 

Value 

(thousands) 

$2,760 

621 

873 

2,720 

290 

30,400 

25 

23 

13 

8 

69 

3,290 

220 

2 

20 

3,530 

1,190 

1,640 

978 

2,740 

953 

7.560 

30 

793 

823 

629 

194 

519 

1,140 

245 

2,720 

33 

751 

985 

1,110 

14,600 

1,110 

18.600 

7,270 

17 

37 

4 

22 

79 

342 

109 

11 

11 

473 

348 

156 

223 

1,600 

. 478 

2,810 

30 

231 

261 

254 

73 

728 

494 

494 

2,040 

14 

992 

727 

1,660 

4,920 

2,010 

10.300 

23,200 

1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

Source: Bureau ofthe Census. 
P.26 

-

Country 3/ 

Algeria 4/ 

Argentina 

Armenia 

Australia el 4/ 

Bosnia and Herzegovina el 

Brazil (beneficiated) 

Bulgaria 

Burma 

Chile 

Croatia 

Cyprus 

Czech Republic 

Egypt 

France el 

Georgia el 

Germany 

Greece 

Guatemala el 

Hungary 

Indonesia 

Iran 6/ 

Italy 

Japan 

Macedonia el 

Mexico 

Morocco 

Mozambique el 

New Zealand (processed) 

Pakistan 

Peru 

Philippines 

Poland 

Romania 

Serbia and Montenegro 

South Africa 7/ 

Spain 

Tanzania e/ 

Turkey 

Turkmenistan el 

U.S.S.R. el 8/ 

United States 

Zimbabwe 7/ 

Total 

el Estimated, r/ Revised. 

TABLE 25 

BENTONITE: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY 1/2/ 

1993 

20,833 

96,706 

50 el 

35,000 

800 

113,180 r/ 

78,000 

200 

989 

10,000 el 

51,689 

63,000 

6,013 

6,000 

13,000 

473,102 

677,578 

12,300 

9,404 

13,707 

53,667 r/ 

327,000 

517,389 

35,000 

94,600 

10,811 

100 

1,613 

7,991 

10,250 

5,050 

19,800 

50,000 el 

110 

50,441 

162,405 

70 

456,597 

50.000 

1,600,000 

2,870,000 

113,470 r/ 

8,120,000 r/ 

(Metric tons) 

1994 

20,215 

313,407 r/ 

100 el 

35,000 

800 

144,950 r/ 

76,300 

795 

1,213 

10,391 

46,530 

65,000 

2,379 

7,000 

13,000 

499,000 r/ 

697,773 

4,408 5/ 

14,700 

14,409 

71,759 r/ 

386,000 

484,115 

30,000 

100,000 el 

24,919 

3,349 5/ 

930 

11,180 

27,682 

3,415 r/ 

19,900 

41,056 

215 

71,773 

179,233 

70 

516,187 

50,000 

1,300,000 

3,290,000 

169,097 

8,750,000 r/ 

1/ World totals, U.S. data, and estimated data are rounded to three significant digits; may 

2/Table includes data available through July 15, 1998. 

1995 

17,088 r/ 

111,011 r/ 

110 

35,000 

800 

150,000 r/ 

125,800 

2,655 

684 r/ 

7,327 

49,487 r/ 

54,000 

1,930 r/ 

-

13,000 

529,000 r/ 

1,115,119 

4,500 

22,792 

26,057 

54,798 r/ 

591,000 r/ 

478,056 

30,000 

72,599 

29,308 

3,000 

3,699 

5,759 

26,961 

7,636 r/ 

6,300 r/ 

42,277 

192 

70,927 

172,265 r/ 

70 

602,499 

50,000 

1,300,000 

3,820,000 

169,823 r/ 

9,800,000 r/ 

not add to totals shown. 

1996 

17,200 r/ 

134,588 r/ 

2,750 

35,000 

800 

186,000 r/ 

118,212 

2,600 el 

1,191 r/ 

9,728 

70,600 r/ 

59,000 

2,210 r/ 

-

13,000 5/ 

491,000 r/ 

973,517 r/ 

4,500 

15,376 

26,000 el 

85,000 el 

475,000 r/ 

468,728 

30,000 

69,810 r/ 

39,680 r/ 

3,000 

13,734 r/ 

15,290 

18,592 

8,000 r/e/ 

8,000 r/ 

43,543 r/ 

95 

48,076 

151,155 r/ 

75 r/ 

600,000 el 

50,000 

1,200,000 

3,740,000 

185,953 r/ 

9,420,000 r/ 

i ' * 

1997 el 

17,000 

140,000 

2,750 

35,000 

800 

180,000 

120,000 

2,500 

1,200 

7,331 5/ 

71,000 

110,000 5/ 

2,200 

-

12,000 5/ 

500,000 

950,000 

4,500 

14,848 5/ 

25,000 

85,000 

500,000 

487,670 5/ 

30,000 

111,503 5/ 

49,633 5/ 

3,000 

14,000 

12,000 

18,600 

8,000 

10,000 

27,133 5/ 

100 

30,615 5/ 

150,000 

75 

600,000 

50,000 

1,100,000 

4,020,000 5/ 

170,000 

9,680,000 

3/ In addition to the countries listed, Canada and China are believed to produce bentonite, but output is not reported, and available information is inadequate to 

make reliable estimates of ouput levels. 

4/ Includes bentonitic clays. 

5/ Reported figure. 

6/ Year beginning March 21 of that stated. 

7/ May include other clays. 

8/ Dissolved in December 1991 

Turkmenistan. 

however, information is inadequate to formulate reliable estimates for individual countries, except Armenia Georgia, and 
P.27 

TABLE 26 

FULLER'S EARTH: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY 1/2/ 

(Metric tons) 

Country 3/ 1993 1_994 1995 [996 1997 el 

Algeria 3,229 4,550 4,500 el 4,500 el 4,500 

Argentina el 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,500 1,500 

Australia (attapulgite) el 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 

Germany (unprocessed) el 670,000 498,000 600,000 600,000 600,000 

Italy 30,000 el 24,000 r/ 34,000 r/ 26,000 r/ 30,000 

Mexico 36,068 21,377 15,755 41,800 r/ 51,430 4/ 

Morocco (smectite) 38,680 22,782 15,027 16,623 17,000 

Pakistan 20,941 15,335 12,862 13,415 14,000 

Senegal (attapulgite) el 119,000 119,000 120,000 120,000 100,000 

South Africa (attapulgite) 7,030 10,230 8,049 14,318 9,017 4/ 

Spain (attapulgite) 98,336 91,124 94,266 r/ 94,000 r/ 94,000 

United Kingdom 5/ 187,100 134,000 132,300 143,000 r/e/ 140,000 

United States 6/ 2,450,000 2,640,000 2,640,000 2,600,000 2,370,000 

Total 3,680,000 3,600,000 3,690,000 3,690,000 r/ 3,450,000 

el Estimated, r/Revised. 

1/ World totals, U.S. data, and estimated data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Excludes centrally planned economy countries and former such countries, some of which presumably produce fuller's earth, but for which 

no information is available. Table includes data available through July 9,1998. 

3/ In addition to the market economy countries listed, France, India, Iran, Japan, and Turkey have reportedly produced fuller's earth in the past 

and may continue to do so, but output is not reported, and available information is inadequate to make reliable estimates of output levels. 

4/ Reported figure. 

5/ Salable product. 

6/ Sold or used by producers. 
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P.29 

TABLE 27-Continued 

KAOLIN; WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY 1/2/ 

(Metric tons) 

Country 3/ 1993 1994 1J95 1996 1997 e/ 

Uzbekistan el 5,500,000 5,500,000 5,500,000 5,500,000 5,500,000 

Venezuela 22,000 10,345 3,020 7,542 r/ 8,225 5/ 

Vietnam el 800 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 

Zimbabwe 90 el 462 57 - r/ 

Total 31,300,000 r/ 37,600,000 r/ 39,700,000 r/ 38,600,000 39,600,000 

el Estimated, r/Revised. XX Not applicable. 

1/ World totals, U.S. data, and estimated data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 

2/ Table includes data available through July 9,1998. 

3/ In addition to the countries listed, China, Morocco, and Suriname may also have produced kaolin, but information is inadequate to make reliable 

estimates of output levels. 

4/ Data for year ending June 30 of that stated. 

5/ Reported figure. 

6/ Data for year ending July 7 of that stated. 

7/ Includes crude and washed kaolin and refractory clays not further described. 

8/ Dry weight. 

9/ Kaolin sold or used by producers.