STUDIES ON FIRE CLAYS OF BANSI, SOUTHWESTERN MIRZAPUR, UTTAR PRADESH

Representative samples of fire clay from Bansi area, District Mirzapur, U.P., were studied by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis, mechanical analysis, and measurement of physical char-acteristics. From the field relations and the laboratory data, the clays are inferred to have a sedimentary origin. The mineralogy is simple. The data are clearly diagnostic. Quartz was the predominant non-clay mineral with cristobalite, feldspar and mica. The clay fraction consisted of only kaolinite. The name flint clay has been suggested for them. It has further been concluded that the clay is a poorly plastic refractory and can be used for the manufacture of high-heat fire brick by the proper blending. ItlSTORY OF GEOLOGIC INVESTIGATION •V[UKTI NATH (12) gave a brief reference of the clay deposits in Bansi in the district Mirzapur froln the Barakar formations of Gondwana system and reported an outcrop of 100 feet in length, respectively, froln the places. Later F. Ahamad (1) while carrying out drilling for coal deposits noticed the extensive nature of fire clay in the Makrikhoh area. A team of the Directorate of Geology & Mining, U.P. consisting of J. N. Singh and Prem Swarup visited the areas in 1956, 1957 and 1958 for a reconnaissance survey, collection of clay samples and detailed work for assess-ment of the deposits. Subsequently this work was extended in 1961-62 when exploratory trenching and collection of representative bulk samples (14) was carried out. GEOLOGY The Talchir series and lower part of the Damuda series belonging to the lower Gondwanas ystem of India are exposed in this area in the following sequence