Do clay and glaze materials ever change?
A. Yes, and the main answer is in nature itself. Prepared clay bodies are composed of various clays mined in several locations throughout the world. Few clay and glaze ingredients are mined especially for the pottery industry. In fact, potters use less than 3% of the total raw clays and glaze chemicals mined. Mines are frequently required to change locations due to the materials running out or changing too drastically in composition. Fire clays, for instance, are mostly used in steel manufacturing and are not subject to the stringent quality controls needed for clay making. Kaolins are used in carpet backings, paper coatings, make-ups and are even additives in some foods. So basically, we are subject to trying to make the best of products that are not mined for us. The skill is in knowing how best to react and change when necessary.
