Its production is concentrated in the municipality of Cuencamé, where there is an area with an important reserve
Erika Uribe / El Sol de Durango
Bentonite is one of the non-metallic minerals of which Durango is the number one national producer. Its production is concentrated in the municipality of Cuencamé, where there is an area with a significant reserve, hence the state produces 95.2 percent. percent of this material that can be used from the oil industry to wines and juices.
According to the Undersecretary of Mines and Energy of the Ministry of Economic Development (Sedeco), Jesús Manuel Ramos Díaz, two other states participate in the other 10 percent of the bentonite production in Mexico.
In this municipality that is part of the area known as the Comarca Lagunera, other materials such as zinc are also extracted in the mine located in the community of Velardeña, however bentonite is the strongest production there.
According to information from the General Directorate of Mining Development of the Government of the Republic, it is a clay whose main demand is in the drilling of oil wells, in addition to the production of molds for foundry, as a binder for the production of iron pallets; It is also a sealing material for toxic, dangerous or radioactive waste; It is used to cement fissures in rocks, in the preparation of animal food, among other industries such as chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
In the state of Durango there are 30 companies with mining production that currently operate, with investments ranging from small, medium and large.
The Undersecretary of Mines and Energy of Sedeco reported that to date, the entity is the third producer of silver in Mexico and ranks fifth in mining production, according to the latest statistics.
Hence, there are projects on the horizon and the Government’s intention is to support them so that there is economic growth in relation to this activity in the state, since some of these are carried out with foreign and national investment.
Currently mining is located in 17 municipalities, some of which are San Juan del Rio, San Dimas, Guanaceví, Santiago Papasquiaro, Pueblo Nuevo, Indé, Rodeo.
Source: elsoldedurango
