Reclaiming the Land After Kaolin Mining Ridge Road Elementary 4 th Grade Brannen Homeroom

Many people call kaolin, china-clay. It is a white alumina-silicate mineral

Kaolin is a non-toxic, non-polluting mineral used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products, including paint, paper, plastic, rubber, cosmetics, ceramics, and toothpaste.

Companies prepare the land for mining by removing earth to reach the kaolin deposits which are then transported for processing. Once the kaolin deposit is extracted, kaolin companies begin one of the most important parts of the job, reclamation.

After the kaolin is removed, the land is carefully reclaimed and restored by contouring and grading the surfaces to blend with surrounding terrain. Reclaimed lands are suitable for a wide variety of uses including agriculture, forest production, and wildlife.

The state of Georgia has one of the most comprehensive reclamation acts in the nation requiring acre for acre. The industry begins reshaping land and restoring it to its natural state. Kaolin companies spend an estimated $1,700 per acre to reclaim the land.

Fertilization and reseeding of the land after mining often returns it to a state that is more productive than it was before the kaolin was mined.

The kaolin industry is currently working with the University of Georgia to improve the growth of timber on reclaimed land.

When Washington County residents want to enjoy nature, they only need to look no further than their own “backyard.”

Lake Franklin is an award winning recreational area in Georgia that now boasts acres of forest and wildlife. All are located where kaolin mines once were.