Mica Red Clay

Mined in the Manzano Mountains, this naturally micaceous clay is airfloated. We then blend in other natural minerals to make the closest thing to digging up your own clay in Taos NM! This mica clay is rough and possesses little plasticity. Native American pottery is traditionally coiled thickly, then scraped down to as thin as needed. Scraping it with a thin metal rib (Kemper's S4) refines the shape. The pots are then polished by hand using either a soft cloth, smooth rock, or even a stainless steel spoon. Micacious clay is traditionally wood fired outdoors to temperatures of around 1200 F. The interesting colors, caused by smoke and fire, range from red to orange to gray. It is important to remember NOT to fire burnished pots over cone 08 as the shine will fade.

Fun to work with!

Micaceous clay is very forgiving. It is great for Raku, burnishing, and pit firing. Kids love it, as there is no need for additional decoration. Only one firing required!MICA RED Sold in 25lb increments. Is a clay similar to Indian pottery from around Northern New Mexico. The clay is from the Manzano Mountains here in Albuquerque. MICA RED can be glazed if bisqued to cone 04.

For cooking pots bisque to cone 010 to 017.

CONE: 04 SHRINKAGE: 6% ABSORPTION: 7.7% PENTROMETERS: 5.6