Hawkdancing on tue 8 dec 98
Hi,
I am hoping to help a friend in new mexico. She needs information about
micaceous clay deposits or ceramic uses in these areas: England,
Switzerland and Nepal. Please send responses to Sadie at:
kaleidoscope@espanola.com
She is a homeschooling teen who can't find info on the web. Any help or
resources much appreciated!
Will be at the ACC Charlotte show Dec.11-13th, booth 504. Stop and say
hello!
Nels Linde
nels@hawkdancing.com or hawkdanc@spacestar.net
***********************************************************
http://hawkdancing.com/Homepage/hawkhom1.htm
***********************************************************
"Magic is the art of changing nothing into something!"
***Spiritart, the webring for artwork with meaning!*****
********http://hawkdancing.com/spiritart.html*******
Tyler Hannigan on wed 9 dec 98
Hello Nels,
Micaceous clay deposits are found in various areas of Northern New Mexico - like
back yard in Taos. A clue is wherever you find Pueblo Indian pottery of Micaceou
clay you may find deposits near the reservations. Warning ! the Native Americans
tend to be very protective of this fine material. But, some Native potters will
workshops.
Also, by examining the local adobe walls for traces of mica sparkle you may be a
to locate a nearby source.
Tierra Hermosa Pottery in Taos (505)751-0458 and Santa Fe Clay in Santa Fe
(505)984-1122 supplies several processed micaceous clays.
Mica flakes are also available which can be wedged into both micaceous and non m
clay. I have been able to fire mica clays up to cone 5 Ox. and retain the sparkl
Tyler Hannigan
Silverhawk Craft Realm
http://www.silverhawk.com/crafts
Hawkdancing wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi,
> I am hoping to help a friend in new mexico. She needs information abou
> micaceous clay deposits or ceramic uses in these areas: England,
> Switzerland and Nepal. Please send responses to Sadie at:
> kaleidoscope@espanola.com
>
> She is a homeschooling teen who can't find info on the web. Any help or
> resources much appreciated!
> Will be at the ACC Charlotte show Dec.11-13th, booth 504. Stop and say
> hello!
>
> Nels Linde
>
> nels@hawkdancing.com or hawkdanc@spacestar.net
> ***********************************************************
> http://hawkdancing.com/Homepage/hawkhom1.htm
> ***********************************************************
> "Magic is the art of changing nothing into something!"
> ***Spiritart, the webring for artwork with meaning!*****
> ********http://hawkdancing.com/spiritart.html*******
--
Joanne Van Bezooyen on thu 10 dec 98
I was at Taos Pueblo last summer and a Native American potter there sold me som
micaceous clay he had dug but said that most pueblo potters throw a handful of
crushed mica into their clay and wedge it in.
Joanne
Tyler Hannigan wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hello Nels,
> Micaceous clay deposits are found in various areas of Northern New Mexico - li
> back yard in Taos. A clue is wherever you find Pueblo Indian pottery of Micace
> clay you may find deposits near the reservations. Warning ! the Native America
> tend to be very protective of this fine material. But, some Native potters wil
> workshops.
> Also, by examining the local adobe walls for traces of mica sparkle you may be
> to locate a nearby source.
> Tierra Hermosa Pottery in Taos (505)751-0458 and Santa Fe Clay in Santa Fe
> (505)984-1122 supplies several processed micaceous clays.
> Mica flakes are also available which can be wedged into both micaceous and non
> clay. I have been able to fire mica clays up to cone 5 Ox. and retain the spar
>
> Tyler Hannigan
> Silverhawk Craft Realm
> http://www.silverhawk.com/crafts
>
> Hawkdancing wrote:
>
> > ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > Hi,
> > I am hoping to help a friend in new mexico. She needs information ab
> > micaceous clay deposits or ceramic uses in these areas: England,
> > Switzerland and Nepal. Please send responses to Sadie at:
> > kaleidoscope@espanola.com
> >
> > She is a homeschooling teen who can't find info on the web. Any help or
> > resources much appreciated!
> > Will be at the ACC Charlotte show Dec.11-13th, booth 504. Stop and s
> > hello!
> >
> > Nels Linde
> >
> > nels@hawkdancing.com or hawkdanc@spacestar.net
> > ***********************************************************
> > http://hawkdancing.com/Homepage/hawkhom1.htm
> > ***********************************************************
> > "Magic is the art of changing nothing into something!"
> > ***Spiritart, the webring for artwork with meaning!*****
> > ********http://hawkdancing.com/spiritart.html*******
>
> --
Earl Brunner on wed 18 jul 01
Vermiculite is "expanded" mica, crushing and grinding would give you
"mica" in your clay. Once crushed, it would not have the expanded
properties of vermiculite, it is hard to crush though, little flat
sheets of stuff. Last summer I stayed at Ocenside CA for a week, the
beach there had a lot of mica in it. The waves made the water sparkle
with little "gold" flecks.
As a side note, the four corners area has no monopoly on micaceous clay,
and it's not exclusively a Native American thing. I have a pot that was
made in Nepal from clay that is full of the stuff.
Some American vermiculite has been associated with asbestos
contamination in recent years.
Wade Blocker wrote:
> Ann,
> the micaceous clay sold by local companies is earthenware clay.
> Incorporating vermiculite into a clay body is not the same as mica.
> Vermiculite burns out and leaves depressions. Micaceous clay is smooth and
> has little glitters of gold in it when fired. It is associated with the
> ware from Taos pueblo and nearby pueblos in New Mexico. Mia in ABQ
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec/
bruec@anv.net
Roger Bourland on wed 18 jul 01
Several years ago I dug a bucket of micaceous clay from US Hill in New
Mexico. A permit was required and I got one. I have treasured every moment
of working with it and it is about gone now. To me personally, it is the
finest clay of the dozens of clays I have worked with. I will be spending
August in Dixon, NM and look forward to getting some more micaceous clay.
However, after reading "All That Glitters", a stunning book on the subject,
I am aware of the tensions that exist between Native American Pueblo
potters, Hispanics and Anglos (and even non-micaceous using native
Americans!) over even USING to say nothing of "raiding" micaceous deposits.
I want to respect the issues of the controversy and the native American's
turf while at the same time I want very much to get some more of that
wonderful clay.
I understand that Coyote Clay in Albuquerque makes their own Micaceous, but
cannot imagine that it would compare with the stuff one mines from the
mountains of northern New Mexico.
I would appreciate any insights into the situation, recommendations
regarding securing some and frank evaluations of the Coyote Clay product.
Best,
Roger Bourland
Wade Blocker on wed 18 jul 01
Roger,
Coyote Clay is owned and operated by Martin Butt. Martin happens to be an
excellent potter himself, so whatever he formulates should be very
good,since he does a lot of testing before marketing anything. You might
send him an E-mail to get more information.
Another source of micacious clay is New Mexico Clay. They list Mica
white and mica red earthenware"two new clays similar to Indian pottery from
around New Mexico .The Mica is mined near Taos.Can be glazes if bisqued to
cone 04.Burnish and fire to cone 08."
When I shop for supplies I notice Native American customers there, I
wonder if they purchase Brant's earthenware for their pots? Mia in ABQ
Ann Brink on wed 18 jul 01
I wonder if it would work to take some vermiculite, reduce the particle size
somehow, and wedge into the clay. I made a small figurative sculpture a few
years ago by wedging the vermiculite as is into stoneware clay, used quite a
lot so the plasticity was much reduced. The fired result though had an
interesting texture and was very light. Since then I have meant to reduce
some V. to smaller flakes and try it again. Has anyone done this?
Is that how clay companies make their micaceous clay?
Ann Brink in Calif.
Wade Blocker on wed 18 jul 01
Ann,
the micaceous clay sold by local companies is earthenware clay.
Incorporating vermiculite into a clay body is not the same as mica.
Vermiculite burns out and leaves depressions. Micaceous clay is smooth and
has little glitters of gold in it when fired. It is associated with the
ware from Taos pueblo and nearby pueblos in New Mexico. Mia in ABQ
Joyce Lee on wed 18 jul 01
The micaceous clay we saw in New Mexico
didn't have gold in it.... it was so-named because=20
of the cleavage of the rock formations (crystals)
that formed thin sheets of translucent organic
material ... same material that is used to insulate
ovens, for example. Although all that I saw was=20
translucent, we were told by local Native American potters that often =
the sheets were
colored yellow or red or white etc by inclusion of local minerals ... =
some of which might
give the appearance of gold..... some of the pots looked like they had =
gold in them but we were informed that this wasn't so. =20
Joyce
In the Mojave
Martin Howard on thu 19 jul 01
Ann, this is an interesting idea.
At a Village Fete I bought a large bag of Dupre Vermiculite which is sold
really for potting composts in the garden.
I use a red earthenware, without grog, so I have a very plastic clay which
is wonderful for throwing. But I need some more strength and porosity for
larger, garden scale, ware.
What proportions of vermiculite to clay should I use to start with.
I could pug the two together in differing proportions to see what results.
But if anyone has done this already, with red earthenware, then they could
give me a good starting point for experimentation.
Martin Howard
Webb's Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
England
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
Katheleen Nez on thu 19 jul 01
Dear Ann: Wedging vermiculite(heat expanded mica) into
stoneware, hmmm...I would think the reason the piece
was so light was becuz of the burnout of the
vermiculite (what did you fire to?). I think you're
lucky it didn't blow in the firing. Pieces made from
'micaceous' clay have a interesting 'tightness' of
texture, similiar to the appearance of stoneware after
it's fired to cone 10 (not that micaceous clay is
being fired that high, but I bet the potters are
reaching vitrification for that particular clay body
in their firing). NM Micaceous clay is Famous for
being difficult to work (short?). It is also famous
for being used in cooking pots as flameware - it never
ceases to amaze me when I see a micaceous cooking pot
on the stove full of beans burbling...Who knows how
the clay companies make their micaceous clay (we
obviously dont even know how they make their regular
clays)? It is a Trip to go to a site where the local
Pueblo potters dig their micaceous clay - in the
really good pits the clay comes out almost immediately
workable (nice and greasy - the veins run a 1/4 mile
across a ridgetop). Other sites you can see the mica
jutting out separate from the clay very large
crystals/sheets (Fe203?) Here you gather the clay in
dry chunks and mica and pound it up take out rocks &
sticks, slake thru water until most of the water
evaporates, lay it out on cloth until it stiffens up -
some thing like that. Mica also sneaks into the clay
bodies at Santa Clara and San Ildefonso tiny little
glitters NEZBAH somewhat tolerated by the Pueblo
potters PS Dont ask me to show you where the pits
are...
SOME DEFINITIONS
Mica _Group of silicate minerals composed of varying
amounts of potassium, magnesium, iron as well as
aluminum, silicon and water. All micas form flat,
plate-like crystals. Crystals cleave into smooth
flakes. Biotite is dark, black or brown mica;
muscovite is light-colored or clear mica.
Micaceous - Aggregate of compact, flat, parallel,
flexible, and peelable sheets, or describing minerals
that occur in such aggregates.
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Karen Sullivan on thu 19 jul 01
Martin...
I have seen vermiculite used pressed into the surface
of a platter, then fired in a low salt kiln...
so the surface is about the clay, not glaze.
The result is speckles of iridescent gold
where the vermiculite bits are. subtle and beautiful.
Firing range is well below cone 1.
bamboo karen
on 7/18/01 11:03 PM, Martin Howard at martin@WEBBSCOTTAGE.CO.UK wrote:
> Ann, this is an interesting idea.
> At a Village Fete I bought a large bag of Dupre Vermiculite which is sold
> really for potting composts in the garden.
> I use a red earthenware, without grog, so I have a very plastic clay which
> is wonderful for throwing. But I need some more strength and porosity for
> larger, garden scale, ware.
> What proportions of vermiculite to clay should I use to start with.
> I could pug the two together in differing proportions to see what results.
> But if anyone has done this already, with red earthenware, then they could
> give me a good starting point for experimentation.
>
> Martin Howard
> Webb's Cottage Pottery
> Woolpits Road, Great Saling
> BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
> England
>
> martin@webbscottage.co.uk
> http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
Ann Brink on thu 19 jul 01
Kathleen Nez wrote:
"Dear Ann: Wedging vermiculite(heat expanded mica) into
stoneware, hmmm...I would think the reason the piece
was so light was becuz of the burnout of the
vermiculite (what did you fire to?). "
Hi Kathleen,
Well it didn't actually all burn out, at least I can see where the flakes
were, on the surface. They show up as ochre to brown colored spots. I
don't see any small holes to indicate burnout. I had a clear glaze over the
piece, which was fired to cone 7-8 (can't remember exactly and my firing
logs are in the shop).
Well, I never did try it with the local earthenware clay I use - I think now
I will. Will try to reduce particle size a lot and throw it into my next
bucket of slip. Best to divide it into several batches and use varying
amounts by volume. Weighing the Vermiculite would be like weighing
feathers.
Thanks for your interest, you too, Mia in hot ABQ.
Ann Brink in Calif- just coming in from weeding while the fog is still in
and it's cool.
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