Kaolin deposits and their uses: Northern Brazil and Georgia, USA

Abstract Kaolin mineral-bearing rocks are classified by their mineralogy and texture, which delineate their potential use. Refractory clay products are made from a continuum of ores comprising fire clay, bauxitic kaolin and bauxite. Ceramic clay products are made from a range of ores comprising near pure kaolin, ball clays, plastic clays, kaolinitic sandstone and china clays along with some other clay minerals that impart plasticity and having some other non-clay minerals such as quartz and feldspar that allow a white-burnt appearance at a specified melting temperature. Pigments and additives are beneficiated from kaolinitic rocks that have textures which permit particle dispersion for size classification and for removal of impurities. The diverse mineralogy and texture found in Georgia, USA sedimentary kaolin deposits explain their range of beneficiation processes and uses. Capim [Brazil] soft kaolins are mostly used for pigment applications because of their mineralogical purity, ease of dispersion and geological homogeneity, which permits large-scale production of products having consistent quality.