Ivor and Olive Lewis on sat 15 jan 05
I suggest that people who have been following this thread might like
to try an experiment.
All you need by way of apparatus is an old grease free frying pan, a
container and a watering can.
Dry out a any sample of a raw clay. Crush this to a coarse powder and
put a sample, a good handful in your grease free fry pan. Cover with
water and allow to slake, then mix into a very thin slurry.
Add more water from your watering can and flush the lighter and
smaller fractions over the lip of the pan. Keep agitating and flushing
until you are left with a residue which will not break down and does
not easily flush away. If you have no residue you have got a very
uniform and fine sample of clay.
Take this residue. Allow it to dry. Examine those fragments with a
strong hand lens or a microscope. Test it with a strong magnet. Put a
small sample into a watch glass or test tube or similar glass
container and add a few drops of dilute hydrochloric acid or strong
vinegar.
You may learn nothing. You may also have some intriguing observations.
Enjoy your weekend.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
| |
|
