Geological Study Of Sawa China Clay Deposit Chittaurgarh, Rajasthan

A large deposit of low-grade China Clay (kaolinite) is occurring within the rocks of Lower Vindhyan Supergroup southwest of Chittaurgarh, Rajasthan. The deposit is being utilised by open-cast, manual to semi-mechanised methods of mining. Kaolinite produced is being marketed without processing. Earlier, nearly 60% of the kaolinite produced from the area was consumed by cement industries, but in recent past, utilisation of low-grade kaolinite has been minimised by cement industries in production of ordinary cement and hence its production has significantly declined. Mineralogical and X- ray diffraction studies reveal that kaolinite is the main clay-mineral and quartz, calcite, iron-oxides and biotite are present as non-clay minerals in clay deposit of the area. Chemical analysis of the kaolinite show that alumina ranges from 15 to 35% while, silica and iron varies from 51 to 78% and 0.25 to 2.50% respectively.