The ball clay resources available in Andhra Pradesh region is of medium to high plastic type clay. The chemical composition and physical properties of this clay is best suited for vitreous china sanitary ware body, vitrified granite tiles, floor tiles, wall tiles, stone ware and Refractory body formulation. Even though huge reserves of this clay are available the Andhra Pradesh Government has put very minimum efforts to exploit the resource for much of its usage.
Most of the clay mines are situated around Bimadole and Elluru region in Andhra Pradesh. Almost all the mines are owned by private mine owners and the clay is sold as such from the mine as crude ball clay. Simple cost effective ball clay beneficiation process will add lot of value addition to this clay which will be very useful for the ceramic industries in South India.
