Bentonites and bentonitic clays

2021

Resources and output

In 2021, anticipated economic resources of bentonitic raw materials amounted to 2,881.51 thousand tonnes. There are 2 deposits with an exploitation concession issued located in Dolnośląskie Voivodeship (Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów) and 1 deposit with such a concession located in Podkarpackie Voivodeship (Dylągówka-Zapaday). The output of the bentonites mantle rock of the basalt tuffs has been carried out only from Krzeniów deposit and for 20 years it has been maintaining within the range of 0.45-2.80 thousand tonnes per year. In 2021 the output was equal 0.50 thousand tonnes.

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of bentonites and bentonitic clays in Poland.

Table 1. Bentonites – million tonnes

The figure below shows changes in resources and output of bentonites in Poland in the years 1989-2021.

 

The state of resources exploration, the state of development and the output volume from particular deposit is presented in table 2.

Table 2. List of bentonite deposits – thousand tonnes

The total prospective resources of bentonitic raw materials amount to above 43.626 million tonnes and occur in Dolnośląskie (39.900 million tonnes), Świętokrzyskie (3.056 million tonnes) and Podkarpackie (0.670 million tonnes) Voivodeships*.

Prepared by: Dariusz Brzeziński

* Brański P., 2020 – ‘Kopaliny bentonitowe i zeolitowo-bentonitowe (bentonite and bentonite clays, zeolite and zeolite clays)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 362-364. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2020

Resources and output

In 2020, anticipated economic resources of bentonitic raw materials amounted to 2,882.01 thousand tonnes. There are 3 deposits with an exploitation concession issued: Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów, located in Dolnośląskie Voivodeship and Dylągówka-Zapady in Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The output of the bentonites mantle rock of the basalt tuffs has been carried out only from Krzeniów deposit and for 20 years it has been maintaining within the range of 0.45-2.80 thousand tonnes per year. In 2020 the output was equal 0.92 thousand tonnes.

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of bentonites and bentonitic clays in Poland.

Table 1. Bentonites – million tonnes

The figure below shows changes in resources and output of bentonites in Poland in the years 1989-2020.

 

Table 2. List of bentonite deposits – thousand tonnes

The total prospective resources of bentonitic raw materials amount to above 43.626 million tonnes and occur in Dolnośląskie (39.900 million tonnes), Świętokrzyskie (3.056 million tonnes) and Podkarpackie (0.670 million tonnes) Voivodeships*.

Prepared by: Dariusz Brzeziński

* Brański P., 2020 – ‘Kopaliny bentonitowe i zeolitowo-bentonitowe (bentonite and bentonite clays, zeolite and zeolite clays)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 362-364. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2019

Resources and output

In 2019, anticipated economic resources of bentonitic raw materials amounted to 2,882.93 thousand tonnes. There are 3 deposits with an exploitation concession issued – Dylągówka-Zapady, Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów, located in Dolnośląskie Voivodeship. The output of the bentonites mantle rock of the basalt tuffs has been carried out only from Krzeniów deposit and for more than 10 years it has been maintaining within the range of 0.45-2.80 thousand tonnes per year. In 2019 the output was equal 0.50 thousand tonnes.

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of bentonites and bentonite clays in Poland.

Table 1. Bentonites – million tonnes

The figure below shows changes in resources and output of bentonites in Poland in the years 1989-2019.

 

Table 2. List of bentonite deposits – thousand tonnes

The total prospective resources of bentonitic raw materials amount to above 43.626 million tonnes and occur in Dolnośląskie (39.900 million tonnes), Świętokrzyskie (3.056 million tonnes) and Podkarpackie (0.670 million tonnes) Voivodeships*.

Prepared by: Dariusz Brzeziński

* Brański P., 2020 – ‘Kopaliny bentonitowe i zeolitowo-bentonitowe (bentonite and bentonite clays, zeolite and zeolite clays)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 362-364. PIG-PIB, Warszawa.

2018

Bentonites are clayey rocks originated in the result of the transform (bentonitization) process of a volcanic glass occurring in the pyroclastic rocks such as tuffs and tuffites. The bentonites are built mainly of the smectite minerals group (with the minimum montmorillonite content of 75 %) accompanied by other clayey minerals and relicts of a pyroclastic material. Related to the bentonites are bentonitic clays containing, along with smectite minerals, the larger amount of other clayey minerals.

Rocks rich in smectite group minerals have some common features which decide on the rocks usage such as: an ability to swell, their susceptibility to the dispersion of water, a high plasticity, their easy absorption of cations and organic substances from water solutions, their ability to form the thixotropic suspensions. Thanks to these features, there are more than 40 ways of utilization of these rocks, i.a.: in a foundry industry (as a component of foundry mass), in a chemical industry (for the production of fillers, sorbents, catalysts, paints etc.), in a paper industry, a pharmaceutical industry, a cosmetic industry, a ceramic industry, in the engineering and hydro-technical works (a soil stabilization, waterproof screens, sealings), in an agriculture and as a component of drilling fluid. Most of bentonites in Poland are used traditionally in the foundry industry, the drilling and in a new, strongly developing hygienic sorbents market (for animals).

Primary bentonites in Poland (it means almost monomineralic montmorillonitic rocks with a small admixture of other minerlas) occur very seldom. More common are various bentonitic clays with a relatively high content of non-clayey minerlas. The group of bentonitic raw materials contains bentonitic weathering covers of basalts in the Lower Silesia region, bentonitic clays in the Upper Silesia region, bentonitic clays of the southern fringes of the Holy Cross Mts., bentonitic clays in the Carpathian Mts.

In 2018, anticipated economic resources of bentonitic raw materials amounted to 2,883.43 thousand tonnes. There are two deposits with an exploitation concession issued – Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów, both located in Dolnośląskie Voivodeship. The output of the bentonites mantle rock of the basalt tuffs has been carried out only from Krzeniów deposit and for more than 10 years it has been maintaining within the range of 0.45-2.80 thousand tonnes per year. In 2018 the output was equal 0.56 thousand tonnes (Table 2).

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of bentonites and bentonite clays in Poland.

Table 1. Bentonites – million tonnes

The figure below shows changes in resources and output of bentonites in Poland in the years 1989-2018.

Table 2. List of bentonite deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Dariusz Brzeziński

2017

Primary bentonites are produced in the result of a weathering of extrusive and pyroclastic rocks and usually display a parent rock structure. In turn, bentonite clays originate due to the redeposition of bentonite material and often yield fairly large admixture of foreign mineral components. Bentonite clays which form a weathering mantle developed on the Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów basalts were explored as mineral deposits accompanying those of basalts.

Rocks rich in smectite group minerals have some common features such as: an ability to swell, their susceptibility to the dispersion of water, their easy absorption of cations and organic substances from water solutions. Thanks to these features, there are more than 40 ways of utilization of these rocks, i.a.: a foundry industry (as a component of foundry mass), a chemical industry (for the production of fillers, sorbents, catalysts, paints etc.), a paper industry, a pharmaceutical industry, a cosmetic industry, a ceramic industry, in engineering and hydro-technical works, in an agriculture and as a component of drilling fluid. Most of bentonites in Poland are used in the foundry industry, the drilling and in a new, strongly developing hygienic sorbents market (for animals).

In Poland typical bentonites, i.e. containing more than 75 % montmorillonite, occur very seldom. More common are bentonite clays, such as:

• bentonite weathering cover of basalts in Lower Silesia,
• bentonite clays in Upper Silesia,
• bentonite clays of southern fringes in the Holy Cross Mts.,
• bentonite clays in the Carpathian Mts.

In 2017, anticipated economic resources amounted to 2,883.43 thousand tonnes. There are two deposits with an exploitation concession approved – Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów (Dolnośląskie Voivodeship). The output of the bentonites mantle rock (an accompanying raw material) of basalt tuff has been carried out only in Krzeniów deposit and for more than 10 years it has been maintaining at the level of 0.45-2.80 thousand tonnes per year. Nevertheless, in 2017 the exploitation has not been carried out from any of these deposits.

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of bentonites and bentonite clays in Poland.

Table 1. Bentonites – million tonnes

At present, the only active bentonite mine is that in Krzeniów where accumulations of bentonite clays form a deposit accompanying that of basalts (Table 2).

The figure below shows changes in resources and output of bentonites in Poland in the years 1989-2017.

Table 2. List of bentonite deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Dariusz Brzeziński

2016

Primary bentonites are produced in the result of weathering of extrusive and pyroclastic rocks and usually display a parent rock structure. In turn, bentonite clays originate due to the redeposition of bentonite material and often yield fairly large admixture of foreign mineral components. Bentonite clays which form a weathering mantle developed on the Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów basalts were explored as mineral deposits accompanying those of basalts.

Rocks rich in smectite group minerals have some common features such as: ability to swell, their susceptibility to the dispersion of water, their easy absorption of cations and organic substances from water solutions. Therefore, these rocks are utilized for example in the foundry, chemical, drilling and ceramic industries.

In Poland typical bentonites, i.e. containing more than 75 % montmorillonite, occur very seldom. More common are bentonite clays, such as:

• bentonite weathering cover of basalts in Lower Silesia,
• bentonite clays in Upper Silesia,
• bentonite clays of southern fringes in the Holy Cross Mountains,
• bentonite clays in the Carpathian Mts.

In 2016, anticipated economic resources amounted to 2,883 thousand tonnes. There are two deposits with exploitation concession approved – Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów (Dolnośląskie Voivodeship). The output of bentonites mantle rock (accompanying raw material) of basalt tuff is carried out only in Krzeniów deposit. Production of bentonites amounted to 1,000 tonnes in 2016.

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of bentonites and bentonite clays in Poland.

Table 1. Bentonites – million tonnes

At present, the only active bentonite mine is that in Krzeniów where accumulations of bentonite clays form a deposit accompanying that of basalts (table 2).

Table 2. List of bentonite deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Dariusz Brzeziński

2015

Primary bentonites are produced in result of weathering of extrusive and pyroclastic rocks and usually display parent rock structure. In turn, bentonite clays originate due to redeposition of bentonite material and often yield fairly large admixture of foreign mineral components. Bentonite clays which form a weathering mantle developed on the Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów basalts were explored as mineral deposits accompanying those of basalts.

Rocks rich in smectite group minerals have some common features such as: ability to swell, their susceptibility to the dispersion of water, their easy absorption of cations and organic substances from water solutions. Therefore, these rocks are utilized for example in the foundry, drilling and ceramic industries.

In Poland typical bentonites, i.e. containing more than 75 % montmorillonite, occur very seldom. More common are bentonite clays, such as:

• bentonite weathering cover of basalts in Lower Silesia,
• bentonite clays in Upper Silesia,
• bentonite clays of southern fringes in the Holy Cross Mountains,
• bentonite clays in the Carpathian Mts.

In 2015, anticipated economic resources amounted to 2,884 thousand tonnes. There were two deposits with exploitation concession approved – Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów (Dolnośląskie Voivodeship). The output of bentonites mantle rock (accompanying raw material) of basalt tuff is carried out only in Krzeniów deposit. Production of bentonites amounted to 450 tonnes in 2015.

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of bentonites and bentonite clays in Poland.

Table 1. Bentonites – million tonnes

At present, the only active bentonite mine is that in Krzeniów where accumulations of bentonite clays form a deposit accompanying that of basalts (table 2).

Table 2. List of bentonite deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Dariusz Brzeziński

2014

Primary bentonites are produced in result of weathering of extrusive and pyroclastic rocks and usually display parent rock structure. In turn, bentonite clays originate due to redeposition of bentonite material and often yield fairly large admixture of foreign mineral components. Bentonite clays which form a weathering mantle developed on the Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów basalts were explored as mineral deposits accompanying those of basalts.

Rocks rich in smectite group minerals have some common features such as: ability to swell, their susceptibility to the dispersion of water, their easy absorption of cations and organic substances from water solutions. Therefore, these rocks are utilized for example in the foundry, drilling and ceramic industries.

In Poland typical bentonites, i.e. containing more than 75 % montmorillonite, occur very seldom. More common are bentonite clays, such as:

• bentonite weathering cover of basalts in Lower Silesia,
• bentonite clays in Upper Silesia,
• bentonite clays of southern fringes in the Holy Cross Mountains,
• bentonite clays in the Carpathian Mountains.

In 2014, anticipated economic resources amounted to 2,885 thousand tonnes. There were two deposits with exploitation concession approved – Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów (Dolnośląskie Voivodeship). The output of bentonites mantle rock (accompanying raw material) of basalt tuff is carried out only in Krzeniów deposit. Production of bentonites amounted to 650 tonnes in 2014.

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of bentonites and bentonite clays in Poland.

Table 1. Bentonites – million tonnes

Table 2. List of bentonite deposits – thousand tonnes

Preapared by: Dariusz Brzeziński

2013

Primary bentonites are produced in result of weathering of extrusive and pyroclastic rocks and usually display parent rock structure. In turn, bentonite clays originate due to redeposition of bentonite material and often yield fairly large admixture of foreign mineral components. Bentonite clays which form a weathering mantle developed on the Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów basalts were explored as mineral deposits accompanying those of basalts.

Rocks rich in smectite group minerals have some common features such as: ability to swell, their susceptibility to the dispersion of water, their easy absorption of cations and organic substances from water solutions. Therefore, these rocks are utilized for example in the foundry, drilling and ceramic industries.

In Poland typical bentonites, i.e. containing more than 75 % montmorillonite, occur very seldom. More common are bentonite clays, such as:

• bentonite weathering cover of basalts in Lower Silesia,
• bentonite clays in Upper Silesia,
• bentonite clays of southern fringes in the Holy Cross Mountains,
• bentonite clays in the Carpathian Mountains.

In 2013, anticipated economic resources increased by 172.5 thousand tonnes due to documentation of one new deposit – Dylągówka-Zapady located in Podkarpackie Voivodeship.

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of bentonites and bentonite clays in Poland.

Table 1. Bentonites – million tonnes

At present, the only active bentonite mine is that in Krzeniów where accumulations of bentonite clays form a deposit accompanying that of basalts. Production of bentonites amounted to 1.05 thousand tonnes in 2013.

Table 2. List of bentonite deposits – thousand tonnes

Preapared by: Dariusz Brzeziński

2012

Primary bentonites are produced in result of weathering of extrusive and pyroclastic rocks and usually display parent rock structure. In turn, bentonite clays originate due to redeposition of bentonite material and often yield fairly large admixture of foreign mineral components. Bentonite clays which form a weathering mantle developed on the Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów basalts were explored as mineral deposits accompanying those of basalts.

Rocks rich in smectite group minerals have some common features such as: ability to swell, their susceptibility to the dispersion of water, their easy absorption of cations and organic substances from water solutions. Therefore, these rocks are utilized for example in the foundry, drilling and ceramic industries.

In Poland typical bentonites, i.e. containing more than 75 % montmorillonite, occur very seldom. More common are bentonite clays, such as:

• bentonite weathering cover of basalts in Lower Silesia,
• bentonite clays in Upper Silesia,
• bentonite clays of southern fringes in the Holy Cross Mountains,
• bentonite clays in the Carpathian Mountains.

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of bentonites and bentonite clays in Poland.

Table 1. Bentonites – million tonnes

At present, the only active bentonie mine is that in Krzeniów where accumulations of bentonite clays form a deposit accompanying that of basalts. In 2012 exploitation of bentonites amounted to 0.78 thousand tonnes.

Demand for bentonite In Poland is almost fully covered by import.

Table 2. List of bentonite deposits – thousand tonnes

Preapared by: Dariusz Brzeziński

2011

Primary bentonites are produced in result of weathering of extrusive and pyroclastic rocks and usually display parent rock structure. In turn, bentonite clays originate due to redeposition of bentonite material and often yield fairly large admixture of foreign mineral components. Bentonite clays which form a weathering mantle developed on the Jawor-Męcinka and Krzeniów basalts were explored as mineral deposits accompanying those of basalts.

Rocks rich in smectite group minerals have some common features such as: ability to swell, their susceptibility to the dispersion of water, their easy absorption of cations and organic substances from water solutions. Therefore, these rocks are utilized for example in the foundry, drilling and ceramic industries.

In Poland typical bentonites, i.e. containing more than 75 % montmorillonite, occur very seldom. More common are bentonite clays, such as:

• bentonite weathering cover of basalts in Lower Silesia,
• bentonite clays in Upper Silesia,
• bentonite clays of southern fringes in the Holy Cross Mountains,
• bentonite clays in the Carpathian Mountains.

Anticipated economic resources of bentonites and bentonite clays were estimated at 2.71 million tonnes and the economic resources of these mineral raw materials – at 0.5 million tonnes.

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of bentonites and bentonite clays in Poland.

Table 1. Bentonites – million tonnes

At present, the only active bentonie mine is that from Krzeniów where accumulations of bentonite clays form a deposit accompanying that of basalts. Exploitation of bentonites in that mine is carried out from time to time and on a limited scale only. In 2011 exploitation of bentonites amounted to 0.91 thousand tonnes.

Table 2. List of bentonite deposits – thousand tonnes

Preapared by: Elżbieta Tołkanowicz