BENTONITE

Bentonite has become an essential mineral for a myriad of engineering, industrial, manufacturing and environmental uses. The Concise Guide to Wyoming bentonite introduces you to this versatile mineral mined right here in Wyoming, and will illustrate how its production impacts our state’s economy.

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Bentonite: The Clay of A Thousand Uses

ABOUT WYOMING BENTONITE

Wyoming is the nation’s leader in bentonite production with over 4 million tons produced each year in three major economic geologic areas in the state:

The Clay Spur area around Upton and Newcastle;
The Colony Area in the northeast corner of Wyoming;
Along the east and west flanks of the Big Horn Range.

Wyoming has 70 percent of the world’s known supply of bentonite, which is also produced in Greece, Japan, Italy, Brazil, Romania, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, India, Hungary, Poland, Canada, Turkey, and Cyprus. However, Wyoming’s bentonite has unique characteristics that are rarely found anywhere else. It can swell up to 16 times its original size and absorbs up to 10 times its own weight in water.

These characteristics are mostly due to the presence of sodium instead of calcium, which is more commonly found in Bentonite. Geologists believe that the sodium in Wyoming’s bentonite was created by high concentrations of sodium ions in the seawater where volcanic ash settled.

What is Bentonite?

Origin

Wyoming bentonite is the result of chemical changes in ancient volcanic ash, which originated in western Wyoming and Idaho about 120 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period.

Winds blew the ash into a shallow sea that covered most of what is now Montana and Wyoming. Present day exposures of the ash deposits are mined to an average depth of 25 feet in the Big Horn Basin, the Powder River Basin, and along the edges of the Black Hills.

Mining & Processing

Bentonite is surface mined through a process called back-casting where reclamation is performed by filling the mining pits with soils from subsequent pits while the mine is in production. Typically the topsoil layer is about 30 inches deep, which is removed using heavy equipment.

Once the bentonite is removed, it is cleaned and then tested to confirm the grade. It is then dried in the field before being taken to the plant for processing and stockpiled on-site or transferred to a processing facility.

The Clay of A Thousand Uses

Bentonite has been called “Miracle Mud” and the “Clay of a Thousand Uses.” Some of these include absorbents, animal feed, drilling fluids, foundry, iron ore pelletizing, and sealants. Wyoming bentonite is particularly in demand for pet litter because of it’s ability to absorb many times its volume in water and control odors. Among other uses, bentonite is found in crayons, medication, and cosmetic such as shampoos, lotions, face creams, and lipstick.

Originally, Wyoming bentonite was used by local Indians as a bleaching clay and a washing agent. Pioneers used it as a substitute for axle grease to cure inflamed horses hoofs and to waterproof roofs.

Today bentonite is used in a variety of industries including the metal casting industry where it is used as a bonding material for molding processes. When mixed with certain types of molding sands, a bond is formed that can withstand very high temperatures.

Bentonite is also used in the ceramic and building industries where it is mixed with clay and sand to form adhesive which is effective in sealing against water.

Concise Guide to bentonite

Bentonite By the Numbers

#1

#1 Wyoming is the nation’s number 1 leader in bentonite production.

93%

Producing about 93% of the nation’s bentonite (2018).

5.2 mil

5.2 million Tons of bentonite produced in Wyoming in 2019.

70%

Bentonite deposits in Wyoming make up to 70 percent of the world’s known supply.

A Community Partner

The Bentonite Mining Industry lives right in your neighborhood and works right alongside you.

These mining companies generously provide financial and volunteer support in their communities. Every day you will see them donating to local food banks, coaching youth sports leagues, assisting with local drives and lending their neighbors a helping hand. Look for them next time you see a need. They are there in the mix of neighbors, making your community a better place to live and raise a family.

Bentonite Mining: A Wyoming Community Partner

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Bentonite Safety

Wyoming mines take safety very seriously, and mine companies around the state have made safety a top priority for Wyoming’s mining industry. As a result, Wyoming mines are repeatedly recognized as some of the safest mining operations in the nation.

All mines employ dedicated safety professionals, and employees are trained in proper safety and practices for a safe work environment.

Most mines require further safety training before an employee can start working.
Existing employees are required to take an annual one-day safety training course.
Every shift starts with walk-around safety inspections.

Working mines are safer than many common occupations, and the U.S. mining industry has made significant strides in improving the health and safety of its workers. It is the result of seven key trends according to the National Mining Association.

A commitment by management, workers, and regulators to a goal of zero fatalities and injuries;
Better equipment design;
Technological advances;
Conscientious safety awareness;
Improved engineering methods;
Advanced and continuous training;
Strong oversight and assistance from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Bentonite Reclamation

Bentonite reclamation begins by replacing the overburden and blending it with the surrounding landscape. The subsoil and topsoil are replaced, then a variety of native seeds are planted to re-establish the habitat. Often teams will establish water features that will benefit livestock and wildlife, and on average a reclamation effort takes about 5 to 10 years to complete.