BENTONITE

BENTONITE :

Early Americans found bentonite vital to their lives. Pioneers found moistened bentonite to be an perfect lubricant for squeaky wagon wheels. The mixture was also used as a sealant for log cabin roofing. The Indians found bentonite useful as a soap.

Small amounts of Wyoming bentonite were first commercially mined and developed in the Rock River area during the 1880's. Newer, more considerable deposits were discovered in other parts of Wyoming during the 1920's and the first processing plant in Wyoming was built during this period. Since that time many other processing plants have been built for the purpose of processing Wyoming sodium bentonite. Wyoming's Bentonite industry produced over 4.0 million tons of bentonite in 1999, with 644 mine and mill employees, and 240 contractor employees.

Exploration for new bentonite beds is normally gifted with auger bit drilling. Once the auger drill stem reaches the soft bentonite it sinks very fast, which indicates to the driller that bentonite has been found. The auger flights are then withdrawn and the "sticky" bentonite is sampled from the flights for quality analysis. Bentonite is mined by surface "open pit" methods. Various types of heavy equipment including bull dozers and rubber-tired scrapers are used to remove the shale rock overlying the bentonite.

Bentonite


Topsoil, as well as the underlying material, is cautiously removed and stockpiled. These "overburden" materials as they are called will be placed back and reseeded once the bentonite has been removed. The bentonite which is bare during this process can be as little as 1 1/2 feet or as much as 10 feet thick. This is the material which is mined and processed.

Many bentonite manufactures prefer to "field dry" the exposed bentonite prior to hauling it to the processing plants. This is accomplished by plowing and discing while taking advantage of the low humidity and sunny days to dry the bentonite prior to its removal. The moisture level prior to "field drying" can exceed 30%. This process will usually extract 15 to 20% of the moisture from the clay prior to hauling.

TYPES OF BENTONITE :

1. Sodium Bentonite:

This type of bentonite has the highest swelling capacity and is the most popular type used for drilling muds, construction, and building materials. It has a great absorption capacity and is able to absorb 10 times its own weight.

2.Calcium Bentonite:

This type of bentonite is also known as calcium montmorillonite and is primarily composed of calcium. It is often used for pond seals, as well as for litter and other absorbent products.

3.Potassium Bentonite:

This type of bentonite is also known as potassium montmorillonite and is rich in potassium. It is used for various industrial and commercial applications, like drilling muds, foundry molds, and pet litter.


Bentonite

4.Sodium-Calcium Bentonite :

This type of bentonite is a combination of sodium and calcium bentonite. It is used in various industrial applications, such as drilling muds, as well as in agriculture as a soil conditioner.


5. Organoclays:

This is a type of bentonite that is made by combining bentonite with organic compounds. It is used in various industrial and commercial applications, such as adhesives, sealants, paints, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.


USES OF BENTONITE :

Bentonite is a naturally occurring clay material composed of the mineral montmorillonite, which is formed from volcanic ash. It has a wide range of uses, most notably in the construction, agricultural, and industrial industries.

In construction, bentonite is used as a bonding agent in concrete, stucco, and other masonry products. It is also used to waterproof and seal foundations, walls, and roofs. It is a key ingredient in many grouts and mortars.

In agriculture, bentonite is used as a soil amendment to improve water retention, aeration, and drainage. It is also used as a feed supplement for livestock.

In industry, bentonite is used as a binder and lubricant in oil and gas drilling operations. It is also used in foundry molds and casting, paper and pulp production, and pet litter. It is used as a filtration aid in winemaking and is also used to manufacture cat litter.


Bentonite

BENTONITE MINING AND PROCESSING:

Bentonite mining and processing involve several distinct operations:

    1. Exploration: Bentonite deposits are usually explored with a combination of surface and subsurface techniques, including core drilling, auger drilling, seismic surveys, and other geophysical methods.

    2. Mining: Open-pit mining is used to remove the overburden and expose the bentonite layer. The bentonite is then mined using standard mining techniques.

    3. Crushing and Screening: The mined bentonite is then hauled to the processing plant for crushing and screening. The bentonite is crushed and screened to size, then it is dried in a rotary dryer.

    4. Grinding : The dried bentonite is then fed into a roller mill to reduce the particle size.

    5. Mixing Bentonite is combined with other materials, such as lime, to produce a slurry or suspension that can be used in a variety of applications.

    6. Packaging : The finished bentonite product is then packaged and shipped to its destination.


Bentonite