Purification of Vermiculite from Khatra, Bankura District, West Bengal

Abstract

A sample of vermiculite from Khatra, Bankura District, West Bengal received for purification contained 78.5% vermiculite. The sample when exfoliated at 950° C at- ½ “ +20 mesh. The -20 mesh fraction was tabled. The – ½ “+20 mesh fraction and the table concentrates were exfoliated. The bulk densities of – ½” + ¼ “ + 20 +100 mesh fractions of the table concentrates were found to be 8.1,10.3,10.4 and 14.9 lbs/Cu ft. respectively. A vermiculite concentrate of 94.3% purity and with a recovery of 78.2% was obtained in the +20 mesh fraction. Through the bulk weights of the exfoliated concentrates were slightly higher than those of imported products, the beneficiated material could be regarded as satisfactory marketable grades of concentrates.