Clays
Statistical Compendium
This publication includes data through 1990.
For recent statistics, please go the the Clays Statistics and Information page.
By Robert L. Virta
Clay is a natural, earthy, fine-grained material composed
largely of a group of crystalline minerals known as the clay
minerals. These minerals are hydrous silicates composed mainly of
silica, alumina, and water. Several of these minerals also contain
appreciable quantities of iron, alkalies, and alkaline earth.
Clays are bulk commodities that support a variety of
substantial industries that are vital in local and regional
economies and are important to the national economy. Deposits of
common clays, shales, and fire clays are widespread. Ball clay,
bentonite, fuller's earth, and kaolin deposits occur in smaller
geographic areas.
U.S. production of clays in 1989 was 42 million metric tons
valued at $1.5 billion, from 44 States and Puerto Rico. U.S. clay
demand during the last two decades has declined because of
decreased construction. Large declines in the manufacture of
brick, lightweight aggregates, and portland cement were observed
during the period. The specialty clays used in more diversified
applications and industries fared better. Demand for these clays--
kaolin, ball clay, fuller's earth, and bentonite--has held up well
despite some softening in the latter part of the decade.
The forecast range for U.S. clay demand for the year 2000 is
between 47 and 77 million metric tons. Probable U.S. demand for
2000 was put at 63 million metric tons. The United States
possesses the best overall supply of clays of any country in the
world with respect to types as well as quantity. In addition, the
United States is more advanced in clay-processing technology than
most other countries and is capable of processing clay to meet all
domestic consumer requirements.
For several of the clay types, demand and industry employment
are strongly influenced by production costs and price.
Efficiencies and innovations that would reduce extraction costs
would be particularly effective in increasing demand.
Although clays have been used for thousands of years,
understanding of the molecular and atomic structure along with
tools for measuring and observing the chemical and physical
properties of the many clay minerals have only recently been made
available and are continually being improved. This type of
research is a relatively new field that, if pursued diligently,
holds potential for improvements in quality, new physical
properties, and even designed physical properties of clays.
Byproducts and coproducts have been given little attention by
clay producers. High-quality silica sand is the only significant
coproduct. Although the potential for additional coproducts is
probably limited by marketing problems, possibilities exist for
recovering mica, titanium minerals, and silica from kaolin mining
operations.
Most clays are produced from open pits, and the industry is
particularly susceptible to land use conflicts. Zoning
regulations, waste disposal, and pollution factors will affect the
economics of production in a growing number of instances. Devising
practices to minimize such conflict demands immediate and concerted
attention. Of even more importance is the need for adequate data
on clay resources, location of deposits, types of clay, use
potential, and tonnage so planners can more intelligently design
for the use of land within their purview.
Tables
| TXT format | WK1 format |
- Table 1.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1971, by State
- Table 2.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1971, by kind and use
- Table 3.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1972, by State
- Table 4.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1972, by kind and use
- Table 5.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1973, by State
- Table 6.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1973, by kind and use
- Table 7.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1974, by State
- Table 8.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1974, by kind and use
- Table 9.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1975, by State
- Table 10.-Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1975, by kind and use
- Table 11.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1976, by State
- Table 12.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1976, by kind and use
- Table 13.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1977, by State
- Table 14.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1977, by kind and use
- Table 15.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1978, by State
- Table 16.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1978, by kind and use
- Table 17.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1979, by State
- Table 18.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1979, by kind and use
- Table 19.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1980, by State
- Table 20.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1980, by kind and use
- Table 21.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1981, by State
- Table 22.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1981, by kind and use
- Table 23.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1982, by State
- Table 24.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1982, by kind and use
- Table 25.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1983, by State
- Table 26.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1983, by kind and use
- Table 27.--Clay sold or used by producers in the United States in 1984, by State
- Table 28.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1984, by kind and use
- Table 29.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1985, by State
- Table 30.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1985, by kind and use
- Table 31.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1986, by State
- Table 32.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1986, by kind and use
- Table 33.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1987, by State
- Table 34.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1987, by kind and use
- Table 35.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1988, by State
- Table 36.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1988, by kind and use
- Table 37.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1989, by State
- Table 38.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1989, by kind and use
- Table 39.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1990, by State
- Table 40.--Clays sold or used by producers in the United States in 1990, by kind and use
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U.S. Geological Survey
Minerals Information
983 National Center
Reston, VA 20192 USA
URL:
http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/clays/stat/
Commodity Specialist: Robert Virta (rvirta@usgs.gov)
Maintained by: jgambogi@usgs.gov
Last modification: 11/27/98
(JG)