Bentonites and bentonitic clays
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.
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.
Preapared by: Elżbieta Tołkanowicz
Table 1. Bentonites - million tonnes