4.4.2.1 Production 

The development and utilization of fireclay in China has a long history, and can be traced back to the remote antiquity. But large-scale development depends on the modern industry, especially on the development of the iron and steel industry. The output of fireclay in China was 22,000 tons in 1949. Up to 1997, the output of fireclay as an important  refractory raw materials has reached 7.341 million tons (Table 4.4.3). Fireclay in China is mainly used as raw materials for the proudction of clay bricks, high-alumina bricks and bulk fireclay materials. In 1997, the output of the three products reached 2.423 million tons, 1.374 million tons and 10.078 million tons respectively (Table 4.4.4). 

It needs to note that in recent years village and township enterprises have developed very quickly in China. Most fireclay has been produced by them. The actual output was much more than the reported. The fact that the output of manufactured products ( clay bricks, high-alumina bricks and bulk fire clay refractory materials ) in Table 4.4.4 exceed those of the fireclay raw materials in Table 4.4.3 illustrates this point.

Table 4.4.3 Production of fireclay in China ( ¡Á103 t)

Table 4.4.4 Production of manufactured products from fireclay in China (¡Á103 t)

4.4.2.2 Distribution of Production

By the end of 1992, there had been 34 state-owned fireclay mines that were producing and were under construction in the whole country. They are mainly distributed in Shanxi, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Sichuan and Guangxi. Among them the mining areas with a production capacity of more than 100,000 t/a are as follows: Taihushi at Yangquan in Shanxi, Baibidian, Gulongzhuang and Zhanggezhuang at Tangshan in Hebei, Wangbozhuang, Zhang-qiu, the west part of Hongshan and Dongbaoshan at Zibo in Shandong, Shecun of Gongyi City, Zhuangtou of Dengfeng, and Moshipo and area ¢ò of Xizhangzhuang of Jiaozuo in Henan, Miyiertan in Sichuan, and Bainikeng at Hepu in Guangxi. Additionally, there are some medium- and small-sized mines with a production capacity of several dozen thousand tons in Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Beijing, Gansu, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Yunnan and Guizhou. 

Besides the 34 state-owned mines, there are about one thousand medium- and small-sized locally-administrated state enterprises and village and township enterprises. The total output of them has greatly exceeded that of state-owned mines, and they occupy an important position in the production of fireclay in China. But the size of these mines is mostly small and the excavation of ores is carried out by hand or is semi-mechanized. The production is determined according to sales and is unstable, and the quality of products is poorer than that of state-owned mines. 

China has rich resources of fireclay and its explored reserves are large. In addition to the above-mentioned production mines, many ore districts with good internal and external conditions can be designed to be developed in the years to come, of which the important ones are as follows: Yangmugang, Shulan in Jilin; Yexi and Huiyu, Mentougou in Beijing; Qianmuping and Houjiagou at Yangquan County, Guocun at Meng County, Qigetai at Heshun   County, Qianjing at Shanyin County, Xiapu and Ducun at Xiaoyi County, Nannao and Shaitou at Shongyang County, and Laijiashan at Liulin County in Shanxi; Shanbei at Jingjing City, and Bijiadian at Tangshan City in Hebei; Lujiazhuang at Zhangqiu County in Shandong; Liangwa at Lushan County, Dawa at Jiaozhuo City, the east part of Jiajia at Shengchi County, Shuitou and Zhongling at Gongyi City, Shisi at Xinan County, Zhijian at Shanxian County, Bianzhuang at Baofeng County and Pingmo at Mixian County in Henan; Weiluo at Nanning City in Guangxi; Changchang at Qiongshan County in Hainan; Fengtaishan at Guangyuan City, No.1 ore district and No.2 ore district, at Gong County in Sichuan and so on. The reserves of these ore districts are large, which allow to build a series of large mines with a production capacity of more than 100,000 t/a.