The rajasthan soapstone project india
in the udaipur district of rajasthan india a region world-famous for its majestic palaces and intricate marble carvings a different kind of stone processing industry is thriving. this is the rajasthan soapstone project which features a massive vertical roller mill stone powder grinding mill with an impressive capacity of 25 tons per hour. soapstone also known as steatite or talc is a soft mineral prized for its chemical inertness high lubricity and ability to absorb oils and greases.
The raw soapstone blocks from local mines vary in color from white to gray to greenish depending on their exact mineral composition. the vertical roller mill grinds this soft stone into a fine powder with a target fineness of 63 microns or approximately 230 mesh. this extremely fine powder has multiple industrial applications. the highest purity white grades are sold to the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries where they serve as a base for talcum powder and as a lubricant in tablet manufacturing.
lower grades are supplied to the paper industry as a filler that improves smoothness and printability and to the paint industry as an extender pigment. the project was developed by a major indian minerals company to consolidate its position in the global talc market. a major challenge was the need to maintain strict separation between different product grades to avoid cross-contamination. the solution was to design a sophisticated material handling system with dedicated storage silos and transport lines for each product grade allowing the 25 tons per hour mill to switch between different raw material sources and produce multiple products simultaneously.
The vertical roller mill technology was chosen for its energy efficiency and its ability to dry the soapstone which often contains significant moisture from mine run operations. this stone powder grinding mill project in the heart of rajasthan demonstrates how traditional mineral wealth combined with modern processing technology can create products essential for industries ranging from cosmetics to paper manufacturing around the world.
The raw soapstone blocks from local mines vary in color from white to gray to greenish depending on their exact mineral composition. the vertical roller mill grinds this soft stone into a fine powder with a target fineness of 63 microns or approximately 230 mesh. this extremely fine powder has multiple industrial applications. the highest purity white grades are sold to the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries where they serve as a base for talcum powder and as a lubricant in tablet manufacturing.
lower grades are supplied to the paper industry as a filler that improves smoothness and printability and to the paint industry as an extender pigment. the project was developed by a major indian minerals company to consolidate its position in the global talc market. a major challenge was the need to maintain strict separation between different product grades to avoid cross-contamination. the solution was to design a sophisticated material handling system with dedicated storage silos and transport lines for each product grade allowing the 25 tons per hour mill to switch between different raw material sources and produce multiple products simultaneously.
The vertical roller mill technology was chosen for its energy efficiency and its ability to dry the soapstone which often contains significant moisture from mine run operations. this stone powder grinding mill project in the heart of rajasthan demonstrates how traditional mineral wealth combined with modern processing technology can create products essential for industries ranging from cosmetics to paper manufacturing around the world.
