Canadian Minerals Yearbook (CMY) – 2008 – Clays
Clays
Printable version – PDF (69.7 kb)
Michel Dumont
The author is with the Minerals and Metals Sector,
Natural Resources Canada.
Telephone: 613–995–2917
E–mail: michel.dumont@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
HIGHLIGHTS
- Clay is an abundant raw material with a wide variety of uses and properties that is mined in all provinces except Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Manitoba.
- Overall world production of bentonite was approximately 12.0 Mt in 2007, kaolin production was 39.0 Mt, and Fuller’s earth production was estimated to be 3.89 Mt.
- Canada’s preliminary 2008 figures indicate a clay shipment value of $184.6 million, exports of $21.9 million (75 490 t), and imports of $181.4 million (1.8 Mt).
- Canadian consumption for 2007 was 2.2 Mt for “other” clays, 713 437 t for kaolin, 265 709 t for bentonite, 23 881 t for fire clay, and 3194 t for ball clay, for a total consumption of 3.2 Mt.
- The short–term forecast for bentonite indicates stable demand from the oil drilling sector. The short–term demand for clays used in construction will remain weak due to the economic downturn and its affect on the new housing market.
INTRODUCTION
The clays are a complex group that consists of several mineral commodities, each having different mineralogy, geological occurrence, mining/processing technology, and uses. They are fine–grained minerals of secondary origin and are composed of an alumina silicate structure with additional iron, alkalis, and alkaline earth elements. Clay minerals are classified into two broad groups: specialty clays, which include attapulgite, bentonite, Fuller’s earth, hectorite, montmorillonite, and sepiolite; and kaolinitic clays, which include ball clay, fire clay (refractory clay), stoneware clay, and kaolinite. These minerals rarely occur in a pure state and, rather, occur with gangue minerals (e.g., quartz, calcite, dolomite, feldspar, gypsum, and iron oxide), which may or may not be deleterious for ceramic applications. (Note: Palygorskite is the internationally recognized mineralogical term for attapulgite, the name more commonly used.)
Clay is an abundant raw material with a wide variety of uses and properties. The commercial value of a clay depends primarily on its physical properties, such as plasticity, strength, shrinkage, vitrification range, refractoriness, fired colour, porosity, and absorption. Many definitions state that a clay is plastic when wet. Most clay materials do have this property, but some clays are not plastic (e.g., halloysite and flint clay).
The clay–based industries are of fundamental importance to all countries. The large–volume clay industries, besides the construction clays, are the kaolin and bentonite industries, although these large tonnages belie the variety of product specifications and special consumer–designed products that are available as a result of research and development in close liaison with customer needs.
It is the physical characteristics of clays, more so than the chemical and structural characteristics, that define this group:
- Clay minerals tend to form microscopic to sub–microscopic crystals.
- They can absorb or lose water from simple humidity changes.
- When mixed with limited amounts of water, clays become plastic and can be molded and formed, such as pottery.
- When water is absorbed, clays will often expand as the water fills the spaces between the stacked silicate layers.
- Due to the absorption of water, the specific gravity of clays is highly variable and is lowered with increased water content.
- The hardness of clays is difficult to determine due to the microscopic nature of the crystals, but actual hardness is usually between 2 and 3, and many clays give a hardness of 1 in field tests.
- Clays tend to form from weathering and secondary sedimentary processes with only a few examples of clays forming in primary igneous or metamorphic environments.
- Clays are rarely found separately and are usually mixed not only with other clays, but also with microscopic crystals of carbonates, feldspars, micas, and quartz.
Although clays are present everywhere in Canada, not all types are evenly distributed. Clays are mined in all provinces except Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Manitoba. No information on findings or exploration projects in the territories and/or Nunavut has yet been reported, although this should not be interpreted as a lack of existence.
The mining and processing of clays depend upon the type of clay. Kaolin production is a highly mechanized operation that requires conversion into clay–water slip or a slurry. The other clay types (e.g., bentonite, Fuller’s earth, etc.) are stripped from the ground under controlled conditions to ensure quality control and are processed by simple milling techniques and de–watering to be dried and stockpiled.
Prices for clays in U.S. dollars are provided in the “Prices” section below. It should be understood that the prices indicated serve only as a reference measure. Prices for actual transactions vary, not only according to the various types of clays, but also according to geographic region, and will take into account the quantity purchased, application, quality assurance, exact grade purchased, credit terms, and other parameters.
CONSUMPTION, PRODUCTION, AND TRADE
Overall world production (source: U.S. Geological Survey 2007 review) of bentonite was approximately 12.0 Mt, Fuller’s earth production was estimated to be 3.89 Mt, and kaolin production was 39.0 Mt in 2007. The United States continued to be the leading producer of all three varieties of clays.
Canadian clay production (Table 1) shows a preliminary shipments value of $184.6 million in 2008, down 10.0% from the revised 2007 value of $205.0 million.
The major uses/consumption of clays reported (Table 3) for Canada in 2008 were: “other” clays at 2.2 Mt (with an estimated 54.9% used in the clay products and structural industry and 42.7% used by the cement/construction industry); kaolin (China clay) at 713 437 t (92.9% used in the pulp, paper, and paper products industry); bentonite at 265 709 t (79.3% used in the iron ore pelletizing industry and 8.6% used by the foundry industry); fire clay at 23 881 t (main usage now confidential); and ball clay at 3194 t (47.5% used by the ceramics and structural industries, and 32.2% used in the refractory brick, mixes industries). Table 2 shows bentonite imports (tonnage and value) and consumption (tonnage only) from 1988 to 2007. Although preliminary consumption of bentonite seems to have decreased in 2007, the import tonnage and value seem to have increased.
In 2008, Canada exported 75 490 t of clay valued at $21.9 million, an increase of 27 932 t (58.7%) from 2007. This increase is related to the significant demand from the United States for kaolin, from Belgium and Germany for bentonite, and from Germany for “other” clays. “Other” clays represent 79.1% of Canada’s total exports, while bentonite, kaolin, and fire clay represent 15.7%, 4.8%, and 0.4% of total exports, respectively. It is noted that in 2008 there were no exports reported for the decolourizing earths and Fuller’s earth categories. Canada’s major export destinations have been the United States for kaolin, Germany and Belgium for bentonite, and Denmark and the United States for fire clay. With respect to the “other” clays category, Germany, the United States, the Netherlands, and Belgium are the core export markets.
In 2008, Canada’s imports of clays totaled over 1.8 Mt valued at $181.4 million, an increase of 68 340 t (4.0%) from 2007. The value of kaolin imports dominated in 2008 (52.1% of total imports valued at $94.4 million), followed by bentonite (22.2%), “other” clays (15.0%), activated clays (9.8%), and fire clay (0.9%). There was no reporting in 2008 for imports of decolourizing earths and Fuller’s earth. Imports by tonnage provided a similar 2008 standing with kaolin leading (55.5% of total imports, or almost 1.0 Mt), followed by bentonite (24.9%), “other” clays (17.5%), activated clay (1.6%), fire clay (0.5%), and decolourizing earths and Fuller’s earth (nil). The United States maintained its position as the major supplier of bentonite, fire clay, and “other” clays to Canada, with Brazil leading for kaolin and Greece leading for activated clay.
CANADIAN CLAY DEPOSITS AND USES
For a detailed description of Canadian clay deposits and uses, refer to the 2007 review on clays available on the Internet at www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/mms-smm/busi-indu/cmy-amc/com-eng.htm.
CANADIAN CLAY–PRODUCING MINES
Newfoundland and Labrador
Trinity Brick Products (1972) Ltd. located in St. John’s extracts shale for the production of bricks.
Prince Edward Island
There is no production of clay in the province.
Nova Scotia
Shaw Brick (a member of The Shaw Group Limited) extracts clay from pits at Lantz, Milford, and Shubenacadie, all in Hants County, and shale from quarries located in Hardwood Lands, Hants County; and New Glasgow, Pictou County. These materials are used in the company’s plant in Lantz for the manufacture of bricks and other clay products.
New Brunswick
There is no production of clays in the province.
Quebec
Briques Hanson ltée, previously known as Briqueterie St–Laurent (a division of Hanson Building Materials America), is located in the city of La Prairie and mines shale from a quarry to produce bricks.
Exploration Orbite V.S.P.A. inc., which owns 100% of the mining rights of the Grande–Vallée property (an alumina clay deposit representing a surface area of approximately 2300 ha located 32 km northeast of Murdochville in the Gaspé Peninsula), is soon to be a fully integrated future producer from which ultra–pure and specialty alumina will be extracted and manufactured. An exclusive sole commercialization agreement was signed with Amalgamet Canada Limited, a subsidiary of Amalgamated Metal Corporation PLC of London, United Kingdom, for the sale of its high–purity alumina.
Ontario
The brick industry currently extracts most of its raw material from the Queenston Formation shale. The two major producers are Brampton Brick Limited and Hanson Brick Ltd. Other producers include Century Brick Limited, George Coultis & Sons Ltd., Norwich Brick and Tile, and Paisley Bricks and Tile Co.
Canada Brick Co. became, in 2003, part of Hanson Building Materials America, the largest brick manufacturer in Canada and one of the largest brick manufacturers in North America.
Manitoba
There is no production of clays in the province at this time.
Saskatchewan
The most important commercial clays mined in Saskatchewan include kaolinite, montmorillorite (i.e., bentonite), and illite clays.
Clays and clay products are produced by three major companies. Estevan Brick (1995) Ltd. has quarries at Estevan, Rockglen, Flintoft, and Readlyn for the manufacture of face brick. Canadian Clay Products Inc. quarries sodium bentonite near Truax, 60 km southwest of Regina, and processes it at its plant at Wilcox to produce swelling bentonite products. In early 2009, the Wilcox facility was significantly damaged by fire and production will be curtailed for a six–month period. Cindercrete Products Ltd. produces lightweight clay aggregates for its ready–mix concrete plant in Saskatoon.
Current production from these producers is mainly for face brick for Canadian and U.S. markets and stoneware clay for the Canadian market. Saskatchewan’s bentonite production is sold mainly in western Canada. The bentonite is produced by quarrying and is processed by drying, adding soda ash, grinding, and bagging. Much of Saskatchewan’s bentonite production is used as fertilizer carrier, animal feed binding, reservoir sealing, and a foundry sand binder. Future opportunities for swelling bentonite include its use as a pesticide carrier, as an agent in water and effluent purification, and in the production of pet litter.
Plainsman Clay Limited of Alberta mines its own pottery clay in Saskatchewan for processing at Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Clayburn Industries Ltd. (a subsidiary of I–XL Industries Ltd. of Alberta) in Abbotsford, British Columbia, mines clay seasonally in Saskatchewan and operates a manufacturing plant in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Whitemud Resources Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, has completed the commissioning of its $50 million Gollier Creek processing facility in Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan, and is producing metakaolin. Metakaolin is superheated kaolin, which is a white–coloured clay used in manufacturing paint, plastics and ceramics, and as a filler and coater in paper. In metakaolin form, the silvery powder is added to cement to increase the strength and durability of concrete and its impermeability to water and other chemical agents. The major markets are the oil patch and construction industries in Canada and the United States.
Alberta
Plainsman Clay Limited mines clay (i.e., Helmer kaolin) specifically from sites in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Montana, and Idaho for pottery and plastic stoneware, and processes the mined clay at Medicine Hat, Alberta.
I–XL Industries Ltd. of Medicine Hat is the largest producer of fired clay products in western Canada. Clays are quarried at modern open–pit mining sites (i.e., Cyprus Hills of Alberta and Saskatchewan) and are stockpiled at I–XL plants (e.g., Clayburn Industries Ltd.). Two different processes are used to form the clay into bricks.
British Columbia
Sumas Shale Ltd. is scheduled to produce 500 000 t of shale, clay, conglomerate, and sandstone from its Sumas shale quarries. The clay with the highest alumina content is sold to Clayburn Industries Ltd. Lower–grade clay, sandstone, and conglomerate are used for feed at Clayburn, Lafarge Canada Inc., and Tilbury Cement Ltd.
Sumas Clay Products Ltd. produces small quantities of ornamental and specialty facing bricks from fire clay at its historic plant near Abbotsford.
Clayburn Industries Ltd. of Abbotsford processes fire clay from Sumas Mountain into a variety of refractory bricks and castable products that are exported worldwide. The company imports ball clay for the manufacture of some of its refractory products. Clayburn also produces residential clay (common bricks).
Pacific Bentonite Ltd. is extracting high–alumina material from its Decora deposit located in the Hat Creek area. Although the material is used mainly in cement production, the company is aggressively developing new markets.
Absorbent Products Ltd. produces domestic and industrial absorbents, principally from its Red Lake Fuller’s earth deposit near Kamloops. In the Princeton area, the company is mining bentonite from the Bud property. The products are for agriculture, cat litter, industrial absorbents, carriers for herbicides and pesticides, and binders for feeds. The company also produces a Fuller’s earth that is described by the B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources as a diatomaceous earth deposit since it is mainly diatomaceous earth. This material is sold as a non–swelling (conventional) cat litter throughout Canada and the United States. In addition, the company produces a sodium bentonite (clumping) cat litter from its Princeton deposit that is sold throughout Canada and the United States. Its agricultural products are sold throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Ironwood Clay Company Inc. is the largest producer of cosmetic/medical clay in British Columbia. It mines seasonally from the De Cosmos Lagoon on the Hunter Island deposits.
Similar clay material for cosmetic/medical applications is extracted from Carrie Cove Clay of Comox Valley and is marketed and sold by Carrie Cove Cosmetics.
Glacial Marine Clay Inc. is producing a clay for specialized hydroponics applications. The market for specialized hydroponics clays is large.
PRICES
Prices for actual transactions vary accordingly to geographic region and will take into account the quantity purchased, application, quality assurance, exact grade purchased, credit terms, and other parameters. Due to the unavailability of prices for Canada’s clay industry, all of the following prices are provided as a comparative example in U.S. currency and reflect the U.S. industry (source: USGS 2007 review).
Ball Clay
The average value for ball clay reported by U.S. producers was US$45.71/t. The average value for exported and imported ball clay was US$68/t.
Bentonite
The average value reported by U.S. producers for non–swelling bentonite was US$50.68/t. The average value for swelling bentonite was US$52.39/t. The average value for all bentonite was US$52.28/t. The average value of imported bentonite by the United States was US$217/t while the average value of U.S. exports was US$110/t.
The price for ex–work, Wyoming and crude, bulk, rail cars, was US$36–$82/t; for foundry grade, bagged, rail cars, was US$55–$80/t; and for API–grade, bagged, rail cars, was US$55–$80/t. The price for bentonite, India, crushed, dried, loose in bulk, was US$43–$53/t for API grade, US$32–$40/t for cat litter grade, and US$59–$76/t for foundry grade (Industrial Minerals, 2007).
Common Clay and Shale
The average value of all common clay and shale produced in the United States was US$10.50/t. The average value of clay and shale used in lightweight aggregate was US$26.72/t. Average prices for lightweight aggregate produced from clay and shale range from US$30 to $70/t for most applications. (Note: The so–called structural clays group for making bricks, pipes, and tiles for the construction industry creates a conflict since the common clays and shales often used for these products may contain high proportions of non–clay minerals such as quartz and mica.)
Fire Clay
The average value for fire clay reported by U.S. producers was US$42.16/t. The average value of fire clay imports into the United States was US$292/t and the average value of exports was US$112/t.
Fuller’s Earth
The average value of attapulgite–type Fuller’s earth was US$148.98/t in 2007, and the average value of montmorillonite–type Fuller’s earth was US$91.70/t. The average value of all Fuller’s earth was estimated to be US$96.89/t. The average value of exported Fuller’s earth was US$281/t.
Kaolin
The average value of kaolin was US$1334.97/t for all kaolin grades while airfloat was US$72.54/t, refractory–grade (high temperature calcined) was US$38.55/t, pigment–grade (low–temperature calcined) was US$289.04/t, all types of calcined was US$201.44/t, delaminated was US$131.58/t, unprocessed was US$14.59/t, and water washed was US$135.58/t. The average value of imported kaolin was US$250/t and the average value of exported kaolin was US$186/t.
The kaolin price for ex–work, Georgia, filler, bulk, was US$80–$100/t; for coating, bulk, US$85–$185/t; for sanitaryware–grade, bagged, US$65–$75/t; for tableware–grade, bagged, US$125/t; and for calcined, bulk, US$320–$375/t (Industrial Minerals, 2007).
OUTLOOK
Short–term forecasts project stable demand for bentonite due to continued demand in the oil drilling sector.
Reduced new housing starts and tight credit will affect sales of construction–oriented markets for clay–based products such as adhesives, clay brick, drain tile, portland cement, ceramic tile, lightweight aggregate, paint, fibreglass, roofing granules, sanitaryware, and sewer pipes.
The absorbent markets, particularly pet waste absorbents, will certainly sustain less damage (e.g., bentonite, Fuller’s earth raw material). The use of oil absorbents may decline because heavy industries have slowed production as a result of the economic downturn.
A slackening in demand for steel may result in slightly decreased sales of bentonite for pelletizing iron ore and decreased demand for bentonite and Fuller’s earth for foundry applications.
The leading markets for kaolin – paper coating and filling – continue to be affected by a downturn in the paper production industry.
Notes: (1) For definitions and valuation of mineral production, shipments and trade, please refer to Chapter 58. (2) Information in this review was current as of April 2009. (3) This and other reviews, including previous editions, are available on the Internet at at www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/mms-smm/busi-indu/cmy-amc/com-eng.htm.
Note to Readers
The intent of this document is to provide general information and to elicit discussion. It is not intended as a reference, guide or suggestion to be used in trading, investment, or other commercial activities. The author and Natural Resources Canada make no warranty of any kind with respect to the content and accept no liability, either incidental, consequential, financial or otherwise, arising from the use of this document.
| Canada | United States | EU | Japan | ||||
| Item No. | Description | MFN | GPT | USA | Canada | Conventional Rate (1) | WTO (2) |
| 25.07 | Kaolin and other kaolinic clays, whether or not calcined | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 25.08 |
Other clays (not including expanded clays of heading 68.06), andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite, whether or not calcined; mullite; chamotte or dinas earths |
||||||
| 2508.10 | Bentonite | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 2508.30 | Fire clay | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 2508.40 | Other clays | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| 3802.90.00.10 | Activated carbon; activated natural mineral products; animal black, including spent animal black: other: activated clay | Free | Free | Free | Free | 5.7% | 2.5% |
Sources: Canadian Customs Tariff, effective January 2009, Canada Border Services Agency; Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, 2009; Official Journal of the European Union (Tariff Information), September 19, 2008 edition; Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, 2009.
(1) The customs duties applicable to imported goods originating in countries that are Contracting Parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or with which the European Community has concluded agreements containing the most–favoured–nation tariff clause shall be the conventional duties shown in column 3 of the Schedule of Duties. (2) WTO rate is shown; lower tariff rates may apply circumstantially.
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (p) | |||||
| (tonnes) | ($000) | (tonnes) | ($000) | (tonnes) | ($000) | ||
| PRODUCTION (Shipments) (1) | |||||||
| Nova Scotia | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Quebec | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Ontario | x | 181 622 | x | 162 186 | x | 146 022 | |
| Saskatchewan | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Alberta | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| British Columbia | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Total | x | 223 779 | x | 205 041 | x | 184 639 | |
| EXPORTS | |||||||
| 2507.00 | Kaolin and other kaolinic clays, whether or not calcinated | ||||||
| United States | 984 | 252 | 712 | 235 | 3 634 | 974 | |
| Other countries | 11 | 5 | 43 | 13 | 8 | . . . | |
| Total | 995 | 257 | 755 | 248 | 3 642 | 974 | |
| 2508.10 | Bentonite | ||||||
| Belgium | 698 | 225 | 875 | 466 | 4 420 | 2 982 | |
| Germany | 66 | 39 | 1 004 | 676 | 4 523 | 1 506 | |
| United States | 520 | 201 | 649 | 209 | 591 | 226 | |
| France | 356 | 187 | 2 054 | 1 458 | 449 | 200 | |
| Netherlands | – | – | – | – | 495 | 167 | |
| Finland | 126 | 50 | 254 | 114 | 321 | 163 | |
| Latvia | – | – | – | – | 291 | 120 | |
| Sweden | 25 | 8 | – | – | 250 | 104 | |
| Other countries | 821 | 489 | 321 | 192 | 518 | 230 | |
| Total | 2 612 | 1 199 | 5 157 | 3 115 | 11 858 | 5 698 | |
| 2508.20 | Decolourizing earths and Fuller's earth | ||||||
| Belgium | 334 | 104 | – | – | – | – | |
| Other countries | 153 | 49 | – | – | – | – | |
| Total | 487 | 153 | – | – | – | – | |
| 2508.30 | Fire clay | ||||||
| United States | 256 | 112 | 176 | 86 | 73 | 54 | |
| Denmark | – | – | 50 | 18 | 88 | 35 | |
| Brazil | 41 | 19 | 51 | 27 | 45 | 31 | |
| Other countries | 4 | 3 | 49 | 18 | 102 | 39 | |
| Total | 301 | 134 | 326 | 149 | 308 | 159 | |
| 2508.40 | Other clays (excluding expanded clays of no. 68.06) | ||||||
| Germany | 20 520 | 7 997 | 15 879 | 6 228 | 44 459 | 8 354 | |
| Netherlands | 828 | 306 | 12 725 | 5 844 | 3 314 | 1 701 | |
| Sweden | 798 | 292 | 1 082 | 432 | 886 | 1 273 | |
| Belgium | 1 529 | 534 | 3 377 | 2 091 | 1 929 | 707 | |
| United States | 2 407 | 465 | 2 616 | 656 | 3 438 | 664 | |
| Denmark | 1 296 | 362 | 1 031 | 295 | 1 196 | 443 | |
| France | 24 203 | 8 092 | 674 | 336 | 795 | 326 | |
| Switzerland | 583 | 217 | 865 | 338 | 713 | 298 | |
| Norway | 585 | 250 | 632 | 311 | 588 | 224 | |
| Finland | 248 | 87 | 545 | 185 | 513 | 209 | |
| Latvia | 419 | 159 | 541 | 208 | 457 | 195 | |
| Portugal | 87 | 32 | 178 | 70 | 271 | 115 | |
| Indonesia | – | – | 24 | 13 | 128 | 107 | |
| Other countries | 1 054 | 431 | 1 151 | 505 | 995 | 421 | |
| Total | 54 557 | 19 224 | 41 320 | 17 512 | 59 682 | 15 037 | |
| Total exports | 58 952 | 20 967 | 47 558 | 21 024 | 75 490 | 21 868 | |
| IMPORTS (2) | |||||||
| 2507.00 | Kaolin and other kaolinic clays, whether or not calcinated | ||||||
| Brazil | 199 825 | 20 781 | 358 287 | 35 701 | 582 203 | 46 918 | |
| United States | 758 690 | 78 799 | 531 554 | 63 624 | 383 268 | 46 044 | |
| United Kingdom | 36 684 | 5 967 | 74 755 | 9 901 | 7 633 | 1 152 | |
| Czech Republic | 39 | 17 | 118 | 40 | 254 | 129 | |
| Other countries | 506 | 104 | 774 | 185 | 442 | 201 | |
| Total | 995 744 | 105 668 | 965 488 | 109 451 | 973 800 | 94 444 | |
| 2508.10 | Bentonite | ||||||
| United States | 446 792 | 35 177 | 493 266 | 35 250 | 370 269 | 33 587 | |
| Greece | 43 034 | 3 033 | 43 686 | 4 404 | 65 890 | 6 134 | |
| China | 123 | 29 | 283 | 40 | 131 | 120 | |
| Other countries | 724 | 325 | 1 319 | 354 | 1 165 | 416 | |
| Total | 490 673 | 38 564 | 538 554 | 40 048 | 437 455 | 40 257 | |
| 2508.20 | Decolourizing earths and Fuller's earth | ||||||
| Mexico | 299 | 107 | – | – | – | – | |
| United Kingdom | 168 | 106 | – | – | – | – | |
| United States | 10 437 | 2 525 | – | – | – | – | |
| Other countries | 24 | 15 | – | – | – | – | |
| Total | 10 928 | 2 753 | – | – | – | – | |
| 2508.30 | Fire clay | ||||||
| United States | 10 105 | 1 622 | 6 696 | 1 267 | 7 813 | 1 423 | |
| Guyana | 18 | 6 | 359 | 116 | 702 | 234 | |
| Other countries | 175 | 64 | 142 | 45 | 195 | 57 | |
| Total | 10 298 | 1 692 | 7 197 | 1 428 | 8 710 | 1 714 | |
| 2508.40 | Other clays (excluding expanded clays of no. 68.06) | ||||||
| United States | 200 265 | 18 889 | 158 788 | 17 769 | 306 436 | 26 118 | |
| Italy | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 266 | |
| France | 479 | 358 | 53 | 94 | 67 | 183 | |
| United Kingdom | 140 | 40 | 278 | 168 | 199 | 136 | |
| China | 233 | 46 | 260 | 89 | 132 | 120 | |
| Mexico | 45 | 30 | 263 | 161 | 189 | 118 | |
| Germany | 49 | 60 | 9 | 38 | 12 | 114 | |
| Other countries | 153 | 128 | 117 | 133 | 549 | 214 | |
| Total | 201 365 | 19 554 | 159 769 | 18 457 | 307 602 | 27 269 | |
| 3802.90.00.10 | Activated clay | ||||||
| Greece | 8 862 | 10 988 | 3 421 | 6 467 | 15 039 | 11 347 | |
| United States | 12 545 | 9 164 | 13 074 | 7 969 | 13 175 | 6 370 | |
| Other countries | 1 056 | 342 | 15 | 24 | 77 | 44 | |
| Total | 22 463 | 20 494 | 16 510 | 14 460 | 28 291 | 17 761 | |
| Total imports | 1 731 471 | 188 725 | 1 687 518 | 183 844 | 1 755 858 | 181 445 | |
Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada.
– Nil; . . . Amount too small to be expressed; (p) Preliminary; x Confidential.
(1) Production values for bentonite and diatomite have been included. (2) Imports from "other countries" may include re–imports from Canada.
Note: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.
| Year | Imports | Imports | Use (2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| (tonnes) | ($000) | (tonnes) | |
| 1988 | 335 012 | 14 420 | 264 033 |
| 1989 | 294 280 | 15 070 | 274 987 |
| 1990 | 252 395 | 12 259 | 252 333 |
| 1991 | 268 609 | 11 712 | 248 725 |
| 1992 | 255 810 | 14 568 | 238 867 |
| 1993 | 295 356 | 20 684 | 230 006 |
| 1994 | 330 221 | 27 270 | 255 171 |
| 1995 | 343 826 | 25 983 | 263 294 |
| 1996 | 381 043 | 26 723 | 255 475 |
| 1997 | 372 103 | 29 760 | 279 602 |
| 1998 | 325 620 | 29 738 | 286 329 |
| 1999 | 336 909 | 28 990 | 256 566 |
| 2000 | 325 574 | 34 515 | 296 266 |
| 2001 | 254 242 | 29 021 | 267 449 |
| 2002 | 238 413 | 27 121 | 284 123 |
| 2003 | 273 389 | 34 681 | 276 630 |
| 2004 | 373 209 | 36 607 | 280 035 |
| 2005 (r) | 383 675 | 31 999 | 293 138 |
| 2006 (r) | 490 673 | 38 565 | 271 832 |
| 2007 (r) | 538 554 | 40 050 | 265 709 |
Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada.
(r) Revised.
(1) As reported by consumers. (2) Does not include activated clays and earths or Fuller's earth.
| 2005 | 2006 (r) | 2007 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (tonnes) | |||
| China clay (kaolin) | |||
| Pulp and paper, and paper products | 702 277 | 691 474 | 662 852 |
| Rubber products | 10 514 | 8 826 | x |
| Ceramic products | 6 225 | 3 248 | x |
| Paint and varnish | 8 356 | 9 268 | 9 951 |
| Other products (2) | 27 240 | 28 955 | 30 474 |
| Total | 754 612 | 741 771 | 713 437 |
| Ball clay | |||
| Clay products, ceramics and structural | 6 368 | 5 269 | 1 517 |
| Refractory brick, mixes | 1 044 | 1 084 | 1 028 |
| Other products (3) | 803 | 808 | 649 |
| Total | 8 215 | 7 161 | 3 194 |
| Fire clay | |||
| Refractory brick, mixes | x | x | x |
| Foundries | 259 | 142 | 89 |
| Other products (4) | x | x | x |
| Total | 27 055 | 28 091 | 23 881 |
| Bentonite, quantity used (available data) (5) | |||
| Iron ore pelletizing | 213 977 | 212 668 | 210 782 |
| Paper, pulp and paper products | 7 813 | 10 461 | 8 000 |
| Well drilling (6) | x | x | x |
| Refractory brick, mixes | x | x | x |
| Foundries | 31 293 | 24 353 | 22 789 |
| Other products (7) | 16 803 | 2 747 | 2 720 |
| Total | 293 138 | 271 832 | 265 709 |
| Other clay | |||
| Abrasives, natural | x | x | x |
| Adhesives | x | x | x |
| Asphalt roofing products | x | x | – |
| Clay products, structural | 1 149 464 | 993 075 | 1 209 337 |
| Cement (construction) | 1 035 747 | 1 057 731 | 939 541 |
| Clay products, ceramics | x | x | x |
| Organic chemicals | x | x | x |
| Agricultural chemicals | – | – | – |
| Other chemicals | x | x | x |
| Animal feeds | – | – | – |
| Fertilizers | x | x | – |
| Foundry | 111 | 84 | x |
| Food products | x | x | x |
| Gypsum products | x | x | x |
| Medicinal and pharmaceutical | x | x | x |
| Paint and varnish | 1 950 | 1 207 | 688 |
| Paper, pulp and paper, paper products | 92 428 | 29 067 | 27 523 |
| Refined petroleum products | x | x | x |
| Refractory brick, mix | x | x | x |
| Rubber products | x | x | x |
| Other primary smelting and refining, nonferrous | x | x | x |
| Sugar processing | – | – | – |
| Well drilling | – | – | – |
| Wire and cable | x | x | x |
| Total | 2 299 269 | 2 110 489 | 2 202 514 |
| Total Canada | 3 382 299 | 3 159 344 | 3 208 735 |
Source: Natural Resources Canada.
– Nil; (r) Revised; x Confidential.
(1) Reported from NRCan survey on the use of nonmetallic minerals by Canadian manufacturing plants.
(2) Includes chemicals, glass fibre wool, asphalt roofing products, gypsum products, packaging, and other miscellaneous products.
(3) Includes gypsum products, fertilizers, and other miscellaneous products.
(4) Includes structural clay products, nonferrous smelting and refining, and other miscellaneous products.
(5) Does not include activated clays and earths or Fuller's earth.
(6) Well drilling is included in "other products" for 1999 to 2004 due to confidentiality.
(7) Includes animal feeds, cat litter, structural clay products, fertilizers, paint and varnish, mortar mixes, and other miscellaneous minor uses.
Note: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.
| Company | Plant Location | Products | Raw Material | Size (1) and Remarks |
| NOVA SCOTIA | ||||
| The Shaw Group Ltd. | Lantz | Brick, block, and tile | Common clay, ball clay | (B) |
| QUEBEC | ||||
|
Briques Hanson ltée (formerly St. Lawrence Brick Div., Briqueterie Saint-Laurent) |
La Prairie | Building and facing brick | Shale | (B) |
| ONTARIO | ||||
| Brampton Brick Ltd. | Brampton | Building brick | Shale | (D) |
| Hanson Brick Ltd. (formerly Canada Brick Co.) | (E) | |||
| Burlington Division | Burlington | Building brick | Shale | |
| Streetsville Division | Streetsville | Building brick | Shale | |
| Ottawa Division | Ottawa | Building brick | Shale | |
| Century Brick Limited (formerly Hamilton Brick) | Etobicoke | Building brick | Shale | (B) |
| Paisley Bricks and Tile Co. | Paisley | Building brick | Shale | (A) |
| SASKATCHEWAN | ||||
| Canadian Clay Products Inc. | Wilcox | Bentonite | Sodium bentonite | (A) |
| Whitemud Resources Ltd. | Wood Mountain | Metakaolin | Kaolin | (B) |
| ALBERTA | ||||
| I-XL Industries Ltd. | Medicine Hat | Brick, block, and flue liners | Common clay | (B) |
| Plainsman Clays Ltd. | Medicine Hat | Processed clay | Common clay | (A) |
| BRITISH COLUMBIA | ||||
| Clayburn Industries Ltd. | Abbotsford | Refractory brick, mortar, and monolithics | Imported ball clay, pyrophyllite | (D) |
| Sumas Clay Products Ltd. | Abbotsford | Brick, drain tile, and flue liners | Common clay | (A) |
| Absorbent Products Ltd. (Western Industrial Clay Products Ltd.) | ||||
|
Calcium bentonite and diatomite operations |
Kamloops | Absorbent products | Calcium bentonite and diatomite | (B) |
Sources: Natural Resources Canada; company web sites.
(1) Size keys: (A) up to 25 employees; (B) 25-49 employees; (C) 50-99 employees; (D) 100-199 employees; (E) 200-499 employees.