Outcrops of the Whitemud formation in the Eastend river valley - 2021

In the spring this is what you will see to the north (near Ravenscrag, Saskatchewan on the south road to Eastend). The Whitemud clays are clearly visible. The amount of overburden makes it difficult to find minable sections, so Plainsman Clays mines on the opposite side where gently rolling hills fall to the valley bottom. On that side there are no outcrops, these white layers are largely hidden and can only be discovered by exploratory digging. But on this side they are easily accessed and can readily be sampled. This is the exact location where the Whitemud clays were first discovered for pottery in the early 1900s, there are actually some mineable sections on the front hills to left. I-XL brick mined clay here for many years. This is also the site of a mine for the former Medalta Potteries.

Related Pictures

The world's largest T.Rex walked on our pottery clay!

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Eastend, Saskatchewan is the location of the incredible T.rex Discovery Centre. It hosts Scotty, the world's largest T.rex. The building is an architectural masterpiece, and the exhibits are on par with anything elsewhere. The building is actually embedded into the hillside in the same geological layers in which the fossilized skeleton was found, the Battle Formation (just above the Whitemuds that are mined by Plainsman Clays). If you ever get a chance to drive from Ravenscrag to Eastend, take the south road for the most dramatic views. Do it in the spring when the grass is green. The sheer scale of the valley, the land formations and the countless outcrops of the Whitemud clays will amaze. At Eastend, have lunch at Jack's Cafe and socialize with the locals, you won't be disappointed! Then go and see Scotty.

There’s DIY magic in the ground beneath your feet!

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Place: Vernon, Alabama.
Story: Potter's friend sends a picture of an outcrop of white clay in the ditch near his driveway.
Result: A DIY claybody is born.

This planet is full of accessible clay deposits. Many can be used as-is for stoneware, earthenware and even porcelain. Characterizing this clay is the first step. How plastic is it? What does it look like when fired at different temperatures? Does it contain impurities that need to be sieved out? Does it dry without cracking? Does it work with glazes? Etc.

A journey of clay discovery to a finished piece is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have as a potter. And be more self-reliant. You don’t need special gear, just curiosity, eyes that notice, a few simple tools, and a willingness to experiment and learn to characterize clays. And one more thing: An organized way to keep records of your testing. Think of an insight-live account as a commitment to building experience; it is your memory of everything that worked. And didn't.

Videos

Links

URLs	https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitemud_Formation Whitemud Formation at Wikipedia
Glossary	Brick Making Brick-making is surprisingly demanding. Materials blending and processing, forming, drying and firing heavy and thick objects as fast as possible are like no other ceramic manufacturing challenge.

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