Is kaolin mined in Georgia?

While kaolin deposits are present in several places in Georgia and other southeastern states, few areas have deposits that are as pure, white, and easily mined as those in Washington County. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia mines $1 billion worth of the clay every year, more than any other state.

What is kaolin used for in Georgia?

Almost 80 percent of the kaolin produced in Georgia is used in filling and coating: fine publication papers, light-weight catalog papers, and consumer product packaging.

Where is kaolin found in the US?

central Georgia
In the US, the main kaolin deposits are found in central Georgia, on a stretch of the Atlantic Seaboard fall line between Augusta and Macon.

Is kaolin a rare earth?

Kaolin is a type of clay. Rare-earth elements are used to make critical products, including rechargeable battery electrodes and permanent magnets. The heavy rare-earth elements are from gadolinium (Gd) to lutetium (Lu), atomic numbers 64 to 71 on the periodic table. Thiele Kaolin Co.

Where are the kaolin deposits located in Georgia?

Found in the central Piedmont section of Georgia, vast deposits of kaolin are mined around Sandersville, in the area between Macon and Augusta. Kaolin is a naturally deposited clay used in the manufacture of ceramics as well as in coatings for paper and textiles.

What kind of material is kaolin used for?

Kaolin, which is also known as “china clay,” is a white, alumina-silicate used in making paper, plastics, rubber, paints and many other products. Kaolin deposits in middle Georgia resulted from the erosion of deeply weathered crystalline rocks in the Piedmont Plateau, which were deposited along Georgia’s Fall Line.

How much money does the kaolin industry make in Georgia?

Georgia’s kaolin producers generate approximately $120 million each year in local, state and federal taxes. Economists estimate that the total payroll effect exceeds $470 million annually as payroll dollars are spent and recirculated in communities in middle Georgia and throughout the state.

What kind of kaolin is found in the Piedmont?

This belt parallels the fall line, which marks the boundary between the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain. Deposits are of three types: (1) “soft” kaolin, which breaks easily and is soapy in texture; (2) “hard” kaolin, which is more finely grained, difficult to break, and jagged in texture; and (3) “flint” kaolin,…