Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T09:44:15.255Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Kaolin and halloysite deposits of China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

I . R. Wilson*
Affiliation:
Ian Wilson Consultancy, Withielgoose Farmhouse, WithielBodminCornwallPL30 5NW, UK

Abstract

China is a significant producer of kaolin with 2.1 Mt in 2002 representing 8.4% of the world's total of 24.9 Mt. The kaolin resources are widespread throughout the country and are varied in their origin, physical and chemical properties and morphology. The kaolin industry, compared to Europe and the USA, is fragmented with no single large company. In 2002, China was the world's largest producer of ceramics, particularly for sanitary ware and porcelain. Also, China is now the second largest producer of paper and paperboard in the world. The quality of kaolin and halloysite is suitable for ceramics with no need to import. However, the quality of existing paper/ board-coating clays is not up to the quality of imported material from Brazil and the USA and there is an urgent need to develop local resources to meet the present and future demands of the market.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Fu, D.Q. (1997) The recent development of China's architecture ceramics and the raw materials consumption of the Industry. Industrial Minerals Shanghai Meeting, 1997.Google Scholar
Fujian Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (1989) The characteristics and genesis of kaolin deposits at Dongguanxia Mine in Longyan Pit, Fujian Province. Paper presented in the Symposium on ‘Exploration and formation of superlarge mineral deposits’, China, 199 pp. + 9 figures and 2 tables (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Harvey, C.C. & Murray, H.H. (1993) The geology, mineralogy and exploitation of halloysite clays of Northland, New Zealand. Pp. 233248 in: Kaolin Genesis and Utilization(Murray, H.H., Bundy, W.M. and Harvey, C.C., editors). Special Publication, 1. The Clay Minerals Society, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.Google Scholar
Li, X. (1997) Exports of Chinese Industrial Minerals. Industrial Minerals Shanghai October Meeting, 1997.Google Scholar
Lin, W. (1985) Current views on the geology and exploitation of kaolin in Fujian Province. Geology of Fujian, 2, 1–11 Google Scholar
Ling, Y. (1982) The geological characteristics and composition of kaolin deposits in Fujian Province. Geology of Fujian, 2, 12–27(in Chinese).Google Scholar
Lu, W. (1998) Chinese Industrial Minerals(Griffiths, J., editor). Industrial Minerals Information Ltd., Surrey, UK.Google Scholar
Lu, W. (1998) Chinese Minerals Directory, 2nd edition (Griffiths, J., editor). Industrial Minerals Information Ltd., Surrey, UK.Google Scholar
Wilson, I.R. (2003) Kaolin Review. Mining Annual Review for 2003.Google Scholar
Wilson, I.R., Halls, C. & Spiro, B. (1997) A comparison between the China Clay deposits of China and Cornwall. Proceedings of the Ussher Society, 9, 195–200 Google Scholar
Wu, D. (1997) The current situation and characteristics of the development of Chinese Ceramic Industry. Industrial Minerals Conference, Shanghai, 1997.Google Scholar
Yao, S. (1995) China's kaolin resources – a whistle stop tour. Industrial Minerals, July, 3947.Google Scholar
Yao, S. & Hu, Y. (1996) Chinese kaolin – ceramic boom continues. Industrial Minerals, October, 7783.Google Scholar
Yuan, J. & Murray, H.H. (1993) Mineralogical and physical properties of the Maoming kaolin from Guangdong Province, South China. Pp. 249259 in: Kaolin Genesis and Utilization (Murray, H.H., Bundy, W.M. and Harvey, C.C., editors). The Clay Minerals Society, Boulder, Colorado, USA.Google Scholar
Zhang, Z., Lu, D., Feng, M., Feng, B. & Jin, T. (1982) Kaolin deposits of China. Pp. 719731 in: Proceedings of the International Clay Conference, 1981. Sedimentology, 35. Elsevier, Amsterdam.Google Scholar
Zongjie, Y. (1997) Current status and prospect of kaolin industry in China. China Kaolin Company, Suzhou, China. Industrial Minerals Conference, Shanghai1997.Google Scholar