Bentonite Mining in China

China is rich in bentonite resource and widely distributed. 23 provinces (areas) has production of bentonite in China. The proved reserves mineral field amount is 86; total mineral reserves are 2.46 billion tons which rank first in the world.

Guangxi, Xinjiang and Nei Menggu have the most of bentonite which occupied 26.1%, 13.9% and 8.5% of China reserves. The main bentonite mineral fields are Hebei Xuanhua, Zhejiang Yuhang, Hebei Longhua, Liaoning Heishan, Liaoning Jianping, Zhejiang Linan, Gansu Jinchang, Xinjiang Ke Saier.

The sodium bentonite mine in Zhejiang Linpan Ping Mountain is the first found huge bentonite mineral deposit in China. The mineral deposit has three types: sedimentation, hydrothermal alteration and eluvial ore deposit. Mainly is the sedimentation deposit (including volcano sedimentary deposit) with more than 70% of all China reserves.

The mineragenetic epoch is Mesozoic era and Cainozoic era. In Late Paleozoic Era there has few mineral deposits formed. In view of mine components, the percentage of sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite occupied 27% and 31% of total bentonite reserves.