Clay in "dinosaur country" of southern Saskatchewan

This is a "badlands" slope in the Frenchman river valley. The valley exposes the "Whitemud Formation" in many places (clearly visible here half way down on the left). Two surface mines of Plainsman Clays are nearby (over the top and down the other side), in a place where lower-lying rolling hills leave much less over-burden to remove. These materials were laid down as marine sediments during the Cretaceous period. The skeleton of the world's largest T-Rex, dubbed "Scotty", was found 50km east of here (in the layers just above the Whitemuds). Where are the layers of Scotties ancestors from the Jurassic period? Straight down until you hit the bed rock!

Related Pictures

Mother Nature's Porcelain - From a Cretaceous Dust Storm!

Plainsman Clays did 6 weeks of mining in June-July 2018 in Ravenscrag, Saskatchewan. We extracted marine sediment layers of the late Cretaceous period. The center portion of the B layer is so fine that it must have wind-transported (impossibly smooth, like a body that is pure terra sigillata)! The feldspar and silica are built-in, producing the glassiest surface I have ever seen at cone 6 (2200F). Despite this, pieces are not warping in the firings! I have not glazed the outside of this mug for demo purposes. I got away with it this time because the Ravenscrag clear glaze is very compatible (similar thermal expansion). But with other less compatible glazes they cracked when I poured in hot coffee. This mug was the beginning of an exciting project the sieve out +325 mesh particles any make many more pieces.

These Saskatchewan farmers are growing their crops in M340!

Layers of sedimentary clay exposed in a hill at Big Muddy, Saskatchewan

These amazing hills near Big Muddy, Saskatchewan expose the sedimentary layers of the Whitemud formation (and others). The light-colored layer at the bottom is what Plainsman calls A3, it makes up about half of M340. But below ground is the 3B layer, the other half. The dark grey layers above the Whitemuds are what we call A2, a ball clay. Of course, top soil has accumulated on top of the clay to be able to grow plants. Although this is about 250km east of the Plainsman quarry at Eastend, Saskatchewan - the clay layers are remarkably similar. The clay resources in the area are truly astounding, not just in the quantity and quality but also in the magnificent landscape they define.

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

Eastend, Saskatchewan hosts the incredible T. Rex Discovery Centre. The centre hosts Scotty, the world's largest T. Rex. The building is an architectural marvel and the exhibits are on par or better than anything else where. 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 whitemuds will amaze. At Eastend, have a meal of Jack's Cafe, you won't be disappointed! Then go and see Scotty.

Links

Articles	Ravenscrag Slip is Born The story of how Ravenscrag Slip was discovered and developed might help you to recognize the potential in clays that you have access to.
Glossary	Medalta Potteries
Glossary	Plainsman Clays
URLs	https://www.royalsaskmuseum.ca/trex T.Rex Discovery Centre The home of Scotty, the world's largest T. rex.