This is a list of countries by bentonite production. Bentonite is an absorbent aluminium phyllosilicate generally impure clay consisting mostly of montmorillonite. There are a few types of bentonites and their names depend on the dominant elements, such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and aluminium. As noted in several places in the geologic literature, there are some nomenclatorial problems with the classification of bentonite clays.
Bentonite usually forms from weathering of volcanic ash, most often in the presence of water. However, the term bentonite, as well as a similar clay called tonstein, have been used for clay beds of uncertain origin. For industrial purposes, two main classes of bentonite exist: sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite.
In stratigraphy and tephrochronology, completely devitrified (weathered volcanic glass) ash-fall beds are commonly referred to as K-bentonites when the dominant clay species is illite. Other common clay species, and sometimes dominant, are montmorillonite and kaolinite. Kaolinite dominated clays are commonly referred to as tonsteins and are typically associated with coal.
List * indicates "Natural resources of COUNTRY or TERRITORY" links.
+Bentonite production by country in 2022 Country Production(metric tonnes) 15,135,176 4,500,000 Indian Minerals Yearbook 2013 (Part–III: Mineral Reviews), 52nd Edition. Bentonite. Government of India, Ministry of Mines, Indian Bureau of Mines. Indira Bhavan, Civil Lines, NAGPUR – 440 001. January, 2015.3,500,000 2,100,000 2,018,993 1,250,000 1,100,000 750,248420,000 341,335 316,000 302,000 220,000 186,363176,628 175,875 167,000135,600 113,985 102,264 97,019 90,000 86,562 61,165 50,000 50,000 46,000 34,690 32,000 28,454 28,173 24,128 22,955 22,931 22,00021,570 13,198 9,0006,300 6,000 3,0001,372 750 650 50029011068
References
External links British Geological Survey World Mineral Statistics