About Vermiculite

Vermiculite is a micaceous mineral which expands on heating, a property technically called exfoliation. It is chemically known as Hydrous Magnesium Iron Aluminium Silicate with characteristic lamellar structure similar to mica. The mineral occurs in association with Feldspar, Quartz, Corundum, Garnet in intrusive pegmatite veins nearly 100 feet long. Vermiculite is a mineral of commercial significance due to its property of exfoliation when heated and has a wide spectrum of application in Thermal Insulation, Acoustical Insulation and Soil Conditioning. In India, vast mineral resources have been identified in AP, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Rajasthan and West Bengal (as per IBM Statistics). It is soft, pliable, opaque and dull in appearance.

Crude Vermiculite: The crude vermiculite of our Gudur mines resembles mica in appearance. It occurs as glistening broad crystals or shining flakes that have a brown or greenish-yellow colour. Particles vary from 50mm in thickness to thin flakes less than 1mm diameter.

Properties: Vermiculite has good thermal insulation, sound absorption, high melting point, non-combustibility, compressibility and extreme lightness.