Clay Mining in Rajasthan: - राजस्थान में मृतिका खनन-

By the word clay is understood a natural, earthy, fine grained material which becomes plastic when mixed with limited amount of water. Plasticity is the property of the moistened material which could be deformed by the application of pressure; the deformed shape being retained when pressure is removed.

Chemically clay is a hydrated silicate of alumina and contains usually 46.5% silica (SiO₂), 39.5% alumina (Al₂O₃) and 14% water but frequently also some quantity of iron, alkalis and alkaline earths.

Rajasthan possesses three types of clay e.g. ball clay, fire clay and china clay deposits, the known reserves of these clays are of the order of -

1. ball clay-                38 million tonnes

2. fire clay-            17.8 million tonnes

3. china clay-         208 million tonnes.

Ball-clay

20 million tonnes A reserve of of fireclay can be obtained from lignite areas of Bikaner districts.

Districtwise important locations of clay deposits-

1. Bikaner-                     Nal, Kolayat, Kotri, Barsinghsar,         

                                       Mudh, Gura,  Chandi

2. Pali-                           Literiya, Khardiya etc.

3. Jaisalmer-                 Devikot, Mandai etc.

4. Nagaur-                      Mungva, Khajwana, Rol, Indawar etc.

5. Barmer-                     Gunga, Kapurdi, Jalipa etc.

6. Bhilwara-                  Mangrup, Kotri, Jahajpur etc.

7. Chittorgarh-              Eral, Sawa etc.

8. Jaipur-                       Torda, Buchara, Fatehpur etc.

9. Sawai Madhupr -       Basu, Raesena etc.

10. Sikar -                      Mahawa, Purshottampura etc.

11. Ajmer -                    Maliya, Lughiya etc.

12. Jodhpur -                 Jewasiya, Ramasani-Rampura, 

                                              Kheradiya etc. 

Uses of clay - 

The clay minerals is used for the manufacturing of such ceramic products as·dinner ware, sainitary wara, sewer pipes, stone ware, refractory ware, electric porcelain and china pots.