What is Ball Clay?
Ball clay, or ‘plastic clay’ is an extremely rare mineral, only found at a handful of locations around the world. It is a kaolinitic clay that commonly consists of 20–80% kaolinite, 10–25% mica, 6–65% quartz as well as organic matter.
Geology
Ball clay is formed from the weathering and transportation by water of parent rocks that have been mixed through river action with other clays, sands, gravel and vegetation. Seams in the same deposit will vary in composition, depending on the quantity of the principal and accessory minerals.
Physical properties
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High plasticity
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Excellent workability
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High unfired strength
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Rheological stability
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Controlled residue
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Refractoriness
- Ceramics
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Ceramics
