GIMPEX LIMITED
BENTONITE SPECIALITIES
Bentonite – A natural resource with super natural
p r o p e r tie s .
BRANCH OFFICE HEAD OFFICE
GIMPEX LIMITED
GIMPEX LIMITED
Hall No. 9, Sun Plaza
Opp. Commerce College, Gimpex House,
Bhuj (Kutch) – 370 001 282, Linghi Chetty Street,
Gujarat – INDIA. Chennai – 600 001 (India)
Email – sudesh@gimpex.co.in
Email- gimpex@gimpex.com
Bentonite –
Bentonite is the commercial name for the highly
swelling natural material. Its main component is a
smectite clay mineral, usually montmorillonite. It is
formed by the reaction of volcanic ash with water,
a process taking place over millions of year.
The clay has the unique capability of expanding in
the presence of water and contracting in the
absence of the same. This is due to the structure
of the clay which consists of tactoids of 20-80
individual platelets.
Each platelet of ideal composition
(Al1.67Mg0.33)(Si3.5Al0.5)O10(OH)2] consists of
an octahedral layer of Al3+ and O2- sandwiched
between two tetrahedral outer layers of Si4+ and
O2-
Tactoid is
20-80
Lamellae
The most common members of the
smectite mineral group are hectorite and
montmorillonite. The clay’s products are
useful in gelling, binding, thickening,
stabilizing, plasticizing, coagulating,
emulsifying, absorbing and controlling
rheology.
This clay has a net negative charge on the
faces of the platelets which arises from
isomorphous substitution of the Al3+ for
low charged species such as Mg2+ or
Fe2+ in the octahedral layer.
The net negative charge must then be
counterbalanced – a layer of cations is
therefore present between the platelets.
Typically these are Mg2+, Ca2+ and/or
Na+
A montmorillonite platelet can be
considered as an inorganic poly anion.
These characteristics can be modified for
particular purpose by the process of
chemical and mechanical activation.
After swelling and disparaging in water it
has and extra ordinary large specific
surface.
GEOLOGICAL OCCURANCE OF BENTONITE IN
KUTCH –
Gujarat Kutch Bentonite has resulted from the
alternation of Basalt and pyroclastic deposits
associated with Deccan traps by epigenic changes.
Epigenic changes are those occurring at or near the
earth’s surface due to weathering action of natural
agencies such as air, water and ice in conjunction with
climatic conditions.
From the field evidences it is seen that basalt has
been geo – chemically weathered in – situ, dominantly
into clays of different composition with little or no
volume change or movement of the altered products,
but has retained the original texture and structure of
the basalt. Basaltic rocks containing calcium,
magnesium and iron tend to weather to
montmorillonite or beidellite. However, this tendency is
effected by physical conditions and when subjected to
active oxidation and leaching, basalt may on
weathering give kaolinite soils. Kutch bentonite does
not contain kaolinite.
Bentonite of Kutch occurs in Supra trappean formation
of lower Eocene period and lies over trap formation. It
occurs in irregular lenticular or tabular pockets. It
generally occurs below soil cover of 1 mts to 2 mts and
extends downward from 2 mts. to 8 mts.
The Bentonite contains impurities like Calcite,
Gypsum and unalternated basalt and these may
be between 4 to 10%. While sorting of dried
Bentonite these are manually removed to the
extend possible before it is subjected to
Chemical and Mechanical treatment.
The Bentonite deposits are lenticular or tabular in
shape and occur in between traps and / overlying
supratrappean laterites. These occur below an
overburden of 1 to 2 m. thick soil and extend
downward to a depth of 10 m. where altered
basalts passes into fresh rock. A few meters of
the top are contaminated with soil, blown sand
and lateritic material. The main part of the
bentonite contains impurities of calcite, gypsum,
ferruginous and basaltic material. Calcite and
gypsum contents decrease with depth.
Many bentonite pockets show spheroids
analogous to exfoliation weathering ranging in
diameter from few cm to 75 cm. it is observed
that the bentonite covers the periphery and
successively less weathered basalt is seen
towards the center.
The Bentonite content decrease from the outer
rim of spheroid to the core.
There are two types of Bentonites. i) Sodium
Bentonites and ii) the Calcium Bentonites. The
Bentonites which have Na as the chief
exchangeable ions in their lattice are known as
sodium types. The Bentonites of this area are
Sodium Bentonites and are of very high
quality.
In hand specimen, freshly dug bentonite lump
is deep green and contains moisture. In
appearance it can be compared to fine grained
glassy basalt with white spots Laboratory tests
have shown that the material constituting the
white spots swells 20.4 times its original
volume while the clays a whole in which it is
enclosed swells only 3 to 4 times.
The multi-properties of Bentonite (hydration,
swelling, water absorption, viscosity, thixotropy
make it a multi-application product for diverse
industries). Primarily two varieties of Bentonite
are available – Sodium Bentonite (high
swelling, gelling and thermal durability) and
Calcium Bentonite (more commonly available
worldwide but with less swelling).
The color of Kutch Bentonite is yellowish green
to dark grayish.
GIMPEX LTD., BHUJ – BENTONITE OPERATIONS -
We have large Bentonite mines of Calcium and
Sodium based in Kutch (Gujarat state, India). At any
given time we have four mines operating and hold one
lakhs tons of stock of various grades of bentonite.
Gimpex is in a position to assure back to back
consistency.
As the occurrence of Bentonite due to its natural
formation is inconsistent, our job is to give consistent
supply. The company catters nationally and
internationally Bentonite in lumps, powder, granules.
Bentonite for traditional application and specialized
application are also available. We are specialized in
customize solution.
Gimpex bentonite is mainly of very high
quality Sodium variety with higher iron content and
very fine particle size resulting in superior swelling
capacity and bonding powers.
Kutch Bentonite is subjected to strong sunshine and
natural drying which eliminates the artificial drying
process. Making it a more cost effective choice. State
of the art processing facilities and in-house R&D allow
us to conform to specific customer requirements and
batch to batch consistency Proximity to ports and
cheap labour allow us to be price competitive.
Highly versatile Bentonite products are for both
traditional usage foundry, iron ore palletizing,
metal casting, civil engineering, drilling and also
specialty applications. agro to cosmetics to
medicine are made by Gimpex.
Gimpex specialty minerals is devoted to the
development and supply of the highest quality
products, specifically tailored for a European
markets, and has built a reputation for
outstanding customer service.
Gimpex emphasis on expertise in research and
development, excellence and accuracy in
processing technology, coupled with our
unmatched mineral reserves, has enabled us to
become the quality producer of smectite clays,
specifically sodium and calcium montmorillonites
bentonite.
DIFFERENT GRADES THAT GIMPEX PRODUCES
P aper
Drilling
Ceramic
Foundry
Fertilizer
Cat litter
Pesticides
Palletizing
Detergents
Agriculture
Animal Feed
Water proofing
Electrical Earthing
Paint / Dyes / Polishes
Oil / Liquor / Food Marking
Construction and Civil Engineering
Pharmaceuticals / Cosmetics / Medical Markets
Registered Grades of Bentonite
• GIMFILL®
• GIMDRILL®
• GIMGEL®
• HYDROGIM®
• SMECTOGIM®
• GIMSULF®
• GIMBOND®
• GIMDET®
Kutch Bentonite has resulted from alteration of Basalt and pyroclastic
deposits associated with Deccan traps.
From field evidence it is evident formed in SITU.
This gives Bentonite with varying contents of active ingredient.
Montmorollonite and various colors from pale green, dark green, red,
black, etc.
After trial pits and careful evaluation of the various layers, Gimpex
decides the best method of mining and chemical dosage.
Our mining team and lab people have more than 25 years of
experience and hence Gimpex can assure the buyer consistent quality.
Flowchart of Operations
Bentonite in Situ has moisture upto 35% and it is mined by Hitachi
and as per the quality it is heaped in various dumps.
From the wet dumps it is spread by tractors in the drying platform. The wet
lumps are repeatedly ploughed and sliced using rotovetor. At these stage
impurities like Gypsum, unaltered Basalt is removed.
The dried bentonite is chemically treated by dissolving soda ash and other
chemicals in water and sprayed by tankers in 3 to 6 cycles.
Dosage of chemicals depends on quality of raw lumps and quality of end
product.
The activated lumps are sun dried to the required moisture. Bentonite
contains main active ingredient montmorollonite upto 85% and other
associated minerals like Calcite, Gypsum, Feldspar, etc. plus unaltered
Basalt and total is 4% to 10%. These impurities are further manually
removed during this process.
The activated lumps are heaped in various dumps and are ready for dispatch
either to the grinding units or shipped directly.
Bentonite occurs in different colors in natural forms.
Gimpex has been from time to time hiring grinding units for its
grinding operations. We are in the process of consolidating all the
various types of grinding units as one captive unit in our upcoming
Processing Unit at Dhunai.
Gimpex Bentonite Powder packed in 1000 KGS Jumbo Bags, 50 Kgs & 25 Kgs
Export of Gimpex Jumbo Bags to different countries
Transportation through Sea
by GIMPEX Bentonite
15000 MT Consignment ship
Transporting Material through Ship
Transportation through Rail
by GIMPEX Bentonite
Stuffed Container
Bags loaded inside
the container
Thanking you
Sudesh Sansgiry – Sr. G.M.
GIMPEX LIMITED
Hall No. 9, Sun Plaza,
Opp. Commerce College,
Bhuj (Kutch) – 370 001
Gujarat – INDIA.
Ph.: (02832) 231148
Fax: (02832) 230041
Cell: (+91) 90990 28252
Email: sudesh@gimpex.co.in
