CLAYS

             (Data in thousand metric tons, unless noted)

Domestic Production and Use:  In 1995, clays were produced in most States except
Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.  The leading 90 firms
supplied 25% of the output, and about 203 firms provided the remainder.  Together,
these firms operated about 983 mines.  Estimated value of all marketable clay
produced was about $1.8 billion.  Major domestic uses for specific clays were
estimated as follows:  kaolin--55% paper, 8% kiln furniture, 6% fiberglass, 4% grogs,
and 4% paint; ball clay--30% floor and wall tile, 13% pottery, and 24% sanitaryware;
fire clay--69% grogs, calcines, and firebrick; bentonite--25% foundry sand bond, 21%
drilling mud, and 18% iron ore pelletizing; fuller's earth--75% absorbent uses and
12% insecticide dispersant; and common clay--50% brick, 27% cement, and 14%
lightweight aggregate.

Salient Statistics--United States:1/       1991     1992     1993     1994     1995e/
Production, mine:
 Kaolin                                   9,550    8,740    8,830    8,770    9,490
 Ball clay                                  784      854      911    1,050      975
 Fire clay2/                                474      383      459      458      412
 Bentonite                                3,310    2,950    2,870    3,290    3,540
 Fuller's earth                           2,320    2,410    2,480    2,640    2,500
 Common clay                             24,600   24,900   25,300   25,900   29,700
 Total3/                                 41,020   40,200   40,900   42,200   46,600
Imports for consumption                      35       41       39       36       39
Exports                                   4,000    4,160    4,150    4,620    4,505
Consumption, apparent                    37,060   36,100   36,600   37,600   42,100
Price, average, dollars per ton:
 Kaolin                                      96      107      107      116      115
 Ball clay                                   43       42       42       43       49
 Fire clay                                   28       27       25       26       26
 Fuller's earth                             100      100       92       93      108
 Common clay                                  5        5        5        5        5
 Bentonite                                   37       39       36       41       58
Stocks, yearend4/                            NA       NA       NA       NA       NA
Employment:e/ Mine                        5,500    5,000    4,500    3,950    4,900
              Mill                        9,000    9,000    9,000    9,000    9,000
Net import reliance5/ as a percent of
 apparent consumption                         E        E        E        E        E

Recycling:  Insignificant.

Import Sources (1991-94):  Mexico, 31%; China, 20%; United Kingdom, 20%; Canada, 15%;
and other, 14%.

Tariff: Item              Number     Most favored nation (MFN)    Non-MFN6/
                                             12/31/95             12/31/95
Kaolin and other 
 kaolinitic clays, 
 whether or not 
 calcined7/            2507.00.0000            26›/t              $2.46/t.
Bentonite7/            2508.10.0000           31.5›/t             $3.20/t.
Fuller's and 
 decolorizing earths7/ 2508.20.0000           19.7›/t             $1.48/t.
Fire clay7/            2508.30.0000           39.4›/t             $1.97/t.
Common blue and 
 other ball clays7/    2508.40.0010           37.4›/t             $1.97/t.
Other clays7/          2508.40.0050           37.4›/t             $1.97/t.
Chamotte or dinas 
 earth                 2508.70.0000            Free                Free.
Activated clays and 
 earths8/              3802.90.2000        2.5% ad val.        0.6› per kg + 
                                                                 30% ad val.
Expanded clays and 
 mixtures8/            6806.20.0000         3.9% ad val.        30%. ad val.

Depletion Allowance:  Kaolin, ball clay, bentonite, fuller's earth, and fire clay,
14% (Domestic), 14% (Foreign); clay used for extraction of alumina or aluminum
compounds, 22% (Domestic); clay and shale used for making brick, tile, and
lightweight aggregate, 7.5% (Domestic), 7.5% (Foreign); clay used in making drainage
and roofing tile, flowerpots, and kindred products, 5% (Domestic), 5% (Foreign).

Government Stockpile:  None.


Prepared by Robert L. Virta, (703) 648-7726.

                                 CLAYS

Events, Trends, and Issues:  The total tonnage and value of clays sold or used by
domestic producers increased 10% and 13%, respectively, in 1995.  There was an
increase in sales and/or use for bentonite, common clay, and kaolin, with the largest
increases being in common clay and kaolin.  Imports for consumption increased 8% to
39,000 tons.  China and Mexico were the major sources for imported clays.  Exports
decreased 2% to 4.5 million tons.  Canada, Finland, Japan, and the Netherlands were
major markets for exported clays.  U.S. apparent consumption was estimated to be 42
million tons.

World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base:  Not available.

World Resources:  Clays are divided for commercial purposes into kaolin, ball clay,
fire clay, bentonite, fuller's earth, and common clay.  Resources of these types of
clay are extremely large except for lesser resources of high-grade ball clay and
sodium-bentonite.  Resources of kaolin in Georgia are estimated to be 5 to 10 billion
tons.

Substitutes:  Limited substitutes and alternatives, such as talc and whiting, are
available for filler and extender applications.

e/Estimated.  E Net exporter.  NA Not available.
1/Excludes Puerto Rico.
2/Refractory uses only.
3/Data may not add to total shown because of independent rounding.
4/Data on stocks are not available and are assumed to be zero for apparent consumption
and net import reliance calculations.
5/Defined as imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock
changes.
6/See Appendix B.
7/Per metric ton.
8/Ad valorem per kilogram.

                              Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 1996