Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] clǣg; akin to Old High German klīwa bran, [[Latin]] gluten glue, Middle Greek glia

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] clǣg; akin to Old High German klīwa bran, [[Latin]] gluten glue, Middle Greek glia

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century before 12th Century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century before 12th Century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1a : an [[earth]]y [[material]] that is plastic when moist but hard when fired, that is [[composed]] mainly of fine [[particles]] of hydrous aluminum silicates and other minerals, and that is used for brick, tile, and pottery; specifically : [[soil]] composed chiefly of this material having particles less than a specified size  

*1a : an [[earth]]y [[material]] that is plastic when moist but hard when fired, that is [[composed]] mainly of fine [[particles]] of hydrous aluminum silicates and other minerals, and that is used for brick, tile, and pottery; specifically : [[soil]] composed chiefly of this material having particles less than a specified size  

:c : fundamental [[nature]] or [[character]] <the common clay>  

:c : fundamental [[nature]] or [[character]] <the common clay>  

==Description==

==Description==

'''Clay''' (pronounced /ˌklei/) is a naturally occurring [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_silicate aluminium silicate] composed primarily of fine-grained [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral minerals]. Clay deposits are mostly composed of clay minerals, a subtype of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicate_minerals#Phyllosilicates phyllosilicate minerals], which impart plasticity and harden when fired or dried; they also may contain variable amounts of [[water]] trapped in the mineral [[structure]] by polar [[attraction]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_material Organic materials] which do not impart plasticity may also be a part of clay deposits.

'''Clay''' (pronounced /ˌklei/) is a naturally occurring [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_silicate aluminium silicate] composed primarily of fine-grained [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral minerals]. Clay deposits are mostly composed of clay minerals, a subtype of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicate_minerals#Phyllosilicates phyllosilicate minerals], which impart plasticity and harden when fired or dried; they also may contain variable amounts of [[water]] trapped in the mineral [[structure]] by polar [[attraction]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_material Organic materials] which do not impart plasticity may also be a part of clay deposits.

==Formation==

==Formation==

Clay minerals are typically formed over long periods of time by the [[gradual]] [[chemical]] weathering of [[rocks]], usually silicate-bearing, by low concentrations of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonic_acid carbonic acid] and other diluted solvents. These solvents, usually acidic, migrate through the weathering [[rock]] after leaching through upper weathered layers. In addition to the weathering [[process]], some clay minerals are formed by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrothermal hydrothermal] activity. Clay deposits may be formed in place as residual deposits in [[soil]], but thick deposits usually are formed as the result of a secondary [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrothermal sedimentary] deposition [[process]] after they have been eroded and transported from their [[original]] location of formation. Clay deposits are typically associated with very low energy [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedimentary_depositional_environment depositional environments] such as large [[lakes]] and [[marine]] deposits.

Clay minerals are typically formed over long periods of time by the [[gradual]] [[chemical]] weathering of [[rocks]], usually silicate-bearing, by low concentrations of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonic_acid carbonic acid] and other diluted solvents. These solvents, usually acidic, migrate through the weathering [[rock]] after leaching through upper weathered layers. In addition to the weathering [[process]], some clay minerals are formed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrothermal hydrothermal] activity. Clay deposits may be formed in place as residual deposits in [[soil]], but thick deposits usually are formed as the result of a secondary [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrothermal sedimentary] deposition [[process]] after they have been eroded and transported from their [[original]] location of formation. Clay deposits are typically associated with very low energy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedimentary_depositional_environment depositional environments] such as large [[lakes]] and [[marine]] deposits.

Primary clays, also known as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaolinite kaolins], are located at the site of formation. Secondary clay deposits have been moved by [[erosion]] and [[water]] from their primary location.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay]

Primary clays, also known as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaolinite kaolins], are located at the site of formation. Secondary clay deposits have been moved by [[erosion]] and [[water]] from their primary location.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay]

[[Category: Earth Science]]

[[Category: Earth Science]]