12182015100200IMYB-2014 Fireclay (Adv)
12182015100200IMYB-2014 Fireclay (Adv)
12182015100200IMYB-2014 Fireclay (Adv)
Indian Minerals
Yearbook 2014
(Part- III: Mineral Reviews)
53rd Edition
FIRECLAY
(ADVANCE RELEASE)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINES
INDIAN BUREAU OF MINES
December, 2015
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FIRECLAY
20 Fireclay
PRODUCTION, STOCKS & PRICES
T he name fireclay is given to a group of refractory
clays which can withstand temperatures above
pyrometric cone equivalent (PCE) - 19. Refractoriness
The production of fireclay at 707 thousand tonnes
in 2013-14 decreased by 29% as compared to that in the
and plasticity are the two main properties needed in
previous year due to heavy rain, lack of demand and
fireclay for its suitability in the manufacture of refractory
closure of some mines for environment clearance.
bricks. A good fireclay should have a high fusion point
(>1,580o C) and good plasticity. Fireclay containing high There were 52 reporting mines in 2013-14 as
alumina and low iron oxide, lime, magnesia & alkalies is against 74 mines in the preceding year. Besides these
preferred by refractory manufacturers. The aluminous principal mines, the production of fireclay was also re-
(kaolinitic) variety of fireclay is more refractory because ported as an associated mineral by 17 mines, which
of its hardness and density and absence of iron, giving accounted for about 22% of the total production during
it a white-burning colour. The absence of alkalies gives the year 2013-14. Nine principal producers contributed
it a very high fusion temperature. 74% of the total production. Twenty four mines includ-
ing 8 associated mines each producing more than 5,000
RESOURCES tonnes annually accounted for about 88% of the total
India possesses substantial reserves of fireclay. production. Private sector mines reported 99% output
The best deposits occur in association with the coal of fireclay.
seams in the Lower Gondwana Coalfields of Andhra Rajasthan continued to occupy the first position
Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and among states with contribution of 44% followed by Tamil
Neyveli lignite fields in Tamil Nadu. Notable occurrences Nadu (23%),West Bengal (14%), Madhya Pradesh (7%),
of fireclay, not associated with coal measures, are Gujarat (6%), Andhra Pradesh (4%), Karnataka (2%) and
reported in Gujarat, Jabalpur region of Madhya Pradesh nominal production was reported from Maharashtra
and Belpahar-Sundergarh areas of Odisha. The reserves (Tables - 2 to 5).
of fireclay are substantial but reserves of high-grade The mine-head stocks of fireclay at the end of the
(non-plastic) fireclay containing more than 37% year 2013-14 were 305 thousand tonnes as compared
alumina are limited. to 429 thousand tonnes at the beginning of the year
Reserves and resources of fireclay as per UNFC (Table - 6).
system as on 1.4.2010 are estimated at 713.5 million The average daily employment of labour during
tonnes. Out of these, 30.1 million tonnes are grouped 2013-14 was 500 as against 777 in the preceding year.
under reserves category while the bulk, i.e., Domestic prices of fireclay are furnished in the General
683.4 million tonnes are classified under resources Review on 'Prices'.
category. Out of 30.1 million tonnes reserves, 14.4
million tonnes are proved reserves and 15.7 million MINING AND MARKETING
tonnes are probable reserves. Out of the total resources,
Odisha accounts for 24% followed by Madhya Pradesh Practically, all the fireclay mines are worked
(17%), Tamil Nadu (16%), Jharkhand & Rajasthan (9% manually. Most of the mines are small and worked by
each) and Gujarat (8%). Gradewise, refractory-plastic opencast method by forming benches in overburden
grade accounts for 36% followed by refractory- and fireclay. Most of the refractory manufacturing units
unspecified (16%) and refractory-non-plastic/semi- have their own captive mines.
plastic (15%). The remaining 33% are of others, The important marketing centres of fireclay are
unclassified and not-known grades (Table-1). Mahuamilan and Balumath in Jharkhand, Than in
Gujarat, Katni in Madhya Pradesh and Belpahar in
EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT Odisha. Water seepage beyond the depth of
6 m is the main problem commonly faced by most of the
No exploration was carried out during the year mine owners and as a result of which most of the mines
2013-14 by any Central/State govt. agencies. are kept closed during rainy season.
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Table – 1 : Reserves/Resources of Fireclay as on 1.4.2010
(By Grades/States)
(In '000 tonnes)
All India : Total 14,376 7,358 8,371 30,104 10,020 19,215 21,775 47,666 54,377 529,173 1,190 683,415 713,519
By Grades
Refractory-non-
plastic/semi-plastic 2,914 390 1,337 4,642 3,959 11,953 1,743 807 1,180 86,235 - 105,876 110,518
Refractory-plastic 2,801 1,165 1,253 5,220 719 3,656 2,934 4,241 4,527 238,860 232 255,168 260,388
Refractory-unspecified 7,240 3,990 4,945 16,175 4,743 3,208 5,244 1,115 2,658 79,233 - 96,201 112,377
Others 580 1,664 542 2,786 579 204 1,920 7,236 4,137 45,096 125 59,297 62,084
Unclassified 704 17 293 1,013 - - 5,097 59 30 5,679 - 10,865 11,878
Not-known 137 132 - 268 20 195 4,837 34,206 41,845 74,070 833 156,006 156,275
By States
Andhra Pradesh 548 647 381 1,576 50 735 1,314 56 908 18,444 132 21,638 23,214
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Assam - - - - - - - - - 3,161 - 3,161 3,161
FIRECLAY
Bihar - - - - - - - - - 44 - 44 44
Chhattisgarh - 23 12 35 - 27 - 7,180 3,400 10,336 - 20,942 20,978
Delhi - - - - - - - 6 13 45 - 64 64
Gujarat 276 29 132 437 1,175 635 923 638 962 53,526 - 57,859 58,295
Jharkhand 828 - 775 1,602 12 479 125 - 249 64,151 - 65,017 66,619
Karnataka 95 324 85 503 792 595 6,871 - 226 5,250 - 13,734 14,238
Kerala - - - - - - - 8,200 51 9,929 - 18,181 18,181
Madhya Pradesh 2,167 2,026 269 4,462 829 3,747 5,690 1,582 2,823 101,081 100 115,852 120,314
Maharashtra 244 - 388 632 - - - - - 6,850 - 6,850 7,482
Meghalaya - - - - - - - - - 10,999 - 10,999 10,999
Odisha 581 278 52 911 2,135 11,280 3,774 26,185 42,747 83,045 - 169,166 170,076
Rajasthan 8,543 659 5,000 14,202 195 1,071 583 2,256 2,580 45,536 - 52,221 66,423
Tamil Nadu 322 3,269 423 4,014 4,833 171 1611 1,561 - 102,069 - 110,244 114,258
Tripura - - - - - - - 1 - 369 - 370 370
Uttar Pradesh - - - - - - - - - 3,221 - 3,221 3,221
West Bengal 771 104 854 1,729 - 476 883 - 419 11,115 958 13,852 15,581
Figures rounded off.
FIRECLAY
Location of mine
Location of mine
Name & address of
Name & address of
producer State District
producer State District
Sampat Lal Daga, Rajasthan Bikaner Firoz Musabhai Kaladiya, Gujarat Surendranagar
Labuji Ka Katla, 1st Floor, C/o Musabhai Ismailbhai,
Bagree Mohalla, Kaladia, PO.Chotila,
Bikaner-334 001, Fulwadi, Thangadh Road,
Rajasthan. Surendranagar-363 530,
Gujarat.
A.Abdullah, Tamil Nadu Ariyalur
No.10/108, North Street,
T.Pottakollai.Z.Thathanur, Sunder Lal Daga, Rajasthan Bikaner
Udayarpalayam -621 804, Bagree Mohalla,
Distt. Ariyalur, Bikaner-334 001,
Tamil Nadu. Rajasthan.
Saurabh Chandana, Rajasthan Bikaner
Rathkhana Colony, Birbhum Kaolin & Allied West Bengal Birbhum
Bikaner - 334 001, Industries (P) Ltd,
Rajasthan. 19, Block -1, Pannajhill,
Barrackpur Road,
Prism Cements Ltd, Tamil Nadu Perambalur Barasat-700 125,
305, Laxmi Niwas Apartments, Distt. 24 Parganas North,
Ameerpet, West Bengal.
Hyderabad-500 016,
Andhra Pradesh
Smt.Arunachalam Saradha, Tamil Nadu Perambalur
45, Malvai Road,
Patelnagar Minerals & West Bengal Birbhum
Industries (P) Ltd, Dalmiapuram,
20-B,Abdul Hamid Street, Lalgudi-621 652,
(Formerly British India Street,) Distt. Tiruchirapalli,
Kolkata-700 069, Tamil Nadu.
West Bengal. (Contd.)
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FIRECLAY
Figures in parentheses indicate associated mines of ball clay, bauxite, clay (others), laterite and kaolin.
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FIRECLAY
2012-13 2013-14 (P) 2012-13 2013-14 (P) 2012-13 2013-14 (P) 2 0 1 2 - 1 3 2013-14 (P)
10001 & Above 21(4) 11(4) 818446 565761 81.85 80.06 100.00 100.00
Figures in parentheses indicate the number of associated mines with ball clay, bauxite, clay (others), kaolin and
laterite.
Maharashtra 35 35
Odisha 1011 4
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FIRECLAY
high temperature before melting. The low duty Grade-I 30-32% 1.0-1.5% 30 min
fireclay can withstand temperatures between
Grade-II 28-30% 2.0-3.0% 28 min
1,515 and 1,615 oC (PCE 19-28); intermediate duty
fireclay up to 1,650oC (PCE 30), high duty fireclay Grade-III 22-28% 1.0-2.0% 26 min
o
up to 1,700 C (PCE 32) and super duty beyond
Grade-IV 18-20% 1.5-2.0% 18-21 min
1,775oC (PCE 35).
General of Technical Development Sub-committee kaolin (china clay) are also used in a few
on Refractory Raw Materials had recommended cement manufacturing plants to increase the
specifications as given in Table-7. alumina content in the raw meal and its
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FIRECLAY
each). (Tables - 9 & 10). Saudi Arabia 12559 264613 10388 222817
Imports of fireclay in 2013-14 decreased drastically Iran 8005 302985 4287 192797
to 146 tonnes from 1,610 tonnes in the previous year.
Imports were mainly from China (75%), Turkey (12%) UAE 9788 198901 9392 192577
and U K (9%). Imports of refractory bricks decreased
Russia 1593 101234 2280 180504
drastically to 272 thousand tonnes in 2013-14 from 384
thousand tonnes in the previous year. The share of Bangladesh 3079 111589 4054 157740
imports from China was 83% which was followed by
Germany (6%), Austria (4%) (Tables - 11 & 12). Other countries 259138 3954815 133798 3811534
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20-9