Address & Contact
Woocalla (north of Port Augusta)
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Information
Kaolin (hydrated aluminium silicate, Al2Si2O5(OH)4) is the most important of the industrial clays in terms of both consumption and value. Properties of fine particle size, platy shape, inertness, non-toxicity, and high brightness and whiteness make it a most versatile mineral, with applications in a wide variety of industries. The largest single market, taking ~40% of production, is the paper industry where kaolin is used to fill the spaces between cellulose fibres, and as a coating agent to produce high gloss paper with good printability. Other uses include clay-based ceramics and refractories, white cement, fibreglass, and fillers and extenders in rubber, paint, plastic and adhesives. Numerous minor uses include pesticide and herbicide carriers, zeolite manufacture, catalyst supports, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Commercial kaolin resources are found as sedimentary deposits and as weathering or hydrothermal alteration products of rocks containing a high proportion of alumino-silicate minerals.