I still use the term "ball clay".  For the pipe molds, the clay has to have
a certain "plasticity" for rolling out stems and molding.  I have attached
an 11 page document of information I have collected over the last 5-6 years
to a discussion on in the Tobacco Related Artifacts group on ArchaeoSeek.
If folks can not get into it or do not wish to join ArchaeoSeek.  Send me an
e-mail.  Smoke.



On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 4:27 PM, Mark Branstner <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> Hi Guys,
>
> What is the current thinking on the use of ball clay vs. kaolin vs. some
> other descriptor for describing white clay pipe raw material. Many years
> ago, the use of "kaolin" was a sure sign that the speaker "really" didn't
> know what he was talking about ... and "ball clay" was the preferred term.
>  But I am pretty sure that I am still seeing "kaolin" used pretty regularly
> ...
>
> Would welcome any comments or references ...
>
> Thanks.
>
> Mark
> --
>
> Mark C. Branstner, RPA
> Historic Archaeologist
>
> Illinois Transportation
> Archaeological Research Program
> University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
> 209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
> 23 East Stadium Drive
> Champaign, IL 61820
>
> Phone: 217.244.0892
> Fax: 217.244.7458
> Cell: 517.927.4556
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> "I hope there's pudding" - Luna Lovegood (HP5)
>
> "If you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail"- Anonymous
>



-- 
Smoke Pfeiffer

Remember: When seconds count, the police are only minutes away!