ALABAMA MICA DEPOSITS 109 



Magnesia 1.08 Trace 



Sodium 3.93 



Potassium .... ... 9.38 



99.70 100.07 99.52 



(Signed) N. T. LUPTON, 



State Chemist. 



Out of the samples of Randolph county kaolin sen.t to 

 Mr. Brunt for practical test, there was made up 6 orna- 

 mental and decorative pieces of transparent cttina, con- 

 sisting of framed plaques, mirror frames, cups and sau- 

 cers, and 10 pieces of opaque porcelain, consisting of 

 plates, cups and saucers, flower vases, etc., which were 

 entered in competition with other potteries at an exhibi- 

 tion held in Philadelphia in November 1889, and were 

 there awarded medals and honorable mention in seven 

 classes, taking, as stated by Mr. Brunt, "first prize in 

 open competition with all American manufacturers." 



Commenting on this exhibit, and its eminently success- 

 ful results, Mr. Brunt says : 



"The chemical composition of the clay is almost the 

 same as that of the celebrated St. Stephens kaolin from 

 Cornwall, England. I have not used any mineral stain, 

 the material being entirely free from iron, and there be- 

 ing no foreign coloring matter to counteract. The clay 

 has been burned in the biscuit kiln to about 3,000 F., 

 and about 2,7CO F. in the glass. Being entirely free 

 from coloring matter, a little difference in temperature 

 during burning does not alter its color. The leading 

 idea throughout has been to produce an opaque porcelain 

 body from American materials, as pretty and artistic as 

 French china and as durable as English earthenware at a 

 moderate expense with a body and glaze obtained on 

 different principles from those on which American por- 

 celain of the present day is produced, recognizing the fact 

 that the great fault with American earthenware hereto- 

 fore has been its want of durability. The materials are 

 from virgin mines in Alabama, and I have worked on 

 the principle of using more to produce a body not so sus- 

 ceptible to variations of temperature." 



The above practical test, and its judgment by the lead- 

 ing clay experts of this country, would seem to be con- 



