In India, Gujarat has a large amount of bentonite deposits. Almost three fourth of the bentonite deposits are in Bhavnagar and Kutch districts in Gujarat. As many as 162 leases are in kutch and the rest in Bhavnagar. The formation of bentonite here is associated here with the deccan trap rocks and is also confined to alteration of ash beds. Bentonite mostly occurs in oval shaped bodies 3 to 10m thick covered by a residual layer of 1.5 to 3m. The soil is sticky and gives a frothy feel.
However being a versatile mineral it has a wide range of industrial applications. Drilling fluids for oil, gas, mineral and water exploration binding agents for foundry and iron ore palletisation operations consume a large amount of bentonite each year.