Browsing by Subject "Bricks"

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    Characterization of New and Traditional Clay Products using Wrenshall, Springfield, and St. Cloud Area Clays
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 1990-11) Toth, Thomas A; Oreskovich, Julie A; Hauck, Steven A; Bresnahan, Richard
    Clays and clay minerals from Wrenshall, Springfield, and the St. Cloud area show potential for use as industrial minerals. The Wrenshall clays are Pleistocene glacial lake clays, the Springfield clays are Late Cretaceous non-marine and marine shales, and the St. Cloud area clays are primary and secondary kaolins and Late Cretaceous non-marine shales. This project includes a characterization of the physical properties of these clay raw materials and their finished products. Specialty bricks can be made from the Wrenshall clays using coloring additives, paint rock, taconite concentrate, and wild rice hulls as additives. Springfield non-marine shales can be used as fillers in a tile body to improve plasticity to the body. Springfield marine shales, which bloat upon firing, can be used as lightweight aggregate. The primary kaolins from the St. Cloud area are capable of being used as floor and wall tile and as a ceramic clay. The secondary kaolins can also be used for tile and ceramics, but sufficient quantities have not been found. The non-marine shales in the St. Cloud area (Avon) are currently being used for ceramic pieces. This project characterizes these clays and clay minerals based on evaluation of the shrinkage, absorption, and color of the fired products. These clay deposits can be used as industrial minerals for the products tested.
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    Preliminary Assessment of the Industrial Clays at Wrenshall, Minnesota
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 1988-01) Heine, John J; Hauck, Steven A
    The Wrenshall, Minnesota area has a long history of clay production and it appears there are still abundant clay resources remaining in the area. Wrenshall is located eight miles southeast of Cloquet, Minnesota, and 20 miles southwest of Duluth, Minnesota . The production period in the Wrenshall area was 1882-1953, and the products produced were primarily brick and clay tiles. Because of the productive history and the potential resource available, the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) of UMD became involved in a study to determine the feasibility of using Wrenshall clays in the manufacturing of clay products. This study includes the determination of the physical and chemical properties of Wrenshall clays, the development of a clay products inventory, and a products-property match analysis. The objective of NRRI's study is to aid the development of a viable clay products industry in the Wrenshall area. This report describes some initial results, provides a preliminary assessment of Wrenshall clays and outlines a plan for further study .