Product Code Database
Ball clays are kaolinite sedimentary that commonly consist of 20–80% kaolinite, 10–25% mica and 6–65% quartz, along with small amounts of organic matter (such as lignite) and trace amounts of other minerals such as pyrite and siderite.
They are a common raw material for various types of ceramics, where their primary roles are to impart unfired strength, plasticity or to aid rheological stability during the shaping processes.'Ceramic Raw Materials' 2nd edition. W.E. Worrall. Pergamon Press, 1982 Most ball clays impart colours ranging from buff to cream to off-white when fired in an oxidising atmosphere.'Industrial Minerals & Rocks - Commodities, Markets And Uses' J. E. Kogel. Society For Mining, Metallurgy And Exploration, 2006
The name "ball clay" is derived from the form of the extracted material when dug by spade as cubes, which then became rounded during subsequent transport, in Dorset and Devon during the early days of the industry during the 18th century.'Ball Clay Basics' P. S. Powell. Ceram. Eng. Sci. Proc., 16 3 200-206, 1995. Pg. 200
In 2008, UK production of ball clay was reported to be worth £82 million, with sanitaryware manufacturers being the largest single group of end users, representing 40% by volume.'Ball Clay' Mineral Planning Factsheet. British Geological Survey. 2008.
| South Africa | 10 |
| Africa - total | 10 |
| China | 2,000 |
| Malaysia | 600 |
| Indonesia | 500 |
| Thailand | 300 |
| Vietnam | 200 |
| India | 150 |
| Asia - total | 3,750 |
| Ukraine | 3,500 |
| Germany | 3,000 |
| Spain | 1,200 |
| United Kingdom | 1,000 |
| Turkey | 550 |
| Czech Republic | 400 |
| France | 400 |
| Italy | 100 |
| Poland | 50 |
| Europe - total | 10,200 |
| United States | 1,200 |
| North America - total | 1,200 |
| Australia | 80 |
| Oceania - total | 80 |
| Brazil | 250 |
| Argentia | 50 |
| Chile | 5 |
| South America - total | 350 |
| Global - total | 15,385 |
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