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One of the things that makes my Wild Pottery courses ‘wild’ is that we dig our own clay from the groundRead: where to find clayWhat is Clay? Ask anyone this and they will most likely answer ‘mud’. But there’s more to it than that. It is made up of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Clay minerals are formed over a long period of time, mainly through the gradual weathering of igneous rocks and through hydrothermal activity. clay Clay has been formed millions of years, since the time of glaciers. No two clay mines are exactly alike and in particular, mineral clay is mixed in many different proportions. Clay that moves from its original location due to water erosion is known as secondary clay. Clay deposits are often associated with what are known as ‘low-energy deposition environments’ such as large lakes and marine basins.Clay vs Dirt If you’ve ever stepped into a river or lake with a muddy bottom and felt those soft clouds of mud rising around your feet, and soft mud running between your toes, you know that the silt how smooth can be. More: Where to watch saudi gpClay particles are about 20 times smaller than alluvium. Clay is made up of microscopic platelets; When you mix clay with water and manipulate it, these platelets slide over each other and make the clay pliable. Silk, on the other hand, has a crumbly texture. Many natural sediments include both mud and clay. Depending on the composition of the soil in which the clay is found and how resistant it is to weathering, the clay can appear in a variety of colors from white to dull gray or brown to deep orange-red. Near where I live in Sussex, I also dug up yellow clay, and once I found a clay line that was duck egg green. It is the iron that gives this banding and terracotta discolouration upon heating due to the oxidation of the mineral.Where is peach? So… first you have to find your clay. Here in the Low Hills of East Sussex, the clay is rich and rich in iron. Ask any local gardener (though they won’t thank you for reminding them).Sometimes the clay closes to the surface (ask a gardener); in other places you need to dig down quite deep. If you’re out walking when the ground is wet and the road is slippery, chances are you’re walking on clay. You can also find clay in lakes, ponds, streams or even along the coast in some parts of the country. You can find it in locations where road workers or builders have dug it down. If there are any historic brick structures in your area, that’s a good sign. The geological map of your area will show where clay deposits are located and the British Geological Survey is a good place to find this information. Legally, you should always get permission from the landowner before digging. Read more: RussBut is it any good? Not all clay is created equal. Some clay is good for making bricks but not so good for making pots. And some early promising clays turn out to be difficult to work with. There is a simple test that will give you an indication of the clay’s usefulness (see below), but only by testing it and then firing will you know for sure. Here are some clay tutorials you can find:Clay can be found wet or dry or at any stage in between, and remember it comes in many colors. In its dry state, it can look like rock, or even have a slate-like appearance; In wet state, it is like mud, if you see dry lumps, scrape it with a knife. If it is clay, the fine particles will crumble. Squeeze some into a small pile, moisten with water and see if it dissolves. Then make a small ball out of some crushed lumps mixed with water and notice how it feels – if it feels sticky, it has at least some clay in it.Tests Take a small lump on the damp clay material and shape it into a soft ball with your fingers. Roll it into a thin sausage and then curl it around your fingers. If it’s cracked and doesn’t bend easily, it’s not a big deal. But if it stays together and feels smooth and supple… you’ve found clay! Regular Wild Pottery & Wild Basketry courses in the Sussex woods, for adults and families, led by Ruby Taylor Chapter 125: UK Adventures. Also featured in The Guardian and in ‘Wild Times’ (recently published by Bradt). A version of this article first appeared in The Bushcraft Journal Read More: Where Wild Things Get Tattooed