Terra Origins
A weathered rock profile exposed near Ampanobe, Madagascar

Terra Origins / Material intelligence

Clay

Cement & ceramic raw materials

Discuss this material

MADAGASCAR GEOLOGICAL CONTEXT · NOT A PHOTO OF THIS MATERIAL

Reference photograph · not deposit evidence. Diorit · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Research family
Industrial minerals
Reference chemistry
No single formula
Crystal system
Material-dependent
Malagasy provenance
Historical reference

01 / Technical dossier

The material. The evidence.

Reference properties and the analytical work needed to assess this material for industrial use.

TO-REF-CLAY

Revision 1.0 · Technical reference

Material identity

No single formula

A variable fine-grained geological material. Mineral assemblage and ceramic performance require sample-specific testing.

Historical catalogue reference

Listed in historical national mineral reporting. This does not establish current production, economic reserves, ownership or commercial availability.

Laboratory characterisation

Parameters to establish on a representative sample. Methods below are analytical routes, not a certified test protocol. No lot-specific result or acceptance limit has been supplied.

Parameter / reporting unitAnalytical routeResult
Mineral phases and proportionsphase identification / %X-ray diffraction (XRD); quantify with a validated methodNot supplied
SiO₂ / Al₂O₃ / Fe₂O₃% dry massValidated XRF or digestion + ICP-OES / ICP-MS; matrix-specific preparationNot supplied
PlasticityAtterberg limits / indexReport liquid limit, plastic limit and test standardNot supplied
Firing shrinkage / water absorption%Report firing schedule and ceramic test methodNot supplied

Traceability & certification

Sample ID & collection date
Not supplied
Locality & supplier provenance
Not supplied
Sampling protocol & representativeness
Not supplied
Laboratory & accreditation scope
Not supplied
Certificate of analysis (CoA)
Not supplied
Product form, packaging & shelf life
Not supplied

Handling & safety

Control dust during handling. A material-specific safety data sheet (SDS), exposure assessment and transport classification are required before shipment.

Reference basis

USGS · The Mineral Industry of Madagascar, 2019 (published 2024)

Mineralogical Society of America · Handbook of Mineralogy

Mineral identity and ideal chemical formulas; not Madagascar sample analyses.

Reference sheet only, not a certified product TDS, safety data sheet or certificate of analysis. No purity, grade, origin or supply commitment is certified.

02 / Continue your research

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