Indian Minerals Yearbook 2014 (Part- III : Mineral Reviews) 53 rd Edition MICA (ADVANCE RELEASE) GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES INDIAN BUREAU OF MINES Indira Bhavan, Civil Lines, NAGPUR 440 001 PHONE/FAX NO. (0712) 2565471 PBX : (0712) 2562649, 2560544, 2560648 E-MAIL : cme@ibm.gov.in Website: www.ibm.gov.in December, 2015
36 Mica Mica is widely distributed and occurs in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary regimes. Mica group represents 34 phyllosilicate minerals that exhibits a layered or platy structure. Commercially important mica minerals are muscovite (potash or white mica) and phlogopite (magnesium or amber mica). Granitic pegmatites are the source of muscovite sheet, while phlogopite is found in areas of metamorphosed sedimentary rocks into which pegmatite rich granite rocks have been intruded. It possesses highly perfect basal cleavage due to which it can easily and accurately split into very thin sheets or films of any specified thickness. It has a unique combination of elasticity, toughness, flexibility and transparency. It possesses resistance to heat and sudden change in temperature and high dielectric strength. It is chemically inert, stable and does not absorb water. For over hundred years, India has enjoyed the monopoly in the production and export of sheet mica in the world. Of late, there has been a steady downfall in the production of mica. This declining trend could be attributed to fall in the demand of natural mica in the world market due to technological improvements that facilitate use of reconstituted mica and emergence of mica substitutes. However, there are sufficient resources in the country to meet the domestic requirement and export demand. RESOURCES Most important mica-bearing pegmatites occur in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Occurrences of mica pegmatites are also reported from Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. As per UNFC, the total resources of mica in the country as on 1.4.2010 are estimated at 532,237 tonnes out of which 190,741 tonnes are placed under reserves category and 341,496 tonnes under remaining resources category. Andhra Pradesh leads with 41% share in country's total resources followed by Rajasthan (21%), Odisha (20%), Maharashtra (15%), Bihar (2%) and balance (less than 1%) in Jharkhand (Table - 1). PRODUCTION, STOCKS & PRICES Mica (Crude) The production of mica (crude) at 1,610 tonnes in 2013-14 increased by about 28% as compared to the preceding year. There were 38 reporting mines of mica during the year as against 36 in the previous year. Six mines, each producing above 100 tonnes annually accounted for 86% of the total output and five mica mines producing 20 tonnes to 100 tonnes annually contributed about 13 percent. The remaining 1% was the contribution of small mica mines, each producing less than 20 tonnes annually. The entire production was reported from private sector during the period under review. Six principal producers accounted for 86% of the total output. Andhra Pradesh was the only state reporting production of crude mica during the year. At the end of the year 2013-14, the mine-head stocks of mica (crude) were 587 tonnes as against 234 tonnes in the beginning of the year 2013-14. The average daily labour employed in mica mines during 2013-14 was 440 as against 451 in the previous year. The domestic prices of mica are furnished in the General Review on 'Prices'. 36-2
Table 1 : Reserves/Resources of Mica as on 1.4.2010 (By Grade/States) (In kg) Reserves Remaining resources Total Grade/State Proved Probable Total Feasibility Pre-feasibility Measured Indicated Inferred Reconnaissance Total resources STD111 (A) STD211 STD331 STD332 STD333 STD334 (B) (A+B) STD121 STD122 STD221 STD222 All India : Total 169840721 15268960 5631767 190741448 21427000 11317310 118867638 52723690 42504035 94427443 228415 341495531 532236979 By Grade Unclassified 169840721 15268960 5631767 190741448 21427000 11317310 118867638 52723690 42504035 94427443 228415 341495531 532236979 By States Andhra Pradesh 162325190 15247003 2789885 180362078 7794000 5101000-3750000 5502145 18277005-40424150 220786228 Bihar - - 74233 74233 - - - - - 12992434 7700 13000134 13074367 Jharkhand - - - - - - - - - 1494430 170700 1665130 1665130 Maharashtra - - - - - - 65916000 - - 15120000-81036000 81036000 Odisha - - - - - 6216000 52024000-20328000 26712000-105280000 105280000 Rajasthan 7515531 21957 2767649 10305137 13633000 310 927638 48973690 16673890 19831574 50015 100090117 110395254 Figures rounded off. 36-3
Mica (Waste and Scrap) The production of mica (waste and scrap) at 17,545 tonnes in 2013-14 increased by 8% compared to the previous year. Andhra Pradesh continued to be the leading producing state with contribution of 43%, followed by Rajasthan 27%, Bihar 19% and Jharkhand 11 percent (Tables - 2 to 6). MICA Table 2 : Principal Producers of Mica(crude), 2013-14 Name & address of producer Location of mine State District Dwarakanad M. Reddy, Andhra Nellore & 7 Others, Pradesh 1-C, Vaibhav Enclave, Manguta layout, Nellore-524 003, Andhra Pradesh Mahanta Mica Mines, Andhra Nellore Door No. 8, Plot No.7, Pradesh 1st Main Road, Kasturba Nagar, Adyar Chennai- 600 020 Tamil Nadu. Sri Lakshmi Sai Durga Mining Co., Andhra Village Jabalapuram, Pradesh Post -Chaganam, Mandal Sydapuram - 524 407 Distt. Nellore, Andhra Pradesh Nellore Seetharama Mining Co., Andhra Nellore 86,Sydapuram, Pradesh Post Kalichedu- 524 409 Distt.Nellore, Andhra Pradesh Yasodha Krishna Mica Andhra Nellore Mining Co., Pradesh S.No. 63/2,64/1A,82/2,81/2A, Vill. Talupur,Sydapuram, Nellore- 524 409, Andhra Pradesh Sri Venkata Kanakdurga Andhra Nellore Umamaheshwara Mica Mines, Pradesh Village Thalupur, Sydapuram Nellore - 524 409, Andhra Pradesh Table 3 : Production of Mica (Crude and Waste & Scrap), 2011-12 to 2013-14 (P) (By States) (Qty in tonnes; Value in `'000) State 2011-12 (P) Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Mica (Crude) India 1899 68670 1256 39963 1610 46226 Andhra Pradesh 1784 61967 1177 37988 1610 46226 Jharkhand 1 3870 - - - - Rajasthan 114 2833 79 1975 - - Mica (Waste & Scrap) India 14186-16255 - 17545 - Andhra Pradesh 7313-7415 - 7609 - Bihar 4632-2939 - 3267 - Jharkhand - - 782-1997 - Rajasthan 2241-5119 - 4672-36-4
Table 4 : Production of Mica (Crude and Waste & Scrap), 2012-13 and 2013-14 (P) (By Sectors/States/Districts) (Qty in tonnes; value in` 000) State/District (P) No. of mines Quantity Value No. of mines Quantity Value Mica (Crude) India 36(29) 1256 39963 38(18) 1610 46226 Private Sector 36(29) 1256 39963 38(18) 1610 46226 Andhra Pradesh 31(4) 1177 37988 32(2) 1610 46226 Nellore 31(4) 1177 37988 32(2) 1610 46226 Bihar# 1 - - 1 - - Nawada# 1 - - 1 - - Jharkhand# (2) - - (1) - - Giridih# (1) - - (1) - - Kodarma# (1) - - - - - Rajasthan 4(23) 79 1975 5(15) - - Ajmer 1(17) 79 1975 1(11)# - - Bhilwara# 2(5) - - 4(3) - - Rajsamand# 1 - - (1) - - Tonk# (1) - - - - - Mica (Waste & Scrap) India * 16255 - * 17545 - Private Sector * 16255 - * 17545 - Andhra Pradesh * 7415 - * 7609 - Nellore * 7415 - * 7609 - Bihar * 2939 - * 3267 - Nawada * 2939 - * 3267 - Jharkhand * 782 - * 1997 - Giridih * 656 - * 1997 - Kodarma * 126 - * - - Rajasthan * 5119 - * 4672 - Ajmer * 2329 - * 1578 - Bhilwara * 2610 - * 3052 - Rajasamand * - - * 42 - Tonk * 180 - - - - * Mines covered under mica (crude). # Production of mica (waste & scrap)/feldspar/quartz or only labour reported. Figures in parentheses indicate associated mines. Table 5 : Production of Mica (Crude), 2012-13 and 2013-14 (P) (By Frequency Groups) (Qty in tonnes) No. of mines Production for Percentage in Cumulative Production the group total production percentage group (P) (P) (P) (P) All Groups 36(1) 38 1256 1610 100.00 100.00 - - Up to 4 20 25 5 6 0.45 0.39 0.45 0.39 4 to 8 2 1 10 6 0.78 0.39 1.23 0.78 8 to 20 1 1 14 12 1.09 0.70 2.32 1.48 20 to 30 2 1 50 25 3.98 1.57 6.30 3.05 30 to 40 1 1 31 30 2.47 1.88 8.77 4.93 40 to 100 7(1) 3 537 147 42.73 9.13 51.50 14.06 100 and above 3 6 609 1384 48.50 85.94 100.00 100.00 36-5
Table 6 : Mine-head Stocks of Mica (Crude), 2013-14 (P) (By States) (In tonnes) State At the beginning of the year At the end of the year India/Andhra Pradesh 234 587 MINING, MARKETING AND TRANSPORT All the mica mines were first opened as prospecting pits. These trial workings were later developed into opencast workings of 5 to 10 m depths known as Upper Challa. The nature & quality of the yield decides as to whether underground method has to be adopted for mining of mica, especially mica-bearing pegmatites. Overhand cut-and-fill method of mining with flat-back and waste-fill methods are practised in mica mines. Pegmatite is opened up by striking vertical or inclined shaft. As mica is confined to hanging wall and footwall contacts and sometimes to core zone, driving and stoping is done only in these areas. The entire pegmatite body is not subjected to stoping, and wall and roof are generally self-supporting. The mines are developed to maximum 100 m depths. Most of the mines have installed haulages for transport of material, electric fans for ventilation and pumps for dewatering. The old method was tunneling, which has now in some of the old mines been converted into open quarries. With this system, mines now produce felspar, quartz, mica and vermiculite. This system has also enabled use of heavy machinery which resulted in increased production. Crude mica produced from the workings is transported to the surface where it is cobbed manually to remove the gangue minerals like quartz, felspar and other associated minerals, including waste mica. Skilled labourers dress the hand-cobbed mica with sickle, knife and scissors. During dressing, the part of mica containing deformities, such as fractures, unevenness and cracks is removed and only the better material is retained as blocks. Such blocks are classified into various sizes and qualities on the basis of visual estimates. The mica so rejected during dressing is sold as scrap. Mica processing is a labourintensive activity requiring special skills. The art of manual processing of mica has been acquired by the Indian workers through generations and has became a cottage industry in the mica mining areas of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. CONSUMPTION Complete picture regarding the consumption of mica is not available due to inadequate availability of information on various micaconsuming industries. Sheet mica is used mainly in electrical and micanite industries, while scrap mica is used in the manufacture of mica paper and ground mica, which in turn, is used in asphaltic roofing, welding electrode, paint, rubber, insulation bricks, etc. USES Natural sheet mica is used in electrical and electronic industries in the form of blocks, splittings and films or built-up mica called micanite". Sheet mica is used to manufacture fabricated and micanite products, such as capacitors and commutator segments. Micanite or built-up mica is partly overlapped, irregularshaped and arranged as splittings cemented together with either an organic or inorganic binder. Other uses of sheet mica include gauge glasses of high pressure steam boilers, diaphragms of oxygen-breathing equipment, marker dials of navigation compasses, quarterwave plates for optical instruments, window covers for radiation pyrometers & thermal regulators, stove window, 36-6
chimneys for gas & petromax lamps, diaphragms in microwave transmitters and insulation wrappers for high tension radar coils. Besides, high quality natural mica sheets are used in helium-neon lasers where mica sheet works as retardation plate. Of late, mica washers have gained extensive use in computer industry. Mica paper or reconstituted mica is a paperlike material made by depositing fine flakes of scrap mica as a continuous mat which is then dried. Mica paper is usually impregnated with organic binder. Primary end-uses of mica paper are the same as for micanite or built-up mica. Micanite is used in electrical insulation mainly because natural mica sheet of sufficient thickness is not always available. This is used in copper commutator segments of DC universal motors and generators, moulding plates from which V-rings are cut and stripped for use in commutators. These moulding plates also find use in the form of tubes and rings as an insulator in transformers, armatures and motor starters. As flexible plates, micanite is also used in electric motors and generator-armatures, field coil insulators & magnet and commutator core insulation. Similarly, as heater plates, micanite is used where high insulation strength at high temperature is required. In the construction sector, mica scrap/ground mica is used in jointing cement for gypsum boards, asphaltic roofings and damp-proof seal, and insulation boards. Ground mica acts as reinforcing filler in plaster for textured coatings. Mica is used in insulation bricks, slabs and tiles because of its excellent thermal and insulating properties. Dry-ground 50 mesh mica is used in the flux coating for arc welding electrodes, with flux containing 3 to 5% mica powder. In paints, mica in the form of powder is used as filler and as an extender because it provides a smoother consistency, improved workability and imparts increased resistance to water penetration and weathering. It also facilitates suspension due to its relatively low specific gravity and platy morphology. Mica is used mainly in four types of paints, such as bituminous emulsions, exterior paints, fire-retardant paints and pearlescent pigments. Mica is added to drilling fluids to get off the lost circulation zones. The platy structure of mica facilitates the overlapping of particles to form a tight layer or wall, thereby preventing further fluid loss. Ground mica is used in the rubber industry as a dusting agent and as an inert filler in the production of rubber. Mica fillers increase the hardness, tensile strength and tear resistance of rubber articles. In plastic industry, mica is used as a filler and reinforcer in thermoplastics to improve the electrical properties, flexural strength & modulus, stiffness, heat deflection temperatures and resistance. Dry-ground mica powder is used in small quantities in cosmetic applications. The property of high resistance of mica to the effect of the sun rays, moisture, gases, water and other chemicals, enables the use of dry-ground mica powder in small quantity to improve the decorative coating and lustre of wallpaper, printing and ceiling papers, etc. Wet-ground mica powder is used in paints, cosmetics, rubber, etc. as a filler. Small quantities of scrap mica/ground mica are also used in industries like foundries as coating to foundry cores and moulds, as a dry lubricant to prevent hot bearings from seizing up. SUBSTITUTES Mica and its products can be substituted to some extent by using alumina, ceramics, bentonite, glass, mylar polystyrene, fused quartz, silicon, talc, bakelite, teflon, nylon synthetic mica, acrylate polymers, cellulose acetate, fibre glass, etc. Some lightweight aggregates, such as diatomite, vermiculite and perlite may be substituted for ground mica when used as filler. Ground synthetic fluorophlogopite, fluorine-rich mica, may replace natural ground mica for uses that require thermal and electrical properties of mica. Sheet mica is used in electrical components, electronics and atomic force microscopy. Many products can be substituted for mica in electrical and electronic uses. Substitutes include Acrylic, Benelex, Cellulose acetate, Delrin, Duranel N, Fibreglass, Fishpaper, Kel F, Kydex, Kapton Lexan, Lucite, Mylar, Nylon, Nylatron, Nomex, Noryl, 36-7
Phenolics, Plexiglass, Polycarbonate, Polyester, Styrene, Teflon, Vinyl-PVC and Vulcanised Fibre. SPECIFICATIONS The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has prepared standards for (a) processed mica, (b) fabricated mica and (c) mica-based products. BIS has brought out the following specifications for mica for various purposes: IS:1175 1981(First Revision, Reaffirmed 2011): Deals with methods of grading and classification of muscovite mica blocks, thins and films according to visual size, visual qualities and presence of structural imperfections. IS:1885 (Part-53)-1980 (Reaffirmed 2007): Deals with electrotechnical vocabulary, part-53, Mica. IS:2001-1968: Deals with specifications of fixed silvered mica capacitors. IS:2464-1963 (Reaffirmed 2008): Deals with specifications of built-up mica for electrical purposes. IS:9043-1979 (Reaffirmed 2011): Deals with grading (by size) of phlogopite mica blocks, thins, films and splittings. IS:9044-1979 (Reaffirmed 2011): Deals with methods of measuring thickness of mica blocks, thins, films and splittings. IS:9045-1979 (Reaffirmed 2011): Deals with thermal classification of phlogopite mica splittings. IS :9299 (Part 3/Sec.1)- 1979 (Reaffirmed 2003): Deals with rigid mica material for commutator separators. IS:9299 (Part3/Sec.2) 1982 (Reaffirmed 2003): Deals with moulding mica materials for electrical purposes. IS:9299 (Part 3/Sec. 3) 1982 (Reaffirmed 2008): Deals with flexible mica flake tape for insulation of electrical machines. IS:9299 (Part 3/Sec. 4) (Reaffirmed 2008): Deals with rigid mica materials for heating equipment. IS:13357: Methods of grading and visual classification of muscovite mica splittings. World : Total India* Russia USA Other countries TRADE POLICY As per the Foreign Trade Policy for 2009-14 and the effective Export-Import Policy, exports and imports of all varieties of mica blocks, splittings, powder, waste and scrap under heading 2525 are allowed without restrictions. WORLD REVIEW Very large reserves of mica (Natural), sheet are located mainly in India and Moderate reserve of Mica located at Russia. The data on world reserves of mica (natural), sheet are given in Table - 7. The world output of mica was 350 thousand tonnes in 2013. China(46%) and USA(14%) were the leading producers of mica, followed by Republic of Korea (7%), Canada & France (6%) and Madagascar (4%) (Table -8). Table 7 : World Reserves of Mica (Natural), Sheet (By Principal Countries) Reserves Very Large Very large Moderate Very small Moderate Source: Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2015. * India's total UNFC resources of mica as on 1.04.2010 are estimated at 0.53 million tonnes. 36-8
Table 8 : World Production of Mica (By Principal Countries) (In '000 tonnes) 2011 2012 2013 World: Total 338 334 350 Argentina 10 6 6 e Brazil 6 5 5 e Canada e 21 22 22 China e 132 149 161 Finland 13 12 11 France e @ 19 18 20 Iran 7 7 e 5 e Korea, Rep of # 31 26 25 Malaysia # 4 4 4 Madagascar 4 13 13 e Russia e 9 9 9 Spain @ 4 4 3 USA @* 52 47 50 e Other countries 26 12 16 Imports Imports of mica (total) decreased slightly to 2,049 tonnes in 2013-14 from 2,285 tonnes in the previous year. Out of the total imports in 2013-14, imports of mica (unmanufactured) were 883 tonnes (comprising powder- 209 tonnes, splittings 316 tonnes and waste & scrap 298 tonnes). Besides, nominal quantity of block mica was also imported. The 1,166 tonnes imports were of mica (worked) which included condenser films, plates, cuts, NES 14 tonnes, sheets & strips 239 tonnes and other worked mica 896 tonnes, besides 17 tonnes of washers & discs In 2013-14, imports were mainly to China (49%), Sri Lanka (15%) and Austria (7 %) (Tables - 23 to 33). Table 9 : Exports of Mica : Total Source: World Mineral Production, 2009-13. # Mainly sericite. @ Including mica recovered from mica schists and/or kaolin beneficiation. * Sold or used by producers. FOREIGN TRADE Exports Exports of mica (total) increased marginally to 127,882 tonnes in 2013-14 from 127,610 tonnes in the previous year. Almost all the exports were in the form of mica (unmanufactured) at 127,233 tonnes (comprising blocks 2,055 tonnes, splittings 4,269 tonnes, powder 80,946 tonnes, and waste & scrap 39,866 tonnes). The exports of mica (worked) were 649 tonnes in 2013-14 (comprising washers & discs 65 tonnes, sheets & strips 72 tonnes, micanite & other built up mica only 5 tonnes, other worked mica 506 tonnes. Besides, only 1tonne of condenser films nominal quantity of plates, cuts, NES were also exported. In 2013-14, exports were mainly to China (62%), Japan (5%), USA (3%) (Tables-9 to 22). All Countries 127610 3460060 127882 3759755 China 68865 1520159 79392 1889012 Japan 7110 411079 6264 400158 USA 4493 244118 3600 220385 Netherlands 4426 129568 4452 162710 France 2661 130206 2149 128036 Russia 974 71645 1464 113226 Mexico 71 139745 59 97920 Belgium 4367 100819 3277 77728 Germany 2360 60428 3219 65438 Korea, Rep. of 1509 59779 1760 64973 Other countries 30774 592514 22246 540169 36-9
Table 10 : Exports of Mica (Unmanufactured) : Total Table 12 : Exports of Mica (Splittings) All Countries 1559 112393 4269 192636 All Countries 126792 2759729 127233 3058559 China 68735 1470380 79366 1826632 Japan 7044 303004 6185 271895 USA 4383 159850 3522 148716 Netherlands 4403 107076 4423 133399 France 2657 124909 2143 117210 Russia 938 54487 1371 89717 Belgium 4358 96955 3277 77728 Korea, Rep. of 1506 43653 1758 53111 Germany 2353 37908 3217 44040 Saudi Arabia 6474 26679 5595 28963 Other countries 23941 334828 16376 267148 China 169 17240 3335 105166 USA 139 15600 220 22599 Russia 89 11647 24 17080 Hong Kong 3 1662 11 9652 Romania - - 150 8039 Japan 256 9266 133 7998 Germany 93 9499 339 5904 Kazakhstan 76 25391 13 4636 Slovak Rep 2 2008 4 4442 Italy - - 25 3730 Other countries 732 20080 15 3390 Table 11 : Exports of Mica (Blocks) Table 13 : Exports of Mica (Powder) All Countries 2559 198721 2055 181694 Japan 1774 119336 884 69356 China 187 39631 447 66440 Russia 134 11156 330 20029 Czech Republic 77 2874 100 4679 UK 6 5890 4 3588 Brazil - - 66 2409 Slovak Rep. 11 1688 3 2338 Korea, Rep. of 332 11985 60 2304 Sweden ++ 898 1 2248 Hong Kong 2 99 6 1626 Other countries 36 5164 154 6677 All Countries 91204 1699852 80946 1781538 China 45546 979701 43155 1024258 Japan 4100 142795 4248 157102 Netherlands 3844 98692 4423 132440 USA 3242 117869 3138 119513 Belgium 3223 57985 2613 51083 Korea, Rep. of 1008 27727 1588 48096 Germany 1901 21315 2525 32460 Saudi Arabia 6474 26679 4351 23593 UAE 1337 13053 2249 23477 France 134 5146 375 18126 Other countries 20395 208890 12281 151390 36-10
Table 14 : Exports of Mica (Waste & Scrap) All Countries 31468 738679 39866 880245 China 22833 433810 32429 630768 France 2523 119551 1768 98766 Japan 914 31607 920 37439 Russia 617 18853 846 27338 Belgium 1111 38130 664 26645 Romania 575 23546 225 11607 USA 1000 25617 146 5721 Saudi Arabia - - 1244 5370 Bangladesh 41 78 91 5162 Egypt - - 292 4516 Other countries 1854 47487 1241 26913 Table 15 : Exports of Mica (Worked) : Total Table 17 : Exports of Mica (Cond. Films, Plates, Cuts NES) All Countries 8 13997 1 9777 Russia 1 1192 1 3724 USA 1 931 ++ 3067 China 5 5394 ++ 1417 Germany ++ 98 ++ 441 Netherland ++ 930 ++ 435 Japan 1 3222 ++ 329 Poland - - ++ 203 Bangladesh - - ++ 106 Romania ++ 55 ++ 46 France ++ 174 ++ 9 Other countries ++ 2001 - - All Countries 818 700331 649 701196 Japan 66 108075 79 128262 Mexico 71 139745 59 97860 USA 110 84268 78 71670 China 130 49778 26 62380 Turkey 82 58717 55 52772 UK 65 32946 20 32654 Netherlands 23 22493 29 29311 Russia 36 17158 93 23509 Germany 7 22520 2 21398 Italy 17 12725 20 18661 Other countries 211 151906 188 162719 Table 16 : Exports of Mica (Condenser Films) Table 18 : Exports of Mica (Washers & Discs) All Countries 90 174460 65 118451 Mexico 71 139665 59 97142 USA 11 22203 2 10213 Japan 4 6572 4 6429 Germany 1 2857 ++ 1360 Egypt ++ 59 ++ 977 UK ++ 694 ++ 709 France ++ 265 ++ 559 Denmark - - ++ 305 Chinese All Countries 2 10084 97 22291 Russia 2 10084 4 20895 Germany - - 91 1192 Hong Kong - - 2 204 Taipei/Taiwan 1 149 ++ 278 Netherlands - - ++ 146 Other countries 2 1996 ++ 333 36-11
Table 19 : Exports of Mica (Sheets & Strips) All Countries 40 60813 72 84532 Japan 22 18608 55 32743 UK 6 13962 6 18906 USA 2 6059 3 9085 Korea, Rep. of 1 3083 1 4204 Canada ++ 3440 ++ 3956 Korea, Dem.Peoples' - - 2 2012 Rep. of Italy ++ 270 ++ 1865 Hong Kong 2 1251 2 1646 France 1 888 ++ 1544 China 2 4430 ++ 1120 Other countries 4 8822 3 7451 Table 20: Exports of Micanite & Other Built-Up Mica All Countries 15 9998 5 6660 Brazil 1 1155 1 1678 Hong Kong 3 1955 1 975 Thailand 1 224 1 948 Chinese Taipei/Taiwan ++ 86 1 888 South Africa 3 1722 1 544 Singapore ++ 217 ++ 357 UK ++ 106 ++ 271 Nigeria - - ++ 270 Georgia ++ 246 ++ 217 Chile ++ 108 ++ 203 Other countries 7 4179 ++ 309 Table 21 : Exports of Mica Worked (Others) All Countries 665 441063 506 481776 Japan 39 79674 20 88761 China 123 39939 26 59843 Turkey 82 58717 55 52772 USA 95 54401 73 49269 Netherlands 23 21562 29 28581 Russia 35 15796 92 19785 Germany 6 18010 2 18676 Italy 17 12356 20 16699 Iran 3 723 30 13575 Hong Kong 20 17388 9 13290 Other countries 222 122497 150 120525 Table 22 : Imports of Mica : Total All Countries 2285 557140 2049 563468 China 1039 173740 1004 210753 Austria 121 100687 149 152624 Switzerland 163 133112 89 83827 Malaysia 49 25354 73 26669 USA 26 6566 32 16592 UK 39 21670 12 13449 Korea, Rep. of 14 7034 7 8346 Brazil 8 7494 8 7702 Sri Lanka 367 12200 303 7570 Germany 11 5499 20 7161 Other countries 448 63784 352 28775 36-12
Table 23 : Imports of Mica (Unmanufactured) : Total All Countries 874 24786 883 36515 China 180 6047 210 7554 Sri Lanka 280 6887 303 7550 Madagascar - - 224 5938 USA 16 2688 16 4804 Japan 20 2996 14 2333 Norway 10 699 19 2255 Malaysia 4 139 48 1043 Germany 2 509 10 920 Belgium 2 290 12 822 Denmark 13 810 11 783 Other countries 347 3721 16 2513 Table 24 : Imports of Mica (Blocks) All Countries 105 1081 60 3378 Madagascar - - 58 1981 USA ++ 686 1 1296 China - - 1 101 Other countries 105 395 - - Table 25 : Imports of Mica (Splittings) All Countries 146 4719 316 8953 China 133 3940 143 4249 Madagascar - - 86 2343 Sri Lanka - - 87 2294 Korea, Rep. of 7 109 ++ 39 Spain ++ 57 ++ 27 Other countries 6 613 ++ 1 Table 26 : Imports of Mica (Powder) All Countries 325 11947 209 17024 USA 16 2002 15 3508 China 47 2107 65 3139 Norway 10 699 19 2255 Japan 14 2383 13 2109 Malaysia 4 139 48 1043 Germany 2 509 10 920 Belgium 2 290 12 822 Denmark 13 810 11 783 UK 13 1082 2 652 France 1 133 4 452 Other countries 203 1793 10 1341 Table 27 : Imports of Mica (Waste & Scrap) All Countries 298 7039 298 7160 Sri Lanka 280 6887 216 5256 Madagascar - - 80 1615 Japan - - 1 224 China - - 1 65 Other countries 18 152 - - Table 28 : Imports of Mica (Worked) : Total All Countries 1411 532354 1166 526953 China 859 167693 794 203198 Austria 121 100687 149 152624 Switzerland 163 133112 89 83827 Malaysia 45 25214 25 25626 UK 26 20588 10 12797 USA 10 3879 16 11787 Korea Rep. of 7 6926 7 8275 Brazil 8 7494 8 7702 Germany 9 4990 10 6241 Japan 36 42921 3 3476 Other countries 127 18850 55 11400 36-13
Table 29 : Imports of Mica (Condenser Films, Plates, Cuts, NES) Table 32 : Imports of Micanite & Other Built-up Mica All Countries 10 9697 14 14620 Switzerland 8 7251 9 10884 Austria - - 2 1178 China ++ 24 1 1152 Korea, Rep. of ++ 176 1 741 France - - ++ 383 Malaysia ++ 195 1 281 Other countries 2 2051 ++ 1 Table 30 : Imports of Mica (Washers & Discs) All Countries 12 4201 17 12756 - USA 9 3389 14 10176 Belgium - - 1 930 Singapore - - 1 914 China 3 547 1 317 Korea, Rep. of - - ++ 178 Germany ++ 9 ++ 109 UK - - ++ 42 Mexico ++ 4 ++ 26 New Zealand - - ++ 19 Italy ++ 17 ++ 13 Other countries ++ 235 ++ 32 All Countries 2 309 - - Vietnam 1 169 - - China 1 140 - - Table 33 : Imports of Mica Worked (Others) All Countries 1126 499718 896 482807 China 605 156647 575 189588 Austria 121 100625 147 151433 Switzerland 155 125773 80 72942 Malaysia 45 25019 24 25344 UK 13 11516 8 8782 Brazil 8 7494 8 7702 Korea, Rep. of 7 6749 6 7356 Germany 8 3915 10 6133 Japan 36 42896 3 3476 Czech Republic 3 690 2 2778 Other countries 125 18394 33 7273 Table 31 : Imports of Mica (Sheets & Strips) All Countries 261 18429 239 16770 China 249 10166 217 12141 UK 12 8170 2 3973 UAE - - 20 656 Other countries ++ 93 - - 36-14
FUTURE OUTLOOK There are sufficient resources of mica in the country to meet the domestic demand and export requirement. As per the Report of the Sub Group for the 12 th Plan (2012-17), Planning Commission of India, there appears to be good demand for wet ground mica, specially in the manufacture of pearlescent pigments which are increasingly used in the automotive industry. The Sub Group has recommended that establishment of wet ground mica plants based on imported know-how in the country needs to be encouraged. The quality of Indian ground mica powder is acceptable to foreign buyers. However, they prefer that the material should be free from iron and consistency in the mesh size in the powder. The Sub Group has underlined the need for efforts in this direction. It has also opined that process know-how for recovery of substantial concentration of lithium, rubidium and cesium values contained in some of the mica deposits in the country needs to be developed. For boosting exports, it would be necessary for Indian Mica Industry to manufacture an export fabricated & value- added mica-based products, such as mica paper, micanite sheets and mica-based paper. 36-15