China Clay Deposits in Mokhdumnagar of Birbhum District, West Bengal—Its Potentiality in Ceramic and other Industries

Abstract

The vast deposits of Mokhdumnagar china clay from Birbhum district of West Bengal has been characterised from mineralogical and ceramic points of view with the object of evaluating its suitability in the ceramic and other allied industries. The study includes examination of the general characteristics, chemical, mineralogical and physical properties of the clay both in the crude and washed form. Washing the crude clay resulted in two types of beneficiated clays, Grade I and Grade II. Investigations have also been made by incorporating the clay in some typical ceramic body compositions. The results reveal that the clay is essentially kaolinitic in nature and being only moderately plastic, requires incorporation of at least 10–20% of ball clay to allow its utilization in the pottery industry except in the manufacture of white porcelain. The Grade II clay however, may be used in making stoneware, earthenware or wall tiles with slight alteration in compositions. The clay Grade I may be more or less suitable in paper industry as a filler, in rubber industry and in insecticide industry.