# Clay > [!material-gem] Material Details > | | | > |---|---| > | **Aliases/Varieties** | Porcelain. Earthenware. Stoneware. Ball Clay. | > | **Category** | Gemstone | > | **Color(s)** | White, red, brownish | > | **Cost** | —— | > | **Environment/Habitat** | —— | > | **Profession(s)** | [[Alchemist]], [[Jewelcrafter]], [[Tinkerer]] | > | **Qualities** | - Alchemical<br>- Healing<br>- Ornamental<br>- Protective | > | **Rarity** | —— | > | **Size** | —— | > | **Weight** | —— | > [!material-gem] Specifications > | | | > |---|---| > | **Crystal System** | Varies | > | **Formations** | Weathering of silicate-bearing rocks | > | **Formula** | varies | > | **Hardness** | 2.0–3.5 (Mohs) | > | **Mineral Class** | Sedimentary rock | > | **Primary Components** | silica, alumina | > | **Refractive Index** | —— | --- ## Description A common fine-grained soil used in production of pottery and ceramics. Employed by a magician, it provides a base for golems and homunculi, protects from harm, and heals. ### Physical Description An agglomerate of various fine-grained clay minerals, mostly aluminum phyllosilicates with additions of iron, magnesium, and other elements. Pliant and ductile when wet, clay becomes hard, brittle, and non-plastic upon drying or firing. Kaolinite, one of the most valued clay minerals, is described in a separate entry. --- ## Occurrence Clay minerals are created by weathering of rocks, such as feldspar. They are very common in soils, especially shale, mudstone, siltstone, and fine-grained slate. ### Extraction & Preparation No special methods needed; however, use caution as waterlogged clay may cause devastating mudslides. Soak clay in water, form, and leave to dry or fire in an oven. --- ## Properties ### Decorative Properties The main decorative use of clay is in pottery and sculpture, as the material is plastic and easy to work with. Clay pots and cookware are often painted with various pigments and covered in protective layers of glaze prior to firing. Various types of clay have different coloration, absorption rates, and heat resistance, making them suitable for different items. ### Industrial Properties Clay is used in production of construction materials, such as bricks, walls, and floor tiles, or even whole houses. Employed as mortar, it binds stones and bricks, but should be protected from water for stability. It is also vital in other industrial processes, such as paper making, cement production, chemical filtering, water purification, sand casting, and soil improvement. Historically, clay was also used to create tablets—first known writing medium. ### Magical Properties Clay is considered the most earthy of minerals, containing within the moist, warm energy of life. Because of this, it is predominantly used in creation of automatons, homunculi, and other vessels for the spirit. As a rule, the more precise the rendering of form in clay, the more powerful the final creation will be, which creates a demand for clay sculptors assisting artificers in their workshops. The energy of life stored in clay is often employed in magical healing, with enchanted clay plasters binding wounds, mending bones, removing scarring, and rejuvenating the skin. Placed over a stomach, it absorbs ingested toxins, and when spread around a bite wound, it extracts venom. A layer of clay protects from physical and spiritual damage; build a perimeter around your abode to keep harm at bay. Small clay items are both sturdy and brittle enough to act as convenient spell storage; unlikely to break in transport, but easily to shatter upon impact to release the stored spell. In this form, they are both cheaper and more resistant to accidental discharge than glass. ### Medicinal Properties Small amounts of clay, ingested, may calm upset stomach; the solution is suboptimal as the clay is indigestible and may contain heavy metals and many other impurities. Externally, use clay for plasters, splints, and means of delivering topical medication.