Wikipedia seems to have a good definition of ball clay with some sources to back it up. It is somewhat geographically specific, so having been recently corrected myself, white pipe clay seems like a safe bet.

Jerry Schaefer

ASM Affiliates, Inc.
2034 Corte Del Nogal
Carlsbad, CA 92011
Phone: (760) 804-5757
Fax: (760) 804-5755


-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Mark
Branstner
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 2:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Ball clay, white clay, or kaolin?


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
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