BENTONITE RESOURCES OF RAJASTHAN

Introduction
Bentonite is anatural clay like substance. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina,
derived from the devitrification and chemical alteration of the glassy particles of volcanic
ash or tuff with the clay mineral, montmorillonite [(Mg.Ca)O. Al 2O3. SiO2. nH2O with n =
5-7] as the chief constituent. The classification of bentonite was in dispute for many years
and the name was origionally applied only to a specific type that occurs in the Fort
Benton formation in the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota in D.S.A. Later on all
clays comprising chiefly montmorillonite and having been derived through the
decomposition of volcanic ash, were classed as bentonites. On the basis of physical
properties two types of bentonites are generally identified, one that swells, in water
enormously (sodium bentonite) and another that swells no more than other plastic clay
(calcium bentonite). Those belonging to first type are real bentonite. They are
characterised by their unique swelling and gelation properties which make it suitable for
a variety of special uses. The other type is known as meta- bentonites used chiefly in
bleaching and purifying oils, fats and waxes and preparing well drilling fluids. They are
perhaps of not much interest to ceramics.
The calcium bentonite can be converted to sodium bentonite by sodium exchange
process.
Bentonite is some what variable in its physical appearance and the most common
colours are pale buff, cream and dull green. It fires to a buff and light red colour.
Chemically in bentonite the silica percent may vary from 45 to 68 and alumina from 18 to
28 percent. Fe2O3 usually does not exceed 4 percent. Its texture is often compact with a
conchoidal fracture.
Bhavnagar and Kachchh districts in Gujarat and Barmer district in Rajasthan are
major producers of bentonite. Kachchh bentonite is regarded as one of the world's best
deposits because of its high swelling property. Other deposits of commercial importance
of both calcium and sodium bentonites are found in the states of Bihar and Jammu &
Kashmir.
Recoverable reserves of bentonite (as on 1.4.1995) of all grades are placed at
about 365 million tonnes out of which 0.8 million tonnes are in Gujarat and 275 million
tonnes are in Rajasthan.
The production value of bentonite in India was estimated at Rs. 3.6 crores for the
year 1998-99. Out of the total value Gujarat alone accounted for 83.0% followed by
Rajasthan 16.9%.
Occurrences in Rajasthan
Rajasthan possesses sizeable deposits of both swelling and non-swelling types
ofbentonites. The deposits are found at Harwocha, Sheo, Hati-Singh-Ki-Dhani, Akli,
Thumbli, Giral, Sonri, Bisala, Bhadres and Mahawar in Barmer district; Kheta-Kheda,
Mathniya, Bhander, Ghurelia, Chowki, Kharodiya, Qadir Nagar, Chhoti Sunel etc. areas
in Jhalawar district.
Barmer district
The bentonite deposits in the district are located in a NNW-SSE trending belt,
extending for a distance of 86 km. (from Khoryal in the north to Mahawar in the south)
and having about 8 km. width. Most of the deposits in this belt fall on either side of
BarmerJ aisalmer metalled road and confined to the Akli and Lathi formations (Map-1).
The details of the important occurrences are given below:
Akli- Thumbli-Giral area: The deposits are situated 33 km. north of Barmer. In
Akli area about 1 m. thick bed of bentonite of light green colour occurs under 1 m. thick
overburden of sand. The material can be extracted in fairly large lumps. This bentonite
appears to be of good quality, while the bentonite of Giral & Thumbli area is of inferior
grade. From Akli to Giral and Thumbli, the bentonite beds grade from a swelling to a
non-swelling type or is low-swelling type as in the Giral- Thumbli area.
Hathi-Singh-Ki-Dhani : The deposits are situated 59 kms. north of Barmer
alongwith Sheo-Harsani road and rises 10 to 12 m. above the surrounding land. An
outcrop of bentonite covering an area of 33,000 to 1,00,000 square feet is exposed near
HathiSingh-Ki-Dhani village. This bentonite horizon is about 6 m. thick and dips at an
angle of 10° to 1'5°. The bentonite is grey or greenish grey in colour in the northern
portion of the deposit and the southern most portion has stained yellow colour and so
also is the material from the upper and the lower portions of the bed/horizon.
The material, except being very slightly contaminated with sand, is free from
any objectionable impurities such as gypsum, carbonaceous matter etc. The lowermost
layer is said to contain some saline matter. This material occurs on plateau region and
has thin overburden. The bentonite in most of the areas has only 30 cm. thick soil or
loose sand cover.
Barmer area: A 1.5 m. thick bed of bentonite is reported to occur under 1 m.
thick overburden of sand and silt near the railway distant signal of Barmer railway
station towards Hyderabad Sindh (Pakistan). The outcrop has been traced to a distance
of 20 m. This material is iron-stained and is associated with lenticular bands of
selenite. It is of inferior quality. Another exposure is noticed in a well near previous
location at a depth of 6 m. and at a distance of 100 m. to the west. It is reported that 3
more bentonite deposits occur in an area within a radius of 2 kms from Barmer. These
deposits are overlain by a thick overburden of sand.
The quality of the material is considered to be good.
Bhadras area: The bentonite deposits occupy a very large area east and south
east of Bhadras village near milestone 17 (27.3 km. from Barmer) on the Barmer-
Harsani road. The bentonite is associated with Barmer sandstone of Kapurdi formation.
In southeastern part it is associated with streaks of gypsum and reddish clay.
Bisala area : The deposits are situated 1.5 km. north east of Bisala village
which is 34 km. from Barmer on Barmer-Jaisalmer road. It is greyish to purplish in
colour having about 2 m. thickness lying under 1.5 m. thick overburden of pebbles and
boulders. The material is said to be contaminated with limonite in the lower portion of
the deposit but this can be separated by simple hand picking.
 Sheo deposits: Deposits are situated 2 to 3 km. WSW and SW of Sheo. On the
western limit of these deposits lie isolated outcrops of sandstone and on the east, north
and south deep soil and sand cover. The Sheo deposits extend in N-S direction for
more than 2 km. with an average width of 0.5 km. The thickness of the exposed
bentonite ranges from 1.65 m. to as much as 5.45 m.
Sheo-Kumaron-Ki-Dhani-Gunga deposits: All these deposits are situated
around Sheo, Kumaron-KiDhani and Gunga villages and form part of a larger deposit
that is now isolated by patches of sands and soil cover.
The eastern extention of the above bentonite deposit is situated just east of Sheo.
The aerial extent of this deposit is approximately 0.68 sq.km. There are three distinct
horizons of bentonite observed in this area. The top most bed is a lensoidal body of about
15 cm. thickness and has been observed only in the southern portion of the deposit.
The second horizon varies from 2.00 m. to 3.65 m. in thickness, the average being
2.5 m. It contains a few thin partings of weathered ferruginous shale, ferruginous nodules
and fillings of limonitic material along cracks and joints. In the extreme southern portion
it is almost devoid of gypsum. Presence of carbonaceous material is frequently observed
in the central and northern parts of the block.
The third horizon was exposed in a deep pit. Its thickness is about 4 m. of which
only the top portion of 1.80 m. thickness is light grey bentonite of good quality.
Kumaron-Ki-Dhani deposits: It lies just east of the village in relatively flat
depression and extends towards NE and probably joins up with the Gunga bentonite
deposits. Bentonite body seems to be extending in the east but here the soil cover has
progressively become thicker. The exposed length of bentonite body is 600 m. and width
500 m. Bentonite beds range in exposed thickness from 1 m. to 2.70 m., the average
being above 2 m.
Gunga deposit: It lies on either sides of BarmerJaisalmer road close to the village
Gunga, therefore divided into two parts i.e. west of the road and east of the road. Gunga
west bentonite deposit extends for about 0.6 km. in NW-SE direction with an average
width of 400 m., where as Gunga east deposit extends in a more or less north-south
direction for about 0.7 km. with an average width of 350 m. The thickness of the
bentonite beds ranges from 0.85 to 3.6 metres, the average being 2.0 to 2.5 m. The
bentonite beds continue towards south with intervening patches of blown sand and join
up with the Sheo bentonite but are covered extensively in the north, east and west by
dune sands.
Bentonites are mostly greyish white with some reddish yellow patches. Bending
in bentonite is fine often rhythmic and generally horizontal. Thin veins and stringers of
gypsum commonly occur in bentonite along fractures and joints.
Deoka-Khorayal deposits: Two separate deposits of bentonite lie adjacent to the
western side of BarmerJaisalmer road, which lie respectively, 2.7 and 1.5 km. south-west
and north of Deoka village. The two occurrences are separated by sand dunes and a few
isolated outcrops of sandstone. The Deoka bentonite deposit no. 1 extends in NNE-SSW
direction for about 2 km. with an average width of 300 m. The maximum thickness of the
bentonite body is 2.85 m. with an average thickness of 1.8 metres. The deposit no. 2
extends for about 1.6 km. in NNE-SSW with an average width 200 m. The thickness of
the bentonite beds