Bauxite deposits in Kutch are confined between the Deccan Traps and tertiary sediments covering a length of about 50 km. Kutch has the largest bauxite reserve in the state; a 40.7 percent of the total proved reserves. However, around 70 percent of the bauxite is of low grade and requires refinement before any value addition.

Kutch Bauxite is Gibsitic and superior grade (Al2O3=50.02%, SiO 2 = 5.22%, Fe2O3 = 11.47%, TiO2 = 4.38%, CaO + MgO = 1.61%, LOI = 26.93%), However, it is estimated that only 25 percent of it is Grade I and rest 75 percent is low and medium grade.

Kutch is an important producer of bauxite. Gujarat is the second largest producer of high grade bauxite in the country after Orissa. Gujarat contributes 17 percent of bauxite production in India. Although Kutch possesses the largest reserves, Jamnagar is the largest producer of bauxite in the state. Kutch contributes 27 percent to the state’s production. Among various minerals found in Kutch the rate of production of bauxite is the highest and is being exported. Production has increased noticeably after the lifting of ban on bauxite exports in Exim Policy in the year 1997. Over the years, bauxite production has shown a consistent growth of 36 percent.

Bauxite is a precious metallic mineral and basic ore for alumina (88 percent consumption) processing industry. Aluminium has both industrial and domestic usage and therefore, forms a large market segment.

Nearly 104 million mt of bauxite reserves are available in Kutch, Jamnagar and Junagadh districts in Gujarat. Most of these are low grade bauxite, but these have to be mined out to extract high grade bauxite beneath. Presently most of the bauxite of Kutch is exported to Australia, Europe and Middle East countries.