Industrial Functional Minerals

Ashapura's journey began in the 1960s with Bentonite, after which we have continued to add several niche minerals to our value mix. We enjoy global leadership on account of our ability to understand industrial minerals and offer customised solutions to our customers.

Ashapura is the largest producer of Bentonite in India and third largest in the world. It is also one of the worlds largest Bauxite exporters. It is our endeavor to constantly add new minerals catering to a wider section of industries and applications. Our vast and versatile resource base is capable of measuring up to even the most challenging specifications; our comprehensive range of solutions from mining, processing to logistics makes us a unique enterprise.

Standing

  • 15% market share in global Bauxite exports
  • Worlds 3rd largest producer of Bentonite
  • India's 2nd largest producer of Kaolin

Applications

  • Aluminium
  • Foundry
  • Cosmetics
  • Metal Ore Pellatization
  • Construction
  • Paper

Bauxite

Ashapura is a leading global supplier of Bauxite and Aluminous Laterite. Bauxite is the principal ore which is used in making Aluminium metal. The Group is a preferred to supplier Bauxite to some of the largest Aluminium producers in China, CIS countries and the Middle East. Ashapura’s Gibbistic bauxites can be processed at relatively lower temperatures (145 ºC to 155 ºC) thorough autoclave digestion. They can be used also for sweetening stage and for non-autoclave digestion in agitators (105 ºC). Ashapura’s decades of experience in the chemical, mineralogical and metallurgical evaluation of the Bauxite, coupled with its logistical prowess to handle more than 10 million tons of Bauxite exports annually, make it a formidable constituent of the global Bauxite supply chain. Ashpura’s copious and versatile reserves are suitable for nearly all of the applications.

The Group has significant interest in up the Bauxite value chain especially in the refractory Access to the best technologies to produce value added Bauxite products like Calcined Bauxite, white fuse Alumina, Brown Fuse Alumina and Alumina.

Bentonite

With over 6 decades of expertise in Bentonite mining & processing, Ashapura today is the 3rd largest producer of Bentonite in the world. The Group’s extensive & versatile reserves of high quality Sodium and Calcium Bentonite which are mined and processed carefully into several grades. These are in different forms such as dried & crushed lumps, granules, powder to micronized powder, catering to diverse needs of clients.

Our Bentonite products caters to a wide range of industries starting from the conventional usage areas of Iron Ore Pelletisation, Drilling, Metal Casting, Construction, Cat Litter etc. to value added areas such as paper, detergents , Animal feed etc. The Group also possesses the requisite certifications such as ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental management system, OHSAS 18001: 2007 for Organizations Health and Safety management system & CGMP for Good manufacturing process.

All our Bentonite processing is strictly controlled by our fully equipped laboratories at our processing facilities as well as our state-of- art R&D Centre where the fundamental research on Bentonite is conducted, with the aim to provide consistent, better & new products to our customers. Our costal resource base and processing hubs give us a formidable advantage for both bulk and container based exports.

Kaolin

Kaolin is a multifaceted white clay that when processed in used in making paper, paints, ceramics, rubber, fiberglass and in the construction industry. Ashapura’s Kolin offerings over the last four decades have grown in versatility and sophistication.

The Group’s state-of-the-art Kaolin processing complex at Bhuj is the largest in Western India and produces several grades of hydrous and calcined grades of Kaolin.

Limestone

Ashapura’s naturally occurring limestones are endowed with high purity and optical properties; these are particularly suitable for applications such as paint, polymer and paper applications. Limestone is finely ground to achieve superior application benefits in polymer and paint formulations.

Limestone with highest whiteness and brightness with minimum impurities is exclusive characteristics of Ashapura limestone deposits.

Silica Sand

Ashapura’s rounded to sub-rounded shaped silica sand grains (Supsil and Castsil) are naturally suitable for glass and foundry applications. Our ability to process narrow size controlled silica sand grains to achieve required AFS-GFN numbers for foundries sets Ashapura apart.

Refinements are carried out through mineral processing techniques such as magnetic separation and spiral gravity concentration to achieve lowest ferric impurities to suit advanced glass applications such as thin LED touch screen glasses.

Advanced Refractory Materials

Ashapura is India's largest producer of Advanced Refractory Materials with a versatile portfolio of Castables, High Alumina Cement, Calcined Bauxite and Fused Aluminas. High-temperature Calcined Aluminous Clays (Chamotte & Mullite) are used to produce Alumina Refractories for steel, cement and metal industries.

Besides having a dominant position in the Indian market, Ashapura is a preferred supplier of refractory raw materials & products in Europe, Middle East and South East Asia.

Standing

  • India's largest producer of refactory.

Applications

  • Abrasives
  • Refactories
  • Foundries
  • Grinding
  • Road Surfacing

Fused Aluminas

Ashapura is India’s largest manufacturer of Calcined and Fused Alumina products. We manufacture a wide range of Aluminous raw materials including Brown Fused Alumina, White Fused Alumina, Pink Fused Alumina, White Fused Mullite, Fused Zirconia Mullite (ZIRMUL), Fused Alumina-Magnesia Spinnel, Calcined Bauxite and High Alumina Refractory Cement.

All these products cater to the needs of grinding wheel and refractory manufacturers. Fused Alumina is also used for shot blasting and cleaning purposes.

High Alumina Cement

High Alumina Refractory Cement is manufactured from Calcined Alumina and high purity lime. It is used as a binder for all types of castable refractories. Ashapura offers two ranges; HARB 50 and HARB 70 with minimum alumina content of 50% and 70% respectively.

Castables

Ashapura produces wide range of refractory raw material which guarantees high performance conventional Castables manufactured from in-house raw material. The Group also produces superior quality Low Cement Castable which is ideal for application under critical environment of high temperature furnaces.

We can develop customised products even with the most challenging specifications. We are the most preferred suppliers of Castables on account of our quality, consistency and technical support.

Calcined Bauxite

Calcined Bauxite is obtained by calcining (heating in a Kiln) superior grade Bauxite at high temperatures (8500C to 16000C), this process removes the crystalline moisture leading to a higher alumina content. Compared to an alumina content of about 57 % to 58 % in raw Bauxite, Calcined Bauxite has an alumina content of 84 % to 88 %.

Calcined Bauxite is used as raw material for manufacturing fused alumina and high alumina refractories. Ashapura produces Calcined Bauxite for various applications such as refractory bricks, abrasives, steel polishing, etc.; we are committed to provide consistency in quality and availability of product at extremely competitive prices.

Chamotte

Chamotte is a natural material having mullite as major phase with excellent refractory properties. Ashapura’s Chamotte aggregates are manufactured from natural high quality clays having minimum impurities and alkali metals. Chamotte products have high purity, low porosity and optimum thermal stability. Key features of the products are dense microstructure, homogenous granulometry and highly crystalline mullite phase.

Mullite

Mullite is an alumino-silicate material having very good refractory properties. Ashapura’s Mullite products are cost-effective and technically superior. Captive reserves of clay raw materials are utilized to manufacture mullite products with varying range of alumina content.

Mullite aggregate products impart high chemical resistance, high temperature stability, high creep resistance, low thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion coefficient. These are excellent material to use in mullite bricks, which can withstand conditions in blast furnace or fore-hearth roofs of glass melting furnace. Low porosity, good PCE and RUL ensures the quality of mullite aggregates.

Monoliths

Refractory Mortars amongst Monoliths are basically finely ground refractory materials, which become plastic when mixed with water. These are used to bond the brickwork into solid unit, to provide cushion between the slightly irregular surfaces of the brick, to fill up spaces created by a deformed shell, and to make a wall gas-tight to prevent penetration of slag into the joints. OAL provides wide range of mortars with Alumina content from 30% - 90%.

Adsorbent Solutions

Ashapura offers a wide range of adsorbent solutions having applications from bleaching edible oils to refining of petroleum products and from purification of potable water to industrial waste. We have specialised products for heavy-metal removal and for reducing phosphates & nitrogen from liquids.

Calcined Clay Carriers are used in the pesticide, agro-chemicals and soil nutrient industries.

Standing

  • Worlds third largest Bleaching Clay producer

Applications

  • Bleaching Edible Oils
  • Petroleum Refining
  • Water Purification
  • Bleaching Waste Oils
  • Pet Care

Acid Activated Bleaching Clay

Ashapura is the 3rd largest manufacturer of Bleaching Earth in the world. Bleaching Clay is used in the purification of edible oils. The Company is the leading exporter of Bleaching Earth, catering to over 40 countries globally, and is currently a market leader in the Bleaching Earth industry. The product offers superior bleaching performance and is toxin and heavy metal free. We further conform our superior and flawless manufacturing process by the various certifications such as ISO 9001-2008, EMS 14001-2004, OHSAS 18001-2007, HACCP, FEDIOL, KOSHER, HALAL held by Ashapura.

The Group has 2 manufacturing complexes producing Acid Activated Bleaching Clay at Bhuj (India) and Antwerp (Belgium) and 2 more manufacturing units producing Thermally Activated Bleaching Clay at Dharur (India) and at Lumut (Malaysia). The Bhuj plant is the worlds largest, single location production facility, manufacturing the internationally renowned Galleon Bleaching Earth.

Clay Catalyst

Ashapura is amongst the three global players who are qualified and certified to supply Clay Catalysts to the petrochemical industry. We are the leading suppliers of Clay Catalyst for the BTX and Aviation Fuel processing application. The product is opted by reputed refineries present in India, Korea, Oman, Kuwait, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, amongst the other countries

Activated Bauxite

Activated Bauxite is an excellent adsorbent material with multiple applications. Thermal activated bauxite is used for refining of lubricant oil and waxes. Ashapura’s activated bauxite is produced in controlled conditions to achieve maximum adsorption capacity. Activated bauxite is used in petrochemical industries to clarify and regenerate oils as aviation kerosene and paraffin. Our Activated bauxite is used as catalyst for desulfurization, deflourination, cracking, dehydrogenation, and dehydration reactions. It is used as desiccant in many chemical processes, i. e, to remove water in liquid or vapor from gases, vapors and liquids. Desiccant grade bauxite is placed towers or columns and moisture containing gas or liquid is passed through to get rid of water content.

Transformer oil regeneration and reduction in color is an important application, where activated bauxite is used. It’s also finds use in the treatment of waste lubricant oils, motor oil, mineral oil and chemicals because of high adsorption capacity. Majorly these applications utilize percolation method. As a catalyst activated bauxite is used to enhance petrochemical reactions in petrochemical industry. The product is available in granular and powder form with various sizes and shapes. The uniform size distribution of Ashapura’s activated bauxite provides added advantage in afore said applications.

Modified Siliceous Earth

Siliceous earth is a natural mineral containing high adsorption capacity. Siliceous earth is similar to diatomaceous earth but differs in crystal structure and morphological orientation. Naturally occurring material is light in weight having specific gravity of 2.2 – 2.3 compared to other adsorbent materials. Natural siliceous earth is modified to suit applications such as heavy metal removal from drinking water and waste water effluents. Product is designed to adsorb heavy metals from water, waste water and industrial effluents. Zero leach out natural product for industrial and recycle water treatment.

Heavy metals such as Pb, As, Zn, Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Mn and other trace elements are adsorbed to purify the water/effluent treatment. Siliceous earth is used as filler in ceramic industry to achieve heat resistant properties. Siliceous earth is used as catalyst carrier applications, filtration support and used in insecticide and fungicides formulations. Majorly used as filtering media because of highly porous fine particles in fish tanks, swimming pool, wine purification and as a filler in detergent industry.

Cat Litter

Ashapura manufactures a wide range of Cat Litters from both Bentonite and Attapulgite. Ashapura supplies in bulk the various grades of Cat Litter to different supermarkets and distributors for private labelling where they are further packaged into small bags. Ashapura also retails the its own brand overseas called “PURA”.

Ashapura’s Cat Litter is the worlds only naturally sun-dried Cat Litter. Over the years Ashapura has developed several premium, customised and specialty grades of Cat Litter for specific regions all across the world.

Hydrocarbon Exploration Solutions

Ashapura offers an array of mineral solutions to drilling and exploration industries.We provide enriched drilling muds to some of the worlds largest oilfiled solutions companies across their global drilling bases in the North Sea, Middle East, South Asia and Africa.

Ashapura takes pride in being the pioneer & the largest manufacturer of Ceramic and Silica Proppants in India.

Standing

  • Pioneer & largest producer of proppants in India

Applications

  • Oil well drilling
  • Hydraulic Fracturing

Bentonite

With over 6 decades of expertise in Bentonite mining & processing, Ashapura today is the 3rd largest producer of Bentonite in the world. The Group’s extensive & versatile reserves of high quality Sodium and Calcium Bentonite which are mined and processed carefully into several grades. These are in different forms such as dried & crushed lumps, granules, powder to micronized powder, catering to diverse needs of clients.

Our Bentonite products caters to a wide range of industries starting from the conventional usage areas of Iron Ore Pelletisation, Drilling, Metal Casting, Construction, Cat Litter etc. to value added areas such as paper, detergents , Animal feed etc. The Group also possesses the requisite certifications such as ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental management system, OHSAS 18001: 2007 for Organizations Health and Safety management system & CGMP for Good manufacturing process.

All our Bentonite processing is strictly controlled by our fully equipped laboratories at our processing facilities as well as our state-of- art R&D Centre where the fundamental research on Bentonite is conducted, with the aim to provide consistent, better & new products to our customers. Our costal resource base and processing hubs give us a formidable advantage for both bulk and container based exports.

Barytes

Barytes (or barites) is the naturally occurring mineral form of barium sulphate. Its main properties are its high specific gravity (4.5), very low solubility; it is non-toxic, and also chemically and physically unreactive.

It is estimated that 90% of the Barytes produced in the world are used only for drilling oil wells. It is also found useful in the manufacture of white pigment or extender in pigments and barium chemicals, in the glass industry and as filler in rubber, leather, textile and paper goods.

Attapulgite

Attapulgite is advantageously used for the purification of petroleum distillates such as kerosene due to their special characteristics. Fine grade of our fibrous Attapugite products are able to eliminate water traces, suspended impurities, resinous or asphaltic substances, residues of metals (arsenic, lead, vanadium and others), nitrogen compounds, oxygenated compounds, some sulphur compounds and even adsorb preferentially some hydrocarbons (olefins).

Attapulgite is finely controlled particles size distribution with maximum adsorbent capacity. Finely powdered attagel is used as thickner and rheological modifier in many applications such as paint and coatings. Attapulgite is natural bleaching earth used to purify the edible oil such as palm and soya oils. Natural desiccant having capacity to adsorb moisture in petrochemical streams such as Kerosene and Aviation fuels.

Ceramic proppants

Proppants are used in Hydraulic Fracturing i.e. fracking, a technique used in extracting shale gas. Ashapura is the pioneer in manufacturing Ceramic & Silica based Proppants in India. Ashapura offers both Intermediate Strength Proppants and High Strength Proppants which have been tested and approved by certification authorities in U.S.A and U.K (PropTester Inc., USA and FracTech Laboratories, UK).

Ashapura’s Proppants are suitable for challenging extraction conditions from deep shale formations; our product helps customers to increase the ultimate recovery and life of the well.

The Group’s global leadership in in Bauxite (the principal raw material for manufacturing Proppants) give it a significant advantage in quality and competitiveness in manufacturing world class Proppants.

Silica proppants

Proppants are used in Hydraulic Fracturing i.e. fracking, a technique used in extracting shale gas. Ashapura is the pioneer in manufacturing Ceramic & Silica based Proppants in India. Ashapura offers both Intermediate Strength Proppants and High Strength Proppants which have been tested and approved by certification authorities in U.S.A and U.K (PropTester Inc., USA and FracTech Laboratories, UK).

Ashapura’s Proppants are suitable for challenging extraction conditions from deep shale formations; our product helps customers to increase the ultimate recovery and life of the well.

The Group’s global leadership in in Bauxite (the principal raw material for manufacturing Proppants) give it a significant advantage in quality and competitiveness in manufacturing world class Proppants.

White Performance Minerals

Although Ashapura is a relatively new entrant in the domain of White Performance Minerals, it has quickly garnered a dominant market share on account of its indigenously developed processing technology, its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and a captive mineral resource base. White Performance Minerals have myriad applications in paper, paints, rubber, pesticides, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Ashapura's fully automated PLC based processes have been specifically designed to avoid human contamination risks and to maintain high purity and brightness.

Standing

  • India's largest white minerals solutions provider

Application

  • Ceramics
  • Glass
  • Paper
  • Paints
  • Plastics
  • Building Products

Ground Calcium Carbonate

Ashapura is India’s leading producer of processed Calcium Carbonate; it’s PLC based state-of-the art processing complex manufactures both coated and uncoated grades of calcium carbonate. Access to the purest and brightest raw material along with an avant garde muti-stage processing technique guarantees perfect particle size distribution, brightness and dispersion properties to the finished product.

Both Coated (with Stearic acid) and Uncoated Calcium Carbonate powders are widely used in different industries mainly as fillers in manufacturing plastics, paints, adhesives, PVC and paper.

Calcined Kaolin

Kaolin is a multifaceted white clay that when processed in used in making paper, paints, ceramics, rubber, fiberglass and in the construction industry. Ashapura’s Kolin offerings over the last four decades have grown in versatility and sophistication. The Group’s state-of-the-art Kaolin processing complex at Bhuj is the largest in Western India and produces several grades of hydrous and calcined grades of Kaolin.

White Barytes

White Barytes are excellent fillers which are used in paper, paints and ceramics. White Barytes is niche offering within the niche of White Performance Minerals, which enables Ashapura to be the one-stop shop for all White Performance Minerals.

Talc

Talc is known for being the softest mineral on earth. Ashapura has specialty talc solutions for the ceramic as well the pharmaceutical industries. The talc based pharmaceutical solutions undergo complex processing for removal of impurities and heavy metals followed by a comprehensive set quality checks. Ashapura’s pharma based talc solutions are widely exported across the continents.

Super Speciality Refined Mineral Products

Ashapura offers engineered and modified clay products for paints, sealants, plasters, polymers and coating applications which functionally enhance their flow and suspension properties as additives or binders. Atta Medigel & Pharma Bentogel, are fine-grained natural clays that are selectively mined and highly refined for pharmaceutical applications. These refined products adsorb microbial toxins and acidic substances providing a healthy digestive environment.

Our Aviation Fuel Solutions remove polar compounds & moisture from jet fuels thereby enhancing their performance.

Standing

  • India's leading speciality minerals producer

Applications

  • Sealants
  • Plasters
  • Polymers
  • Pharmaceutical applications
  • Aviation fuel enhancers

Atta Medigel

Fine grained natural clays selectively mined highly refined for pharmaceutical applications. These clays are used in medicinal uses such as antidiarrheal and antacid medicine formulations adding to nutritional values. These refined products adsorb microbial toxins, toxic and acidic substances providing healthy digestive environment. These products complies international pharmacopeia specifications.

Ashapura’s Cat Litter is the worlds only naturally sun-dried Cat Litter. Over the years Ashapura has developed several premium, customised and specialty grades of Cat Litter for specific regions all across the world.

Ashagel

Ashagel is High performance adsorbent mineral product offers efficient solution to aviation fuel. Engineered product with high reactive surface area removes polar compounds and micro level moisture in jet fuel enhancing the performance of the fuel.

Ashapura’s Cat Litter is the worlds only naturally sun-dried Cat Litter. Over the years Ashapura has developed several premium, customised and specialty grades of Cat Litter for specific regions all across the world.

Organoclay

Ashapura offer’s engineered and modified clay products Attagel and Organoclay for rheological modification for paint, sealants, plasters and polymer and coatings applications. Functionally enhances the flow properties as additive, binder, suspension agent and thickener. Excellent thixotropic modifiers and gelling agents keep particulate matters in suspension to control viscosity of for organic/ aqueous system. Environment friendly, cost effective solutions used synergistic effect along with other associate thickeners.

Building Materials and Chemicals

Ashapura has brought in its considerable technical expertise in inducting a wide range of products for waterproofing, repair &restoration, admixtures, grouts and floor hardeners.

Our rigorous R&D, manufacturing and quality control best practices have resulted in an enhanced and improved range of products such as CETCRETE, CETCOAT, CETPATCH, CETPROOF, CETPLAST, CETFIX and CETCRACK.

Ashapura’s range of products comes with the following advantages:

  • Ease of use/application
  • Durability
  • Superior Aesthetics

Wall Care

Putty, Waterproof Wall Putty, Plaster-cum-Putty, Decorative White Cement, Cement Primer, Lime Wash, Waterproof plaster

Water Proofing

Acrylic Waterproofing, SBR Bonding Agent, Latex Waterproofing, Elastometric Coating

Adhesives

Floor tile Adhesive, Tile on Tile Adhesive, High Strength Tile Adhesive, Marble Adhesive, Glass Mosaic Tile Adhesive, Tile Grout

Admixture

Waterproofing Admixture, Waterproofing Chemical, Concrete Admixture, Super Plasticiser for RMC

Kaolin

Our products are mined from one of Purest Mines and Kaolinite reserves available in Gujarat & some of the Raw Materials are imported for enhancing the Quality of the Existing Products, they are further refined to remove impurities by ‘Double Wash’ method. These washed material are then passed through a series of automated process under the supervision of our QC team and experienced engineers.

Our Stringent control on ‘Process’ flow ensures final product with ‘High Brightness’, Excellent Fineness (Narrow Particle Size Distribution) and Consistent performance in every batch. Our state of the art centralized R & D facility along with well-equipped Paint & QC laboratory, coupled with team of experienced chemists and paint technologists’ work diligently to get the following benefits for perfect paint/coating formulations.

Typical Properties of Kaolin :

  • Improved Dispersion / Suspension / Rheology
  • Excellent Gloss / Sheen / Texture
  • Enhanced ‘Tinting Strength’ & ‘Opacity’
  • Improved Scrub Resistance / Wash ability / Water Resistance
  • Improved Stain Resistance
  • Enhanced ‘Weather ability’ & ‘Barrier’ Properties
  • Enhanced ‘TiO2 & ‘Binder’ extension
  • Reduction in ‘Formulation Cost’ by ‘Partial’ TiO2 replacement

Kaolin :

It is hydrated layered aluminium silicate material.It is a platy type of structure. Rocks that are rich in Kaolinite called Kaolin.

  • Specific gravity- 2.20-2.65
  • Hardness- 2-2.5
  • Refractive Index-1.55-1.58
  • LOI- 13-15 %.

Major Hydrous Products :

  • Askline FG
  • Ceralin – A, B & C Grades etc
  • Paintolin
  • Paintolin-80
  • Wonderglaze
  • Wondergloss
  • Ashagloss-R powder etc.
  • Major Hydrous Market Segments :
  • Paints
  • Paper
  • Ceramics
  • Fibreglass
  • Catalysts
  • Pesticides
  • Inks
  • Rubber
  • Refractories etc

Paper Industry

Pulp & Paper Industry, mineral raw materials are traditionally called ‘Pigments’, whether or not they are used to affect color. The use of mineral pigments in the pulp and paper industry fall in to five major categories: - Paper Filling, Paper Coating, Pitch Control, Deinking of recycled papers and Micro particle retention. Out of these five categories, kaolin is used in Paper filling, Paper Coating & Deinking of recycled papers. Used Minerals influence Optical & Physical properties in end product.

  • Novacoat is a high brightness ‘Calcined’ Kaolin product, which has been designed to suit the formulation requirement of Paper Industry.
  • It helps in significant enhancement of ‘Brightness’ & ‘Opacity
  • Its low abrasiveness helps in reducing the ‘Wear’ on papermaking machinery.
  • Recommended to use in paper having high ‘Brightness’ demand.

Paints Industry

Paint - White kaolin high in silica and alumina is widely used in the manufacturing of paint, often as a less expensive alternative to titanium dioxide. Kaolin is essential for improving the brightness of pigments, as well as controlling the texture for dispersement and coatability.

Main Calcined Product Range :

  • Navacoat
  • Navacoat CCH
  • Novacoat. etc
  • Metax RX
  • Novafil 85
  • Novafil-90
  • Major Calcined Market Segments :
  • Paints& Coatings
  • Pigments
  • Paper
  • Adhesives & Sealants
  • Wires & Cables etc

Silica Sand

Hard rock such as quartzite and hard minerals such as quartz, flint, chert etc. had been commonly used by man in Palaeolithic Age as weapons. Of all the non-metallic minerals, silica sand had the most diversified use. Silica bearing rocks and minerals such as quartz, quartzite, silica sand together with other varieties of silica like agate, amethyst, jasper, flint etc. are used in a host of industries such as glass, ceramics, foundries, ferro-alloys, abrasives, refractories, ornamentation etc.

The uses of silica sand depend on its mineralogy, chemistry and physical properties. It is mainly used for making glass and glass fibre, silicon carbide, sodium silicate, portland cement, silicon alloys and metals filter media in water treatment, sandpaper and also for foundry sand, hydraulic fracturing, sand blasting, paint and a host for other applications.

Ashapura silica sand resources are from both mining and by product generated from kaolin washing. Impurities are taken care by multiple stage washing followed by attrition scrubbing, magnetic separation and spiral classifier. Ferrous impurities are removed to assure best possible purity of silica sand for all the applications. Ashapura also has mechanical drying facility to address the drawbacks of natural drying considering the volume demand.

The advantages of Ashapura’s silica sand are

  • Consistent quality
  • Controlled granulometry
  • Assured supply of volumes
  • Expertise in bulk handling
  • Customised solutions and grades

SUPERSIL

SUPERSIL Float glass, Tempered glass, Automotive glass, Umber glass, Tint glass, LCD.

Silica sand is main raw material for glass making and sand properties such as grain size, contaminants free, low iron content and color are critical. Ashapura’s silica processing units ensures to maintain strictly these quality requisites and speci¬cation to improve the performance of glass products. Systematic washing and bene¬ciation steps such as magnetic separation and spiral concentrator guarantees the quality of the glass grade products to meet customer demand. Flat and container glass grade silica products are optimized to perform in terms of size distribution, sub-angular and round shape and consistent chemical parameters. High quality properties meet the automotive, residential and commercial applications. Special processing techniques control low iron content and controlled particle size for reinforced ¬berglass requirements, Amber glass and all type of speciality glasses. Low iron content of 150 ppm is achieved to meet the special requirements from borosilicate and pharmaceutical glass application. Ashapura team, work closely with customer to develop and meet the customer expectation and satisfaction.

ASHASIL FOUNDRY SAND

Most of the foundries use silica sand as major material to cast the mould for metal casting, Ashapura’s silica sands are established casting industry. Well controlled granulometry and purity of the sand is key success to the Ashapura’s silica sand grades for high precision casting industry. Multiple washing of crude sand eliminates the clay content in the sand, which provides better performance in mould casting. Moulds casted using Ashapura’s sands provides excellent strength, surface ¬nish and uniform mould coating is achieved. We work jointly with customer to achieve exact granulometry of grain ¬neness number (AFS-GFN) for better performance of the casted products. Thermal expansion and resistance is best for our sand. Ashapura’s spherical shaped sands are suited for resin coating industry. Surface smoothness and spherical shape provides excellent uniformity in resin coating and performance. Optimum consumption of resin is observed using our silica sand. Thermal durability for resin coated sand is enhanced by using Ashapura’s clean and contaminant free sand.

ASHABUILD CONSTRUCTION & CIVIL GRADES

Building and Construction grade sand is carefully washed to address clay and alkali contents present in the crude raw material. All the construction and civil engineering grade sand are well within the speci¬ed limits of national and international speci¬cation such as Indian Standards, BCA & SAC -Singapore etc. coarser and ¬ner grades are size classi¬ed to meet the respective international standards. Sulphate and chloride contents are inherently low in Ashapura’s building and construction sand supplies. Petrographic evaluation results proved suitability of our sand. Decades of experience to handle bulk shipment made Ashapura sand most demanded in the international market in this segment. Silcrete grades are suitable to use in building materials, ready mix concrete and conventional construction industry

FRAGSIL SILICA PROPPANTS

Frac sand deposit is located near to an oil ¬eld in the western region of AhmedabadMehsana tectonic block of North Cambay Basin, India. Frac sand deposits is a multi-layered strati-structural sand stone reservoir. Silt-sand zone has been producing oil since 1969, where spherical sand is naturally available. This deposit is reworked deposit by nearby rivers and inter-coastal geological activities. Natural high quartz, consistent whole grain quartz proppants compatible with all hydraulic fracturing chemicals. Natural sand processed with washing cycles to address clay association and size fractionated to meet the API speci¬cation. Ashapura’s frac sand helps to enhance the productivity of oil wells by improved ow rates and better permeability due to higher Krumbien factors sphericity, roundness and lower crush values. Properties of our silica proppants are at par and exceed the ISO-13503-2 norms and speci¬cations such as particle size distribution, acid solubility, roundness and sphericity, turbidity and crush resistance.

OPTIPLAY GOLF AND BUNKER GRADE SAND

Ashapura’s high quality sand for bunker are thoroughly washed, controlled size distribution and has better purity in terms of SiO2 content. Particle size and angular shape provide highest penetrometer value providing higher resistance to fried-egg lies, which will provide good, stable ball support.These sands are white in color with consistent texture imparting the coverage in greenside areas. Our sand’s in¬ltration rate provides an excellent environment for proper seed development; nutrients may be added to mixes for enhanced grow-in. Sand’s better hardness maintains the drain o and particle breakage and provides good support to every day golfer. Our high-purity silica sand is the perfect ¬t for recurrent light brush-in applications to avoid troublesome play and amending player’s current root zone for better performance. With Ashapura’s sand consistent size, shape texture, and overall quality ensures long-term playability and quick draining to eliminate puddles and crusting. The sand blends can be customized to improve the ¬rmness and play for the golfer.

REPLENISIL RECLAMATION

Ashapura natural sand deposits associated with clay mines are carefully processed to meet the requirement of bleach replenishment, land reclamation and pro¬le nourishment. Natural process of erosion, land sliding, long shore drift, shore line submerging, storm surges, high tides and tsunamis cause unplanned damage to existing soil, structure and beach pro¬le. Recent technological advances help to retain these types of damages by using the processed silica sand to many reclaim, re-nourish or replenish regions and places. Ashapura’s customized silica sand solutions which match the native sand properties such as size, shape and clay content.

Ball Clay

Plastic clay also known as “Ball clay” and “pottery clay” it is one of the important component of all ceramic products such as Tiles, Tableware, Sanitaryware and Insulators. Kaolinite is a major mineral content in ball clay along with associated minerals such as Quartz, Illite, Smectite, potash feldspar, muscovite mica and calcite. Ball clay deposits also contains organic matter turning the appearance of these clays in to black, grey and off-white. Based on the origin, chemical composition, mineralogical and organic components, these plastic clays perform differently when used in applications.

Application properties such as rheological behaviour, plasticity, fired color and fired shrinkage play a important role in determining the use of ball clay. Ashapura Ball clay mining reserves are in the region of Rajasthan and Gujarat. From several decades Ashapura is delivering ball clay to many of its national and international clients. Mined lumpy clay is segregated and sorted to remove the impurities, further crushing is carried out to match the size specifications. Mostly the Ashapura ball clays are shipped to bulk from nearest port.

Ashapura technical team has core technical competencies to develop customised solutions and requirements.

Ashapura Ball clays have value added benefits as

  • High Plasticity
  • Good Refractoriness
  • Balanced Chemistry
  • Controlled physical properties
  • Better Fired properties
  • Precise Rheological stability