Overview
Bentonite is Hydrated Aluminium Silicate having typical physical properties like Swelling, Plasticity & Water Absorption. Mineralogical name of Bentonite is “Montmorillonite”, designated by the chemical formula (Al,Fe1.67Mg.33)Si10(OH)2Na(+)Ca(++)/2.33. Montmorrilonite composition consists of two basic building blocks of alumina octahedral sheet and one silica tetrahedral sheet.
We find both type of Bentonite i.e Calcium & Sodium based. The color of the clay varies as cream, light green, reddish tinge, tannish brown to dark brown based on deposits which are mainly occur along the contact zones of Deccan trap & Laterite formations, in some places also occurs below the deccan traps. Age of the Kutch Bentonite of lower pileocene (65 Million Years)
Bentonite deposit in Kutch varies in different forms like lenses, pockets & veain shaped bodies. The thickness of Bentonite varies from 1 – 10 meters. In some areas Bentonite occurs below 25 meters.
Water absorption property makes bentonite versatile mineral and is suitable for various industries and different grades decide the process of end usage.