There are wide range of aluminous raw materials including Brown Fused Alumina, White Fused Alumina, Pink Fused Alumina, White Fused Mullite, Fused Zirconia Mullite (ZIRMUL), Fused Alumina-Magnesia Spinel, Calcined Bauxite and High Alumina Refractory Cement.

The key raw materials for these products are Bauxite and Calcined Alumina. Due to lack of availability of refractory grade bauxite, India imports significant part of it from China and other countries. Calcined alumina is sourced from metallurgical grade bauxite.

Gujarat occupies the top position in resources and production of high alumina bauxite suitable for valued added refractory, abrasive industry. However, this bauxite has significant impurities like high lime, titania and iron content, which deteriorates its value for refractory industry. Some high alumina and high titania deposits are found in Maharashtra and Central India (Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand & Madhya Pradesh) region and small scattered deposits are also exploited in various parts of the country. There have been number of attempts to beneficiate Gujarat bauxite but till date none has been commercially successful.

Other aluminous raw materials are kyanite, andalusite and sillimanite sand. However andalusite is not available in India and has to be imported while kyanite reserve, especially Lapso Boro kyanite reserve of Jharkhand has been grossly depleted in recent years. With its extended shoreline, India has rich reserve of sillimanite sand.