Basic Overview of Ceramic Geology For Potters (Video #24 in the Free Online Glaze Course)

This short video is a Basic Overview of Ceramic Geology for Potters to show where our materials come from and ways to use that knowledge. It is part of my FREE ONLINE GLAZE COURSE which is on this channel. It is only a starting point for your exploration into geology and I hope it will inspire you to explore your local area to find materials or at least understand our materials better.

[@user-wf2ic4zh9b]

Really enjoying your videos they’re so informative… thank you 😊

[@____Ann____]

You made my 10 year old heart happy. As a kid I collected so many stones and categorised them. I had some books but I think I was never explained so clearly. Or maybe it is just that now, using these ceramic materials, this all makes more sense to me.

[@ralphwardpottery5708]

Our home is on the Tippecanoe River in north western Indiana, several years ago we had a high water event, flood. Our home is elevated but the garage had approximately 20 of water in it. When the water went down there was about 1/2” of silt ,mud, to clean up. I shoved it into buckets. I later ran it through a 80 mesh sieve and glazed a few test pots. I fired it to cone 6, presto a wonderful golden mat glaze. All the ingredients were in the slip. Thank you for your videos. They are so informative.

[@moh33]

thanks John! I really want to incorporate some locally sourced materials into my clays/glazes - this was really helpful

[@kevinh5024]

Love your videos at blackboard. Very informative.

[@starrynight2218]

Thank you John! Great stuff!

[@jnaelitz]

Very good. Thanks.

[@peakepottery9074]

Great stuff John! I have ordered a copy of the book that you recommended. I already use local materials in my glazes but I need to understand more about why they are working so that I can make improvements.

[@johnbrittpottery]

You probably already know but there are other good books on natural natural materials I think Sutherland has a book And of course there's car dew and roads but I can't think of the other author now

[@beckypots1]

How cool this sounds, I have a bag of quite fine, sandy ash stuff I brought home from a trip to Anchorage. While there a volcano in the Aleutians brought massive dust debris, shutting down the airport. I assumed it to be "ash". Any hints, sprinkle a bit up high on a vase.

[@johnbrittpottery]

All the Ash is different, but I would try a melt test. The Geologic Survey may have the analysis. Or look for recipes for Mount Saint Helen's Ash Glazes.

[@johnbrittpottery]

glazy.org/recipes/910

[@DisVietVetUSA]

Yeppers sounds like a winner

[@ShinySeashel]

✨🙌🏻✨

[@deepashtray5605]

Fascinating stuff, really makes our creations a reflection of the landscape on every level. Quick question, if I could. I found an article written by you on kiln washes, which is related to my question. I am about to build a small gas kiln (~8 cubic feet) using refractory blanket to protect soft brick and raise the firing temps, and got stuck. Do you know of a DIY recipe for rigidizing refractory ceramic fiber insulation? My best hopes right now seem to rest on a mix of 70% zircopax to 30% kaolin which is often used in blacksmith forges, but I have no idea if that would work for a ceramic kiln. Sodium silicate by itself burns out at a lower temp than I plan to fire at, and I'm not real sure about applying colloidal silica. Purchasing a rigidizer is expensive, and there's a lot of questions about how well they actually work. Any ideas?

[@johnbrittpottery]

Depends on the fiber...some are woven flat and then just peel off if ridiculed. That is why they baffle them so edge is on the face. Not sure what to tell you. I would ask a fiber supplier/manufacturer...they may know new products I am unaware of. We used to use some ITC product for that (forgot which one?)or the ridigizer. I have used zircon and EPK for coating brick but don't know how well it works on fiber. Sorry.

[@deepashtray5605]

@@johnbrittpottery Thanks, much appreciated.

[@cadencsawesomeness4053]

Thanks so much John! I'm curious where you got your ball mill from? I've been using local materials on glazes but have been having a hard time getting an affordable ball mill that's larger than a kids toy

[@johnbrittpottery]

I know they are now expensive. Mine was Amaco...you may find used ones....like this ...gone but more may come up...www.bid-on-equipment.com/processing/used-milling-machines/343370~amaco-b-ball-mill.htm

[@johnbrittpottery]

www.theceramicshop.com/store/category/17/282/ball-mills/

[@wallylasd]

Pottery is just domesticating volcanoes.

[@johnbrittpottery]

In your living room!