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MiaoCOfr RBOIUTION TOT CNACT
(ANSI and ISO TEST CHAT T No 2)
a\NADA
DEPARTMENT OF MINES
, AiTSca MncuEH, MimsTBa; R. G. McComiibll, Dnin*
MINES BRANCH
EvGfcwK Haamil, Ph.D., Dimctoi.
eport on the Clay Resources
of
Southern Saskatchewan
BV
N. B. DAVIS. M.A., B.Sc
OTTAWA
GovEKHMEtn Pbimting Bukeau
I91S
No 46S
i
, 1
.t 1
CANADA
DEPARTMENT OF MINES
Hon. AmvB Mucmbn, MiwitTta; R. C. McConnu-l, DtPtTV Ministii
MINES BRANCH
EuMMi Haanbl, Ph.D., Dircctm.
Report on the Clay Resources
of
Southern Saskatchewan
BV
N.B.DAVIS, M.A., B.Sc.
^
30695c
OTTAWA
Government Printing Bureau
1918
No. 468
PREFACE
The following report on the "Clay Resources of Southern Saskat-
chewan W£^ prepared by Mr. N. B. Davis, Assistant Engineer. Ceramic
S'loir* 7.!/.^^"! •" ^f^ °" ^'''^ ^•"■'^ "^^^ °" d"ring the seasons
of 1915 and 1916. and on laboratory tests conducted in the ceramic labor-
atory of the Mmes Branch during 1915. 1916. and 1917. in accordance
with my mstructions. Its publication is a further contribution to our knowl-
edge of the economic minerals of Canada, and may be deemed specially
opportune at the present time, when the commercial demand for refractory
materials .s-and has been for years past-altogether in excess of the
supply. The greater part >f the supply was obtained from foreign sources.
.K .^I*^ Province of Saskatchewan excels in the quality and quantity of
that class of raw refractories known as fireclays; and in addition to this
valuable material, possesses other argillaceous deposits, from which can
be manufactured practically the whole range of structural clay products-
a fact of vital importance to a region almost entirely devoid of native
timber and building stone.
The report of Mr. Davis contains information not only regarding the
geological position, exact locality, and availability of each deposit from
which the clay samples were collected, but gives an account of the behaviour
of the materials tested in the laboratories; thus determining, scientifically
their qualities, and adaptability for use in the clayworking industry.
(Signed) Joseph Keele.
-' Chief Engineer, Ceramic Division.
f
CONTENTS
Paor
Introductory 2
The dayworking industry ^
Railways and fuel aupply "
Future of the clay industry ^
General geology of the area ^
Cretaceous .
Pierre shale
Fox Hills sand
Tertiary
Eocene Fort Union formation ^
Estevan beds
Whitemud beds
Ravenscrag beds
Oligocene
Cypress Hills beds "
Quaternary
Pleistocene formation '^
Recent formation
General technology .
Classification of Saskatchewan clays |*
Methods of manufacturing
Mining
Preparation
Tempering
Moulding
Drying ^^
Burning
Control of temperature
Seger cones
Veritas firing system
Thermoelectric pyrometers ^
Methods of overcoming scumming and drying defects 24
Records of tests
Clays of the Cypress Hills district 2^
„ „ „ Swift Current „ **
. „ „ Wood Mountain , *°
, „ „ Big Muddy valley '
„ , , Lake-of-the-Rivers district ^'
„ . , Dirt Hills district ^
„ „ „ Estevan- VVeyburn district '^
„ „ „ northeastern part of the area °^
. „ » northwestern part of the area "
ILLUSTRATIONS
Photographs.
Pace
Plate I. Panoramic view of Eagle butte, in the Frenchman River valley, near
Ravenscrag, Sask., showing Whitemud beds at the base of the
section Frontispiece.
, II. Substantial type of prairie school house built of brick 4
, III. Substantialtypeof prairie farm house, built of brick, Bayard, Sask. .. . 4
, IV. Standard clay tests and seger cones 22
,' v. An outcrop of the Whitemud stoneware clays in the Frenchman River
valley, west of Eastend, Sask 36
„ VI. Whitemud stoneware clays, Eastend, Saskatchewan 36
. VII. Stone\/are pottery and sewerpipe, made from Eastend clays illustrated
on Plate VI 40
, VIII. Outcrop of white fireclays, Twelve Mile lake, Sask 54
„ IX. Estevan, Whitemud, and Ravenscrag beds, exposed in the badlands
west of Big Muddy lake, Sask 54
„ X. Pit of the Alberta Clay Products Company, Willows, Sask 56
, XI. Fireclay outcrops, along Canadian Pacific Railway, east of Willows,
Sask 56
„ XII. Clay and shale outcrops. Dirt hills, Sask. View looking south from
margin of hills. Deposit being worked by the Dominion Fire
Brick and Clay Products Company 66
„ XIII. Plant of the Dominion Fire Brick and Clay Products Company, Clay-
bank, Sask. (Outcrop of white fireclays shown in the background.) 70
„ XIV. Plant of the Alberta Clay Products Company, Medicine Hat, Alberta 70
„ XV. Plant of the Estevan Coal and Brick Company, Estevan, Sask 74
„ XVI. Clay pit of the Estevan Coal and Brick Company, showing top bed of
bulT burning clay; intermediate bed of lignite coal; and lower bed
of red burning clay 74
, XVII. Plant of the Shand Coal and Brick Company, showing kilns and coal
tipple, Shand, Sask 76
„ XVIII. Plant of the Weyburn Brick Company, Weyburn, Sask 76
„ XIX. Common brick plant of the Broadview Brick Company, Broadview,
Sask 82
, XX. Outcrop of Odanah shale along the Canadian Pacific railway, between
Rocanvilie and Tantallon, in the Qu'Appelle valley, Sask 82
„ XXI. Red burning glacial lake c'ays, near Lancer, Sask 88
Drawing.
Fig. 1 . Diagrammatic section of clay and shale outcrops. Dirt hills, Sask.
66
Maps.
No. 468. General geological map of southern Saskatchewan .
No. 469. Map of southern Saskatchewan (Cypress Hills): showing outcrops of the
Whitemud clays, near Eastend, along the Frenchman River valley ....
Pocket at end.
REPORT ON THE CLAY RESOURCES OF
SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN
CLAY RESOURCES OF SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN
INTRODUCTORY.
The following report is the result of field investigations and laboratory
tests on samples of clay collected in that part of the Province of Saskat-
chewan lying south of the 51st parallel. During the summers of 1915 and
1916 some one hundred and sixty samples of clay were collected and tested
in the laboratory during the following winters, short reports of progress
lieing given in the summary reports of the Mines Branch for those years.
Previous work on the clays of the area consisted of preliminary economic
surveys by Dr. H. Ries and Mr. Jos. Keele, and general geological work by-
Mr. Bruce Rose on the Wood Mountain-Willowbunch coal district. The
results of their investigations pointed out tne need of a more intensive
study of the clay resources.'
The clays of the western provinces often prove defective in their
drying qualities, and prospective workers are advised to be particularly
careful in making this test under commercial conditions.
It is well known that small scale laboratory tests only serve to indicate
the desirability of making larger tests on a commercial scale. The records
of tests included herein are, therefore, but a first step, and are not to be
taken as conclusive evidence of the value of any particular clay for manu-
facturing any particular article. If a clay is defective to any extent the
laboratory tests will reveal where the defect lies, and point to the best
methods of overcoming the trouble. If the clay can be worked in the
laboratory without difficulty, or the defects can be readily overcome, it is
safe then to consider tests on a commercial scale in some existing plant
located outside the range of comp)etition.
In the field work I had the hearty co-operation of the clayworkers of
the Province and of those outside the Province interested in this resource.
In particular I wish to mention Mr. F. Newcombe of the Elstevan Coal and
Brick Co., Mr. J. H. Kern of the Dominion Fire Brick and Clay Products
Co., and Mr. R. P. Stewart and Mr. John Dixon of the Alberta Clay Pro-
ducts Co.
In the laboratory I had the invaluable direction of Mr. Jos. Keele,
Chief Ceramic Engineer.
Further, I wish to acknowledge the kindness of Mr. Jas. McCabe, of
the Frontenac Floor and Wall Tile Company, Kingston, and of Mr. R.
New, of the Toronto and Hamilton Sewerpipe Company, Hamilton, in
burning test pieces in their commercial kilns.
'Rim and Keele; Geol. Surv. of Cuada, Memoir* 24E, 25, 60. Rose: Geo). Surv. o( Canada, Memoir 89.
THE CLAYWORKING INDUSTRY.
Saskatchewan is comparatively a new Province wiih respect to the
rest of the Dominion. Within the last fifteen years settlement has been
very rapid, and the handiest and easiest materials of construction have been
used. In the early days there was a lack of stone or wood for the con-
struction of places of habitation for man and beast, hence the settler turned
to the sod, and built himself rude shelters of this material.
With the dissemination of the knowledge that the prairie lands promised
rich harvests of grain, small settlements, favourably located regarding
transportation, rapidly grew to towns and cities. During this feverish and
optimistic period building materials of the best were required in abi<n<Jance,
and at short notice. The resources of the Province were unknown, and
established structural materials were looked for in the American market.
In supplying this demand the American brick makers as far south as St.
Louis, and east to Pennsylvania, reaped a harvest. While this rush was
on, only two common brick plants and two face brick plants were in oper-
ation, and that for only part of the time.
On the strength of the boom a plant was built at Claybank before the
coming of the Canadian Northern railway to the locality, but, unfortunately,
the railway was not available until the wane of the building boom. This
plant at Claybank, owned by the Dominion Fire Brick and Clay Products
Co., has turned out a fine range of flashed brown face brick, made by the
dry-press process fror.i the refractory clays of the Fort Union formation.
At present, the company is concentrating on the production of refractories,
and the outlook is very promismg. The product made should be equal
to the standard firebrick imported from the United States.
One of the oldest and largest plants in the Claybank area is that of the
Estevan Coal and Brick Company, located on the bank of the Souris
valley, one mile south of Estevan. It is producing an excellent red face
brick made by the dry-press process, and common, buff, stiff-mud brick.
Six miles south of this, at Shand station, the Maple Leaf Mines, Ltd.,
(Shand Coal and Brick Co.) operate a stiff-mud brick plant, using buff-
burning calcareous clays. The product is an excellent grade of common
wire-cut brick.
At Weyburn, the Wcyb"rn Brick Company operated iry-press and
stiff-mud plant for a number of years; but it has been shut down since
1914. The raw materials present some difficulties, and, should the plant
be operated again, it would be well to consider using the refractory clays
of Yellow Grass and Halbrite.
East of Weyburn, at Areola, the Areola Brick Works operate a stiff-
mud brick plant for making common buff brick.
In the oldest settled part of the Province, along the main line of the
Canadian Pacific railway, several small, soft-mud brick plants have been
manufacturing common brick, but at present only one, that of the Broad-
view Brick Company, is in sufficient repair to operate. The product is a
good grade of common buflf brick. This plant was not working during
1916-17.
At Pilot Butte, east of Regina, the Pilot Butte Brick Company have a
small soft-mud brick plant making a rather low grade of common brick from
clay found in irregular pockets in a glacial outwash plain. The plant was
operated during part of 1916.
At times in the past small local brick yards have been in operation at
Balcarres; Moosejaw; in the Qu'Appelle valley north of Indian Head;
and at Wolseley.
Sewerpipc or stoneware clay is being shipped outside the Province to
Medicine Hat, for the manufacture of sewerpipe, sewer block, flue lining,
wall coping, and stoneware pottery. No plant for the manufacture of
these wares has yet been established in Saskatchewan. A report on the
Mineral Production of Canada published annually by the Mines Branch
includes details and statistics of the clay products industry for each
province.
RAILWAYS AND FUEL SUPPLY.
Until recently, rail transportation has been lacking in the most valuable
clay areas. The Portal-Moosejaw branch of the Canadian Pacific railway
has served the Estevan field for a number of years, but the important
refractory clays do not occur there.
Just three years ago the Canadian Northern railway completed its
Avonlea-Gravelburgh branch, as far as Claybank in the Dirt hills, and made
the high grade clays of this locality available. However, the market for
high class face brick broke about the time the railway was laid down, and
the plant at Claybank suffered accordingly. During the past two years
the same Canadian Northern railway branch has been constructed farther
west, and made available the clays of the north end of Lake-of-the-Rivers,
near Mitchellton
^ Four years ago the Canadian Pacific railway started its Weyburn-
Stiiling line; and since then has tapped the clays of the south end of Lake
of-the-Rivers and of the Frenchman River valley. The line is now com-
pleted as far west as the Alberta boundary, and it is hoped that the time is
iiot far distant when connexion will be made with the construction e? from
;?;irling, Albeita.
South of the Canadian Pacific railway the Canadian Northern Railway
Company has a branch line extending westward to near the southeast end of
Willowbunch lake. If this line is completed along the proposed route, it
will open up the clay and lignite areas immediately to the north of Wood
mountain.
At present, most of the fuel used is brought by rail over the main line
of the Canadian Pacific railway from Alberta. It is mostly a semi-
bituminous coal, and, because of the long haul, the price is high. In the
Estevan field a certain amount of the local lignite is utilized, but its full
efficiency is not being realized.
Extensive tests' carried on at the Fuel Testing plant of the Mines
Branch, Department of Mines, Ottawa, have shown that the lignites are
ideal for making producer gas for power generation in a gas engine. No
steaming tests have been made, but the analysis points to its successful
application in this way under suitable mechanical conditions.
Lignite of the same age as that at Estevan is being used with decided
success in the plant of the Hebron Fire and Face Brick Co., Hebron, North
Dakota. The gas is used in a large Richardson continuous kiln, burning
fireclay face brick to cone 6 down. No difficulty is experienced in getting
this temperature in the kiln, with gas; whereas, very heavy firing and careful
attention is necessary to attain the temperature of cone 3 in the down-
draft kilns when using lignite direct.
Recent development in methods of firing intermittent kilns with gas,
indicate that it is a great saving in fuel and kiln expense. The so-called
I'nderwood system has been installed in a number of American plants, and
is worthy of investigation.
The gas producer has come to the clayworking industry to stay, and
the clayworkers of Saskatchewan, and the west generally, should not be
slow to adopt it as an economical means of converting a poor fuel to a high-
grade one.
Natural gas has not been struck, as yet, in commercial quantities any-
where in the southern part of the Province. Preparations are being made
to sin^ '. well at Eastend, in the hope of getting a cheap fuel to aid in the local
development of the clays.
Gas Producer Tests
on Sourls Coal.*
1.
2.
Volatile matter
32-8%
7-2%
23-3%
8,300
112-7
0-578
2-28
5 hrs.
very slight
none
very uniform
very little
not analysed
very suitable fuel
for producer, easily
vroiked
43-3%
Ash
11-1%
13-4%
9,374
117-4
0-488
Cal. value of coal as charged B.Th.U
Cal. value of gas (lower) per cu. ft. B.Th.U
Producer efiiciencv
Coal per B.H.P per hour, lbs
2-48
6 hrs.
Clinker
none
Tar
Gas washer not
used, no tar.
very uniform
none
Comburtible in refuse
moderate
Remarks
verv suitable for
proclucer, easy to
work, no trouble
>B. F. Hauwli Report No. 299, Mine* Branch.
Teitt on lignite coal from Taylorton, Suk., Mine* Branch, Department ot Mine*, Ottawa. Rept. No. 83,
VoL II. p. 111.
I'l Ml II
Siil)st.iiili.il l>|H- III iir.iirii- -. li,„,| l„,ii-r ImiIIi i.I l,ri. k.
I'IMI III
'^-^'.rr'^'^i^^
."•^
Substantial t>|K' of prairie l.iriii Iioum-, liiiilt of b.ick, Haj.ird, Sask.
THE FUTURE OF THE CLAY INDUSTRY.
The importance to the whole Canadian we»t, of the clay rt-jtourcett of
■outhern Saskatchewan, cannot be overentimated. There is an abundance
of high grade clays suitable for the manufacture of ittoneware, Rockinghuni
ware, and white earthenware. The fireclays of the eastern ."w^tion will
make a No. 2 grade of refractory, while the more plastic clays should find a
use as bond-clays in the making of retorts and other special refractor>
shapes. They are also adapted to the manufacture of architectural terni-
cotta, paving brick, face brick, and all varieties of burned clay proclucls for
structural purposes.
Before the outbreak of the war in Eu ■, the immediate future of the
clay industry in Saskatchewan promised well. The railways were spreading
lines »f transportation over the country, crops were fair, and the western
farmer was beginnmg to appreciate something better than a sod shack to
live in. Lumber had to be hauled great distances and the price was accord-
ingly high. Prairie fires were teaching the builders with wood the value of
more fireproof construction. Altogether, the countr\ was ripe for a better
supply of burned clay products.
With the war, needs have not materially changed. Business is simply
marking time for a better monetary condition. The country is es.'>entially a
farming or , and with wild boom days v.,-er, and the var at an end, normal
conditions should soon return.
GENERAL GEOLOGY.'
The (geological history of southern Saskatchewan is essentially tha' of
the great plains of which it forms an important part. Throughout tlie
Palaeozoic and Mesozoic eras it was an area of alternate elevations and
depressio'^s, during which the sea was admitted, and great thicknesses of
sediment were laid down. Partial evidence for this is to be found on the
plains, as the oldest rocks there, namely, the Pierre shales, are Upper Creta-
ceous. In passing eastward towards the Pre-Cambrian rocks of Manitoba,
across the great plains, a series of Mesozoic and PaUeozoic sediments, with
gentle westward dips, are met with; and drill holes put down at various
points in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, have shown that these extend
westward under the areas now occupied by the Upper Cretaceous, Tertiary,
and Quaternary sediments.
None of the elevations or depressions were extensive enough to cause
dislocation of the strata in the great plains area, but were rather in the
form of broad, gentle, uplifts and sinkings of continental extent. The
sediments remained, approximately, flat-lying, and only one minor case of
faulting has been recorded. McConnell' describes a small area covering
township 1, range 27, west of 3rd. meridian, near the international boundary.
'Main outline* aftrr Roe. G.S.C. Mrmoir 80.
•McConiMll, Ann. RepoR of G.S.C.. Vol. I. 18«5. p. 42C.
The periods of eroaion, which were marked by the interval! in the
nurccMion of the itrata when the area muat have been above lea-level, did
not leave any great unconformities between the strata of the different ages,
except between ihe Tertiary and the Quaternary.
Cretacboits Period.
PIERRE FORM.\TION. (SHALE).
The upper Cretaceous sediments are the oldest known in southern
Saskatchewan, and are represented by the Pierre shale and Fox Hills
sandstone of the marine Montana stage. During this stage the whole
of the interior / the continent was depressed, and occupied by the eea.
In the .vatersof this sea greatthicknessesof clay were deposited, represented
by the Pierre shale of the area. Towards the latter part of the existence of
this sea, there were fluctuations in the depth of the water and a tendency
to shallowing, with consequent variation in deposition; the character
of the n"'terial laid down in the eastern part of the basin differing somewhat
from that deposited in the west. This state of flurtuation gradually gave
place to the shallow water shore conditions which prevailed during the
deposition of the succeeding Fox Hills sands.
The most important beds of the Pierre formation from the clayworker's
standpoint are found outcropping in the Qu'Appelle valley near Tantallon
station on the Canadian Pacific railway. For a few miles east and west of
this station, and south up a tributary coulee, the upper hundred feet of
the valley sides consist of a hard, grey shale, referred to the Odanah horizon.
This is uiderlain by soft unconsolidated shale of a chocolate-brown colour,
which weathers to a very sticky claylikc gumbo, and may be referred to the
Millwood. Similar shale outcrops in the Assiniboine valley near Virden,
Manitoba, and in the upper part of Turtle mountain. The Odanah is
not known to outcrop west of the Tantallon district ; but other beds of the
Pierre shale are found in the deeper river valleys west to the Alberta boun-
dar>-. Contacts of the Pierre with younger formations in the Dirt Hills,
Wood Mountain, and Cypress Hills districts, do not show the Odanah.
It does not appear to have been laid down west of the general line of the
Saskutchewan-Manitoba boundary. In all the area west of this the Pierre
consists of dark grey, clay shale: sometimes sandy towards the top, but
always weathering to a very sticky gumbo clay of little value to the clay-
working industry. '. was sampled at numerous points, and found, in
every case, to have an excessive shrinkage in drying and burning, as well as
giving a dirty scum on the burned material.
The following list gives a number of localities "vhf '? the Pierre shale
has been sampled and tested: —
LEGEND
fttm'^a"
\
I
Gcolo.Y compUed from Map No. S5A
Ti. S. C. with minor Kologkal ukUtioaa
by N. B. Davii. 1916.
nm UNION ^
Pmvmnmermf
!> OLiaoetNM
o I o r a d o
General geological section on line
DEPARTMENT OF MINES. MINES BRANCH
Ban mtp from pUUi. Dtpl of Uu InUrior
H f, B»i". Ckitf Drouthlsman.
Genera/ geological map of Southet
Scale 35 Milks to I inch
LEGEND
Ptmrrt. Foxhills \
m
> mOMTANA > 5
CTJ
Rav»nscr9g )
> FORT UNION ^
f£oc*n0t j ^
^ I?
! ^*
OU&OC£Ne
C/preas Nills )
r
408
uthern Saskatchewan
TO I INCH
G«oloiy compiled bom M*p No. S5A
G. S. C. with minor leolotiol addition*
by N. B. Dnvi*. 1916.
Elbow,
Old Fort Walsh,
Ravenscrag,
Regina beach.
Rocky creek,
Seward,
Swift Current,
Tilney,
Willows.
Wherever examined, the Pierre, other than the Odar.ah and Millwood,
was found to contain crystals of gypsum or selenite, and concretionary
iron masses of various sizes. The weathered surfaces of the exposures are
often whitened by crystals of scluble salts, brought to the surface bv the
•noisture drymg out.
FOX HILLS FORMATION. (S.AND).
• V'^'FT ^^"^ ^"dstone succeeds the Pierre, and represents a shallowing
period of the Pierre sea. It is restricteti mostly to the southwestern part
^l^ P™^'"f<^. and occurs at the base of the high elevations, such as
W ood mountain and the Cypress hills.
The rock is a fine-grained sandstone or unconsolidated sand, and
usually yellow to brownish in coSur on the exposed surface. Beneath the
weathered surface it is light grey in colour, and, under the microscope is
seen to consist mainly of quartz, with a minor amount of dark green and
black grains recognized as hornblende and pyroxene. Some feldspar
and the white and black micas are also present. Tested with acid, it was
tound, generahy, to be quite calcareous, lime bein^r he chief cementing
Ti T^n ^ "^'^^^'^ '''""^^^^ "^^' '^^''^"^ ^'"''"^ ^o a light red colour,
at 1 750 degrees F. By selecting the sand of this fo. mation, a good material
tor moulding common brick may be had.
wJf^n"!' ^""^^ ^''^ ^'^""^^^^ thickness of the Fox Hills sandstone in the
Wood Mountain district as 75 feet, but it is usually less. McConnell
gives the maximum thickness in the Cypress Hills district as 150 feet, but
a large pare of it is clayey sand or sandy clay, and may be only the sandy
top ol the Pierre.
Tertiary Period.
The sand described above, appears only in the western part of the
area, and probably represents the shore deposits of a Pierre sea retreating
w-estward, accompanied by a differential uplift of the country to the east
ot an axis passing northeast and southwest through Wood mountain
The country- to the east of this was occupied by fresh water lakes and
swamps in which sands, silts, clays, and lignites, were deposited.
'B. Row. G.S.C. Memoir 89. p. 31.
This change from marine to fresh water conditions marks the end of the
Mesozoic era and the beginning of the Tertiary. The change was slow and
gradual, and a Tertiary flora developed on land; while the water life was
still influenced by Cretaceous types. Remains of land reptiles of Mesozoic
type are reported by Dawson' in beds to the south of Wood mountain
along Rocky creek, and these beds have been referred by Rose' to the
Lance formation. This is the only part of the area in which Lance beds
have been described as occurring. Formerly, they were included in the
old Laramie by Dawson and McConnell. They are here included in the
Estevan beds of the Fort L^nion.
EOCENE OR FORT UNION FORMATION.
Up to the present, the Fort Union formation has not been subdivided,
although the necessity for doing this was recognized by McConnell and
Dawson' in the early reports on the area. McConnell states that the
Laramie (Fort Union): —
May be separated lithologically over most of the district into two distinct divisions.
The lower one, which succeeds the Fox Hill con'ormably wherever the contact plane of the
two formations waa observed, bears a strong resemblance to the upper part of the Belly
River series, and consists of about ISO feet offeebly coherent, greyish and pure white clays,
sandy clays, and sands, with occasional beds of carbonaceous shales and lignite. A small
bed of black clay was also found to be pretty widely distributed. The beds of pure white
sands and clays form the most distinctive feature of this band, and were observed, with
fev/ exceptions, wherever the base of t'.ie formation was exposed. In the badlands south
of Wood mountain this division consists almos; -exclusively of clay. The upper division
is more arenaceous, and is predominately yellowish in colour. It has a maximum thickness
in the district of 750 feet, and is composed of sands passing into soft sandstone, silts, and
clays, and also holds a few beds of hard sandstone, part of which is of nodular character,
together with some carbonaceous shales and lignite.
Leonard^ describes the western half of the state of North Dakota to be
underiain by strata which have been referred to the Laramie, but undoubt-
edly some of them are Tertiary in age (Fort Union).
Just where the dividing line between the Laramie and Tertiary occurs is doubtful and
can only be determined by paleontological evidence. But lithologically ihe so-called
Laramie formation may be divided into three parts. At the bottom is a great series of
beds consisting of impure, low grade clays, sands, many of them calcareous, and lignites.
-Above, there is a horizon not more than 150 feet thick in which occur the high grade, light
burning, more refractory clays, although some of these are highly calcareous and fuse at
very low temperatures. Overlying these cla>'s are some 300 to 400 feet of sand, part of
which is cemented by a calcareous cement.
In the Cypress Hills area the white clay beds rest directly on the
Pierre and Fox hills, and are overiain by the yellow clays, silts, and sands.
In the Big Muddy valley, the white clay beds are separated from the
Cretaceous by a considerable thickness of dark grey clays, sands, silts.
•Dawaon. Geology and RetourcM of th« 49tb. Parallel, 1875. p. 103.
>Roae. Memoir 89. G.S.C. p. 38.
•McConnell, Ann. Rep. G.S.C. Vol. I, 1885. p. 67.68C. Dawson. Geol. and Rewurcei of the 49th.
I'aiallei. 1875. p. 103.
•Leonard. State Geol. Surv., N. Dakota. 4th. Biennial Rep., i.. 108.
and lignites (see Plate X). They are overlain by the same yellow beds as
in the Cypress hills.
In the Souris valley the middle and lower divisions are present near
Halbrite and what appears to be the upper and lower di . jiuns minus the
middle division at Estevan.
Whether these lower beds lielong to the Lance formation has yet to
be definitely established, but in the meantime they can at least be separated
from the other beds of the Fort Union on a lithological basis. To this end
the following new names pre proposed, using names of type l(K'alities: —
{Ravenscrag beds,
Whitemud beds,
Estevan beds.
Estevan Beds.
Beds of the Estevan group are exposed in the Souris valley from
Halbrite to f^stevan; in the Big Muddy valley from the international
boundary 'o the forks; in the Dirt hills at Claybank, and south of \^'()<x^
mountain. They do not occur in the Frenchman River plateau. Swift
Current Creek plateau, or in the Cypress hills.
In general the IxkIs are fairK- uniform in appearance, but the individual
lieds are seldom continuous for any distance; they thicken and thin from
place to place. The colours are commonly grey to dark grey on fresh
exposures, but weatlier to yellowish grey and light grey on exposure. They
have a very high content of colloidal matter and vegetation has difficulty
taking root on the exposures. As a result the outcrops are often weathered
to badland topography. None of the ImxIs are h?rdened to any extent,
except an occasional sand bed .
The Estevan group contains clay beds that are of doubtful value to
the clay worker. They are inclined to be stiff and sticky in their working
qualities, and, when moulded in the stiff-mud way they have excessive
shrinkage which causes cracking in the drying process. Even when moulded
by the dry-press process they have an excessive shrinkage in burning, a
defect which requires special treatment of the raw material and adds to the
cost of making brick. One of these beds is being worked and specially
treated at Estevan for making red dr\'-press face brick.
The Estevan lieds are of thi- greatest importance Ix-'cause of the presence
of many workable l)e<ls of lignite coal.
Whitemud Beds.
The upper part of the Fort Union is distinctly separated from the
Estevan beds by a layer of refractory- white clays which persist in Canada
east and w"-*^ from the Souris \alley to the Al'ierta boundary-, and north
and sou n the international bounda.y to the escarpment west of
10
whitt „frac,<,ry sands a,„l clay r^r^J^ ,h" w« r^l':;; ' L" ■'"
This group contains the most valuable clay resources of the Provin.-o
Ravenscrag Beds.
band in an the eJatio„s east t fras^trCotet^^r^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
the L^cTaXlfR^he P^ T" ^^'"'^'^^^'^ ^^'"^^•^ ''>• -«-" but n'e
able ber:n:;jtrVhe'f'n'°" '''"^' .^"^^' ^^^ -"^^ ^'^^^ --^ -->^-
°* "^"''^- ^^^ following section, measured by McConnell,' at
'McConnell. Ann. Rep. G.S.C. Vol. I, |88.'i, p. jgC.
11
the junction of Concrete coul6e with the Frenchman River valley, near
Ravenscrag, is illustrated in the frontispiece.
Top 1. Yellowish very fine-prained clays passing into
pure clays and sands 1 10 i^t.
2. Greyish clays, carbonaceous shales, and thin-lieds
of lignite, yellowish sands, clays, and sandy
clays ' ^" "
3. Greyish shales " ••
4. Carbonaceous shales ■» -
5. Lignites ^ ••
6. (ireyish shales •''' ••
7. Brown carbonaceous shales J^ ••
8. Greys and almost pure white sand and clays 50 ..
9. Coarse rusty sands (Fox Hills) 125 .,
10. Lead grey and dark shales (Pierre) 50 .,
The upper seven lx;ds of this section arc referretl to the Ra\eiiscrag
division of the Fort Union. Numl)er 8 is the Whilemud division. The
Estevan beds are entirely absent. Numljer 9 is the Fox Hills s;indstone.
The Ravenscrag division contains beds of red and buff burning cla\s
that are of value to the clay industry, mainly for the manufacture of common
brick and fire proofing. Buff burning beds are being used at Estevan and
Shand for making wire-cut brick.
OLICOCKNE.
Cypress Hills Beds.
An erosion interval followed the deposition of the F^ort I'nion, and in
Oligocenc time a great fan of gravels, sands, silts, and clays was spread
eastward from the Rocky mountains. At present these beds cap all the
higher elevations of the western plateaus, extending from the west encl of the
Cypress hills to the east end of Swift Current ^Veek plateau, a distance
of about 1 40 miles. Thev are unconformable to the betis below, and in their
western extension rest on the Fort Union. East of Eastend coulee they
overlap the Fort I nion and continuing eastward are underlain by the Pox
Hills sandstone and Pierre shale.
The Oligocene beds of the Cypress hills are largely represenle<l by a
thick bed of quartzite pebbles apparentU- derived from the quartzite forma-
tions of the Rocky mountains. The pebbles vary in size from an mch
up to seven or eight inches in diameter, and in places are cemented by a
calcareous cement. The greatest thickness and coarsest pebbles are found
in the western part of the area.
The beds of Swift Current Creek plateau consist mainly of calcareous
clays and silts, and quartz sands, associated with beds of fine quartzite
12
Laving MaM plateau. nfXTmLo" ' °" ' '^'«"«°"'' »"<'
Ol'aternarv Period.
PLEISTOCKNE FORMATION
^rlJ'^^:::!^fZ^:Tc;::' ^ ^^'-^^Z'-- ^ very temperate to a
'he soft and flat lying fofZ^in. JZ iT """ ""^"^ '" ''^''' «^--
of erosion, and hence the mTZJZ TV'' T"' ^™"' '^' standpoint
were changed verv little Thl^l^'TT, ^"''"'"P^^ '" ''"'^^"'^ '^"^-
"f the area, but modific'l son,ewhat t-H '■■'' k'""' "^ ^^'^ ^''"^''^^" P-'-t
Klacial n^aterial shown in 1^X0 ;re" f Tt" ^''^ ^'''^'^ ''^'^^"^ "^
and Ou'Appelle vallevs (4W S Z T ""^ '^' P'*^^"* Saskatchewan
Pliocenetopographv ^ "''"'^'' considerable filling over the
interiSsr :i:5: r c:i:^:::^t^ ^^^ -^ ^^- '^^ --^ ^'^ ^^^
areawasverjthinlyccLredbvdr u- ^ '" southwestern part of the
-No evidence of over Ippinl b l. f "■'^' ^.'"^ P'"^"'"">' ^'^ «f '^
and northwest has been dSnil'tl^ewh ,""""' '™'" '"^'^ ^''^ "-^''-^^
been from the northeast. '' movement having apparently
The maximum thickness of the ice ma«« :„ fU ■ ■ ■
l"ll« is estimated by McConnell' as 2 Z feT/ T '"""'■ "' '^' ^'P'^^'
part of the Cypress hills was ont r f , ■ ^""^ '°P ^^ ^he western
island in the glacial se ^^S'^ ^'?T' T' ""^' ''^^^ ^^^^^ ^
elej^^ation of 4,000 feet above sIa!|eveT. " "*' " '' ^"""'^ ^^°''*-" ""
clayl'yn'clnilts! Ind irkeXr'was'tt '""""^ ^^P^^'^'"" «^ ^^-Wer
end of the first stage o the tl'retl f' ""l ""'"'■'""' P"^"-" ^^ ^^e
north of the Cypress mII ^^tcTen^^^^^ T ''' "^ ^^"^ ^° ^''^
•me of Pinto Horse butte to Wn;^ ^"^ P'""*^^"' ^"^ ^^e general
their waters to the south and L'^rp,?'"- ''^'■^' ^^^^^ Po--^
n.an River valley and its tributr^reat floZ^^^^^^
Su,ft Current, dammed large lakes against the
■McConn-ll. .^n. R^p G.S.C. \'ol. I. 1885.
t3
Cypress hills to the south, which probably had their overflow through
Medicine Lodge coulee. A large lake or scries of lakes, to the north of
Wood mountain, probably drained through Twelve Mile Lake valley to the
Big Muddy outlet.
With a further retreat to the northeast the ice front halted for a con-
siderable period, judging by the great thickness and width of the moraine
system along the Coteau. At this stage a large lake occupied the basins of
Lakes Johnston and Chaplin and probably extended some distance westward
over the country at present drained by the Wixxl river. The outflow from
th'^ lake went by way of Lake-of-the-Rivcrs valley to the Big Muddy.
In the n<jrlhwestern j)art of the area many small glacial lakes were
formed, and at least one large one in the vicinit\- of Lancer.
The next stage marked a retreat to a N.W. and S.... line passing through
Moose mountain, and the damming of a large Ixxly of water glacial Lake
Regina, to the east of the Coteau in a basin extending in a N.W. and S.K.
direction from Weyburn to the Qu'Appelle north of Regina. In the de-
pression now occupied b>- the South Saskatchewan river a series of lakes
formed and outflowed to Lake Regina near Caron. .As the ice front
continued to retreat these found an outlet down the Qu'Appelle depression.
A further retreat to the northeast was markei'i by wide low moraines and
numerous intermorainal lakes and outwash i)lains in which clays, sands,
and gravels were laid down.
This glacial distribution of clays, sands, and gravels has l)een of great
importance to the area. The large glacial lake Ixjttoms form the most
important grain growing Ijelts, but have little value to the clayworker
because of defects of the clays in drying and burning. The clays of the
smaller glacial lake Iwttoms, particularly in the northeastern part of the
area in the outwash basins where the clays are calcareous and silty, are
being used for making common brick. In the northwestern part of the area
the silty clays of the extinct lake near Lancer are also an impwrtant resource
for this purpose.
The sands, gravels and boulder moraines are of value for building
construction and form a potential resource for building good roads.
RECENT FORM.\TION.
With the complete retreat of the ice from the continent there was a
return to a temperate climate, followed by semi-arid conditions. The
deep valleys, cut by the large rivers outflowing from the melting ice front,
continued to be water courses, but of streams of greatly diminished size.
Some of these streams have a free outflow while others drain to local saline
lakes.
The valleys, with outflowing fresh water streams such as the French-
man, the Qu'Appelle, and the Souris, have Iwcn deeply silted up by the
inwash of material from the valley sides. Their wide, flat bottoms contain
14
d.P«u C cv ^„. ,h., .„ ^ „,„^ ,„ ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^ ^_^
of intent scumming and doing defecr clayworker because
Hepth a:, c^^ot ,. d ^'^'^of^^ -tended tJ^ny
Ontario. Often where The m^ • , ^^^ >;«l-hummg surface clay as in
concentrat Jllublcslusln TT f " •^-^"''"•"K' '^^ evaporation has
colour in the b^ nt brkk bttS f " ^""' '"■/^"' ^"'^ 'f"^ «»>'^"'* the red
t,urnt bnck by the forniation of a white scum on their surfaces.
GENERAL TECHNOLOGY
tl..ASSIFICATIO\ OF S.ASKATCHEWAX CL\YS
vicinity of Kastend "'""■'"'' "' *^" ^« **>« »«P f>^- •" the
crucible melting furnaces, Bessemer onverte" gts fur." T''' '"'I
cement kilns, for flues, boiler settings, stov" lim'ngt etc " ' '""' '"'
.u:drtrse":;rde'rorart''"^^^^^"^ ^^'"^^^^^^^^^
clu'sive are of No 2 gtde 11^'".? "^^T"" ^""^ ^° ^^ ^^ --
considered No. 1 grade "" *''^' ^'^"'■'" ^^^« ~"« ^^ "«
ILS™ ret^of ^2^^^^^^^ '' -- - '- ^^- proposed by the
'Bfcinfnger anj Brown. Tech. Paorr Va ; ii •,- ■>
•»"« ) "^ '*"• '■ '^•"- """»•' »' Staad«d. (Cone 28 to 30 .UM»ted u N* 3
ts
Certain fireclayi are non-pla»tic and because of thin are called flint
claya. A thin bed of flint clay occurs in the fireclay beds near Dickenson,
North DakoU, but it was not found in Saskatchewan.
Many of the fireclay deposits of the world ocrur underlying coal
seams, but such is not the case in Saskatchewan. The clays under the
thickest seams of coal, such as in the Kstevan district, are non-refractory.
The fireclays of the VVhitcmud beds arc not dir *\y associated with any
well defined coal seams.
Clays that are very plastic, refractory, and white burnmfj qre called
ball clays. They find a use as a plastic inRrwIient of white ware btxlies to
give working strength. The clays of the up|)er part of the Whitemud b«ls
at Willows are good enough to l»e cla.ssed as ball clays. An analysts of a
sample collected in the pit of the Allierta Clay Products Company at W illows
is given in the following table, in comparison with standard ball clays:—
ao,
AW),
FeiO,
FeO
CaO
MgO
K*0
Narf)
TiO,
Hrf)
Total nhrinkage at cone 9.
i.
II.
58- 2H
26-07
1-79
(••68
t) 34
1-46
12-02
17«
4» 09
43
21
iil
9-63
III.
45 SI
38-87
1-14
U
016
1-30
UIO
20-0
IV.
46-11
39 55
0-3.S
13
1 20
13-78
lS-0
I. Willows clav: 474.
II. English ball clay.
III. New Jerov / ball clay.
IV. Florida ball clay.
The clays from the following localities were found to be sulficiently
refractory to be classed as fireclays: —
Sample
No.
436
474
476
477
478VV
469
467
470
471
481
1648
1649
1650
486
565
556
551
, Locality.
Sec.36, 6. 22, 3r(l.
Willows
Sec. 14, tp. 11, r. 28, 2ncl
Clayhank
Sec. ll,tp! 13, r. 26, 2n(l
Yellow Grass
Halbrite
Sec. 17, tp. 21, r. 10, w. ol 3ru.
Refractory
value.
Cone 26
» .30
28]
27
30
3o;
31 1
29
30j
28
321
32)
28
28
27
26
Thickness.
6 ft. be<l.
15 ft. bed.
19J ft. Same sortion.
24 ft. Same section.
12 ft.
15 ft. + Same section.
4 ft.' bed.
10 -f ft. bed.
6 ft. bed.
20 ft. bed.
16
tTl "' ^'•'*'' '"«'**• "^y '»«• plastic p^K^''* 'ir^hfr ""^ '""■■« '" ♦»"
nnn-pIaMic material ha« led t« the aH.?nT^', I "^'"^ "' « •"'table
ehe manufacture «f firebrick fn.m th^* c av: " "" '''^ ""^ f'— '"
< layn that def„rm Mow cone 2A , .
«mi.refrac,..ry. S.me of Z Zn- Ll T '"* "I "'"'' '^ «"^ cla.Med a.
certain m.^erate fire re^i.tinrp^ "^^ ^h'"'" "" ''""'' *'"""«'' f-
l'n.ng«. |,ut ,he majority are u«^| L !. I ^" "'"''' ''"''' ""d ladle
P'.ttery. paving brick. archirec"uTa 7rr cot'."' "Tr^"' "'""''-''-• -«
Stoneware and sewerni Jrl.t "''•'-•"» an.l face brick,
qualitie.. and mu«. burn „ vitrified 3 T' """'^ '''''""'^ ^"'^ ''o 'ng
cone 3 to 9. They muM al« .Ikel «S Ju'r " '^ ♦^-P-atures o?
made from a mixture of clavs uTr^.iJ^'lT f ''• ^"*^ "'""^^^are i,
erties in the raw and burn«i state '■' ''"""« ^''*' '">"'>«' Pror>
The clays of the Whitemud btxls of ih.. iv u
tastend. are mainly of stonewaa- grade Thev I't*"'" '*'"^" ^'''"^•>- "^^^^
to Medicine Hat for use in the L„i, J. ^ y*" t*'"* ""ned and shipped
the Alberta Clay IWucts TomZy andl^ T ""''" '" ^''^ f'^' "^
Plant^of the Medalta Stoneware Ud '''"ntware pottery in the
438 ^MTo^are'!;:;^^^^^^^ t|,o«e de^ribed as Nos.
of the Province and of the adj IL "^J ""^f "'"^^ ^'^^^ '" the schools
All of these clays are suhaWe f^.r SrT "'.''"T'''" ^"^ ^'^'"■^"ba.
-;>r .i..ud pr_. and ce^t^:; 7^z^::j;i^^^:i:;^;-
^Joi :j ti^i::;;^i:srs: ti^fSr^'ii; :^"- ^^^ odanah
dc.s not deform until the temiHifu ';7 "^15 'I^k'k'"^.^''^'^ ^■'"■'^''
are such as to preclude its use for sowen i, ^ f . '• ^* ''"''"'"K '»"'»"»'e8
Kavens^:^!:r;::^-;S'--commo„tothePier^^
materials suitable for making f^^TbrLk ' ^'"'^ ormations. and include
field drain tile. Six of ,he s^ven Ja y i.nTT'" '''"'[.• ''' ^'^^'^^' -^
clays of this class. ^ ''"''""8 P'«"»« '" the area are working
METHODS OF MANUFACTURING.
The manufacture of briclr fi-^ /:
standardized, but the details of hanTn^an"'"''""/''' '^ '""'^ - '--
-th the physical properties of the nSl and T" "'^ "' ^'"'^ -«"-
ufactured article is to be put. ^ ^^^ "** »« ^^ich the man-
17
Mining.
The mining nr winning of Mr workable rlayH at Saitkalchewan \n a
comparatively simple matter, be< *e of the open nature of the exixmiireit
in cnul^ «ide« easy of nrretw. 1 hey are nearly all workable l>y the o|H>n
pit method. Kven the hiRh grade refractory clays arc so well exposed that
underground mining will not be necessary for some time tc- crmu-. All
except the Odanah shale at Tantallon, are soft clays and for winter workinK
ha\"e to be stored.
For breaking the clay out of the pit. Malting and undercutting methods
are used, and the clay hauled tfi the plant by mean!* of hori»e ancl cart or
dtiitip cars on a wire cable.
The methcnls of underground mining do not differ materially from those
uswl in the lignite mines «>f the iVovince.
Preparation.
The preparation of the clay consists in breaking it <lown to allow the
efficient addition of water, so that it can l)e mouhied into shape by the
particular process employed. If grog, in the form of simd or burnt cla\-,
is necessary it is added in the machine which breaks the day down. For
the plastic process the hard shales require to l)c crushed and pulverize<l to
develop maximum plasticity. This breaking down i)r(Kess is accomplishtil
in two ways, with rolls ancl dry piin.
The roll is the simplest and most commonly usetl machine for reducing
clays. It consists of two cylinders or cones whose surfaces revolve close
together, usually one CNJinder smaller than (be other, and revolving at a
much higher rate. This arrangement tends to throw out large pibbles
and crush small pebbles when working on stony glacial cla\s.
The dry pan consists of a heavy vertical revolving circular pan sup-
ported on a vertical shaft and driven by gears at the top of the frame.
The pan supports two heavy wheels or mullcrs which are mounted on a
horizontal shaft. These turn as the pan rexolves, and so crush the material.
The bottom of the pan is solid under the nuillers, but is perforated near
the circumference. Two scrapers, placet! in front of the mullers, throw
the oversize material in front of the crushers.
For the manufacture of dry-press brick the pn^xr water content is
adjusted in the dry pan, or the clay is steamed as it comes from the screens.
The roughly screened material falls into a receptacle under the pan and is
elevated to screens 12 to 16 mesh, the oversize from these screens l)eing
returned to the pan.
For stiff-mud brick the clay from the dry pan goes to the tempering
machine.
18
lemperin:
" ^ y from the crushing machine is tempered to the orooer nl;,«
^dSt T:L ^ 'u' """• T> ^'^'^ ^^- o^soft-mud briSTt otn"
Kots direct to the mouldmg machine The mitr mtii ^„„ • * r
cylMHcal .™gh i„ .hich a .haft, c.„, '.'^L^ ~ tL\"""'
Moulding.
hand but arc „»„„I|y „„do W macLln!: T ,'"" '^' """''' ''>
„f „ , . ' '^ "> "latntnc. Pins consistB of an iiDriirht Imix
min ^."[h T r'^'Tl "" ^"'■^'^"' ^•'^^f^ ^' -"^h blades asbthe pug
an, the mould „ automatically pu.hed out of the front of the mirn,
f.ff vL-,-f K o I -c u L r ^ ^"^ '^^P '^P'^" ^'"'' "f the mould is struck
:l';:t,tdr't;;ettt°^t-rtn:-;ti™ -' '^' "^'-^ "--'
ai,i.' t'^z:,: rrL«lJ"::t"„ri *'t " ="'■' -''■
rc-pros,txl when Icthc, dry ^' ''* """ P'"^' ""'I
„,,.,!" "'fi"i-'.»«re I'V Ihe .till-mud proce.s the clay mu.t have ,„o,l
j::;uS;^--X'-;r;o:^^^^^
:rr;;::r:,:rot- s rn^tr' "-"* » - ^" » »-—
St.flf-mud machines are of two types, the plunger and auger machines
The former are commonly used for making sewerpipe. whfle the iXr
are u.sed n. the manufacture of face and common bdc^ard fire p. finT
In the plunger machine the clay is fed into the barrel and the ulun^er
ana the barrel is filled again. It is an intermittent process On the other
h Lrfn a CO . '■"'" ""^''^ "" '"^'-"^ P"^''^^ '^ through the dVe.
tahirtr h h ^'""''"^ ''''^"' '^"'^ ^^^' ^-^ ^ ^°"veyer to a cutting
tabic to be shaped into pieces of the desired length. The ware is then
stacked on suitable cars and sent to the drier
19
In the dry-press process the clay is not wetted with more than 10
per cent of water. It is used just damp enough to retain its shape when
pressed firmly in the hand. _
The dry-press mar'.lr.e consists of a very heavy iron frame containing
a press box (usual' coniainins; f.->ir moulds), two sets of plungers working
vertically against ihe rhargt. ar.<! a delivery table with an automatic
discharge from th. di. , The clar is fed by gravity from the storage bins
into the charging .'•■ii'^. v iiich .n turns fills the moulds. The upper
plungers descend and press ihr clay into the mould, a second pressure
being given by an upward movement of the lower plunger. As the upper
plunger moves back into place the lower one follows and pushes the brick
to the level of the delivery table where it is pushed off the die box by the
advance of the charging box. The ware is taken from the press directly
to the kiln.
The dry-press process has important advantages over the soft-mud
and stiff-mud methods of moulding clays that are either tender in their
drying qualities or are of UiW plasticity. The operation of drying with the
conse(iuent shrinkage is eliminated.
Many of the red-burning clays of the Province aie tender in their
drying properties and can be worked only by the dry-press method.
Drying.
Ware made by either the soft-mud or stiflf-mud process must be thor-
oughly dried before being placed in the kiln. To accomplish this the
methods used depend on the drying behaviour of the clay and the capacit\'
of the plant.
Open air-drying is the usual method employed in many of the common
brick yards. The ware is placed on level ground or on pallets in racks and
allowed to dry slowly in the air. Tender clays re(|uire protection from
excessive sun and wind to avoid too rapid drying, which is liable to crack
the wares made from them.
Artificial drjing is carrietl on in a closed drier, usually of the con-
tinuous tunnel type, heat being supplied by artificial means. The ware
on cars is pushed into the drier at the cool end and is worked through to
the warm end at a rate sufficient to allow complete drying. Depending
on the nature of the clay and the efficiency of the drier the time re(|uired
for drying varies roughly from 24 to 72 hours.
The ware from the driers is transported to the kilns and placed for
burning.
Burning.
The operation of burning is the most important part of the process
and requires great care and attention to eliminate waste. The ware,
placed in the kiln in the air-dry condition, must be carried carefully through
20
from the air-dry condition is in a genera,' wlv onlT-"""- •'"'^ ^"^"^^
strength, and shrinkage, with conse^uen. hI^ '"creasing density.
Rravity. This is true for a cerTa^r^eri f""^""^ ^'"^''y ^"^ «P««fic
Out above this range the cZlZl'ZZTrZj^'''' '°^ ^"^ ^'^^" ^'^>''
ware:!^^C^'l~1^ ^;^]^^ the unco.bined water in t .
mined by the character of the clay anifhl. '^^T^^ ^' ^ ^^^e deter-
the great water holding caLitv of ll Jl!" ''"" "^^ ^^-^ ^"^-"P'--
brick at Estevan requLT a -erv ' ''"^-^^^"-^ -'ay used for pressed
buflr-burning clay uS for mal ^ """'"^ ^'""'^'"^ P«"«d. while the
lower wate? holLg^catirrequ^ Tjrh" ''''■ ^"^ ^ --»'
smoking. It is usually a slow pTce" and the t '""' ^°' ""'^'•
must not be raised much above fhpT!.V temperature of the kiln
in the form of steam has b^en drit„ "ff ' '°'"' ""'" "°^^ ''^ ^''^ ^-^-
u.x,ntdi.tm;::;r iiii^'T r'?^ ^'^ -^'^-^ -^^ '^ ---^
bined water. Thfs occurs at a^il r^ V" ^"'! ""^ '''^ ^•^^""'^^"y <^«'"-
at 700=C or 1,292°F. " '"^ ''"^^ ^"^ '« practically complete
and ?rr.'^:i;tde?::dtu;t:ef aT; z' '' ''' -^'— ^^ '-
break down at this temperatuTe and, her '^'"!^"^^^°"« "'^terials begin to
state. The combustibrr^l«:;"lh,r T ^'"^^ '"^'' ^'^'^ ^'''d^'-"
off and the iron is all chang^ t'o^h A ' ' "'^^";.^.'^- '« 'completely driven
Pleted at about 900OC or ? 652°F '°"'^'"°"- '^^'^ ''^^^ '« <^«'"-
oa t J^r; S:;Sf^d;;^;;r:?^-P'- -dation depends
materiarandTeTeTn?rmZ\r r ^^^^ '?-"'"^ — '
clay must be carefully studied InTe pll't '"' " '"™"« "">' «'-"
carri2lr:S^r^,-JS-^»-i„g brick, stonewa.. etc.. a.
change takes place, fhe clay plticle tT- ?T^ "^'^ '''^' ^^^ ^^^^'^^^
the temperature is slowly raiXhUn fl!i ^""^ °" ^''^ ^"^f^^^' ^"^ as
whole mass is involved the dSityeacrelt' ""''' ""^" ''^^^^'■'^^"^ ^''^
or vitrified body is produced maximum and an impervious
days of the Willows district reVuire to J 7 ^ example, the fire-
vitrified body, while the stoneware Lt iTTe p° TZ V" '''^'''' ^
between cones .S and 7. ^ ''^ Eastend district vitrify
down!ir:ft''" '" '""'"^ ^'^^ ^^^^ -^ °^ ^- general types, updraft and
21
The up<;raft type includes the common scovc and the permanent
walled case or Dutch kilns. The former is the simplest and consists of a
rectangular pile of brick to be burnetl coated with a veneer of burnt brick
two layers deep. The whole is then plastered with soft clay mortar to
help to retain the heat. The Dutch kiln consists of two permanent side
walls and ends left open sufficient to allow for loading and unloading. In
both forms the lower courses of brick to be burned are set to make arched
tunnels across the width of the kiln. The end of each tunnel is a fire l)ox
and the heat travels along the tunnel and up through the brick piled alxne.
in this way burning the ware. This is the most wasteful method of burning
and can only be applied with success to the cheapest of ware, such as com-
mon brick.
The downdraft kiln works like the .reverbatory furnace of the metal-
lurgist and may be intermittent or continuous. The walls are jK-rmanent
and roofed in. The\' vary in shape from round to rectangular. Fire
boxes are built into the walls at regular intervals, and suitable ojK'nings
left for loading and unloading the kiln. P'iring is cirried on with coal,
wood, or gas, the fire passing to the tjp of the kiln chamiier and down
through the ware to flues under the floor and leading to a stack.
The ordinary continuous kiln consists of a numlier of downdraft
chambers arranged in a rectangle or oval form and connected with a central
stack. When the first chaml>er is under fire, the heat from it carries on
the water smoking and heating up of two or three chambers ahead. As
soon as the first rha Tiber is finished it is shut off from the chambers ahead
and allowed tc ^e fire being directly applied to the second chamber.
This is continuv -hamber to chamber, the cooling chamlx'rs furnish-
ing heated air for . uustion. The cooled chambers are unloaded of i)urne(l
brick and reset for the burning pnx-ess. In this wa\- the process is con-
tinuous and there is little or no waste heat.
A recent application of the continuous principle has been made in
the form of a tunnel with four or more fire boxes near the centre. The
ware is loaded on cars suitably insulated, and these are pushed into the
tunnel at a regular rate. The fire in the centre of the tunnel is pulled
towards the loading end, making the opposite end the cooling sectio!).
This method of burn! '• said to be very cheap and efficient, but to date
it has l)een applied on this continent only to the burning of sanitary ware
and firebrick.
Control of Temperature.
The means of controlling temperature varies somewhat from plant
to plant. Some use the old rule-of-thumb method of judging the temper-
ature by the colour of the hot kiln and have to employ men with consider-
able experience. On the other hand there are several mechanical methixls
that can be more generally used and give better control over both the kiln
and the burner.
22
Seger cones.
side ixr: ::7,T;!,H'„7r:^s « r; ^'""' -."v-* '" -
imhes. (See Hate IV) Th., , ° P"'"' •" *<■ '»P '" a lenph of three
graded al to "v a^r Jrf'ruirZT^ f™- »' "ay and fl„,« so
^.n:trjotZi,tT; L"^:eJi'rr%t"* 'h™"-^ ^•
gardrf a. the finishing ,en,pe,atnre to, that ^l!^ '"' """"" " ''■
No. of Cone.
010...
06...,
03....
1....
3....
5....
7....
9....
11. ..
13....
IS....
20. . . ,
25....
27....
29. . . .
31....
Approx imate Fusing Point.
Degrees C.
Degrees F.
1,742
950
1,886
1,0.S0
1,994
1,090
2,102
1 , 150
2,174
1,190
2,246
1 '^O
2,318
1,270
2,390
1,310
2,462
1,350
2,S.?4
1,390
2,606
1,430
2,786
1,5.^0
2,966
1,630
3,0.S8
1,670
3,110
1,710
3,182
1,750
loximate cones to which the various
The following table gives the appi,
types of ware are burnt: —
Building brick -, , ^,
Paving brick ^]^~^^
Sewer-pipe
Buff face brick Y^
Hollow blocks and fireproofing. , f,^^.
Terra-cotta . .
Conduits '■■ ""^"^
Firebricks ^~*
White earthenware ^~]^
Red earthenware Zl
Stoneware "^^^
Porcelain ^^
Electrical porcelain VJo
o— 12
I'l.VTK I\
Top row, clav test cones.
Middle row ssta'ndard scger cones
bottom ro . J
f
23
Veritas Firing System.
A refinement in the old method of controlling the firing hy use of
draw trials has resulte<l in the "Veritas Firing System." This system is
in use in a large number of potteries and other clay plants in th»" United
States.
In this system the draw trials consist of unhurned dust pressed rings
of a -standard c' ly Inxly measuring 2 5 inches in diameter, with a hole of
0-85 inches. The clay lioHy has a composition approaching that of white
ware. In using them a number of rings are placed at important points
in the kiln and are withdrawn at different times during the burn. The
diameter of the cooled ring is then measured by a simple device and the
shrinkage compared with a standard shrinkage table.
These firing rings, like pyromctric cones, do not indicate definite
temperatures but do show kiln conditions, and the progress of the ware
during the various stages of burning.
Thermo-electric Pyrometers.
Many plants throughout the country are installing thermo-ekctrical
pyrometers. This type of temjjerature measuring instrument consists
of a thermo couple, two pieces of wire of different comjMJsition welded at one
end connected liy copper wires to a galvonometer or potentiometer. The
two wires of the theimo couple have different heat conductivities, and this
difference sets up an ('ectric current through the system. The intensity
of current varies with the temperature of the couple and is read on a grad-
uated scale in the recording instrument. (C.alvanometer or potentio-
meter.)
The thermo couple is usually encased in a protecting tube of por-olain
or some refractory material and placed at an important point in the kiln,
usually the crown.
A numlx-r of different forms of recording instruments are in use giving
single and multiple records. Multiple recorders are becoming most com-
mon, and by the installation of suitable switch arrangements a number of
pyrometer records can be taken on the one recording instrument. A
further convenience consists of an automatic recorder in which the temper-
ature is permanently registered on paper in the form of a curve and made
immetliately available for comparison with other records.
The mail- advantage in using electrical pyrometers is the fact that the
record is continuous and shows rising or falling temperatures immediately
as they take place.
Cones show rising temperatures only and lag somewhat behind the
actual temperature, thus making the control rather loose. A slight falling
off in temperature at any stage means an added cost for fuel to make up
the loss.
24
Scumming Defects.
ware as a scum, require stx-ri .1 fr f ^^ '"'■^'''■'' "^ ^he finished
has Ion, U.„ the Prlc^r rUrrnTe'sT^ ^""?^^^ ^^^«^- '^
chlonde or rarlninate to th.. u ! • , ^ "^ Iwnum, such as the
bariun, fluoride has r.^rlrS'lt '^' ^" ^"^^^ '"'"^ ^'^^^^ '^-"^'v
cHIor- ir- "\SS;--^;^';;e t^„ ,ariu. car^nate. The
and the action is more rapid This al 1"'' '" '^' ^^'"'■^'""^ --'-•
much chloride is added, ho ever the 1" '''''" '" ''^'^^ ""•^"''^'- " »-
and so defeats its purp^s,.. T^e carb^nr T"' " ' ■-'""■^---K -it.
-- is not dangerous"^ Accorlrt^St I v ^^tl"? '''•/''" " ^'^'^^ ^
-ces. ,.ves a scum in dr>in,. hut tEis" utl^^ff i '^^r ''"' ^^ '*'" """ '"
'he (|uantitv of barium «^l^ « • ■
roughly de.ermin:Kj|,vmalcin^'un..„''"'T ^" f •"^^''"^ scumminR can be
."K amounts of salt f om up to 2 n "^ '"^^''^" "^ '■'^>- -'^h vary-
[HT o,.nt. After dr^in^ ami burn n' Z^T ""' '"' ^"^^'""^ »»' ^ half
■n the .series showing no scum an" 1 tS '"""'; ''''""' ^'^'-' '""^^ -"^--t
A more refined meth" fT T ''^'^ """""' "^ '-"»- -'t 'ndicated.
and ^oung^ require, a ^ r^tr ^f £d ""J"' T"--''"' I'V Emley
Krams (2 oz.) of the ci is Z on i '" '"''''''^ "^ ^^ese is place,! loi)
^"■•- They are then 2 in Trm' ^^^^ ^" '^'' ^'^^' ''°"'- ^"ree quartet
"u. dy until the day ^.^CoZ^^^:^ ^^f^^r """' '^^'^^" ''^-
the barium chloride or fluoride is th.n m "^ ' ^' '^*^"' ^'"t'on of
first lx,ttle. 2 c.c. in the s^co^d ^ c Stort '" "''^ '"'"'" ' ^-- '" '^e
with cxrcasional shaking. \M a ninch r".-'' '"''"^ P''^'*^ ^"^^ ^^'^'^'^ hours
the clay has .^ttled, draw off 1 Jofihe ""',•" '^"^ '"^"''^' ^'«'' ^^'^^
drops of sulphuric acid. If tXdifv d ,'"" \"'^ '^"^ ^^^ *° '^ ^ ^^^^
excess of barium salt. If. for examnl r r'''-.")" ''""''^ '=«"*^'"«1 a"
mains clear on the addition o subhuric . H T',^ ^""^ '^"'^^ » ^« ^ re-
turbidity, then the ratio of bari^ ".t to ^7 T ^^ ' '" ^"^"^-'^
•;atm to be used in working the X. ^'' '" ^°"'^ ^ '■" ^he proper
*• ^'^ '^'"- C"- Soc., Vol. XVII. 1915. p. 24S.
25
Drying Defects.
Many of the Saskatchewan days arc defective in their <lr\inn <iualiiies.
and before they can lie use<l for the manufacture of ware !)>• the plasti.
process they require to be partially dried.
Clays that crack in drying are also, as a rule. ver% stiff and sticky in
their working qualities. In eliminating the cracking defect some attention
is necessary to overcome the stiff ami sticky nature.
Several methods have been devised to o\erconie .•ra<kinK in the
drying and burning of cl.iys. It has Ix-en found that s.Kiiii!n chloride
(common salt) when ; Uic 1 t > the leiii(xTing water, in anioimts of one half
to one per cent of the cl;n' used, .jecreases the rale of drvinn, .nul .l.creas.-s
or eliminates the cracking. It tends to cure this defect l)Ut ii has no
appreciable effect on the working qualities.
The salt causi-s a scum to appear on the air drieo ware but this disiip-
pears in the burning, and, as pointed out by Stalej', teiuls to pr.Kluce
clearer and brighter colours. The salt has further lH;neficial elTecis m
reducing the vitrification temperature and increasim- ;he vitrification range,
the temperature of overfiring remaining the siime as for the untreated clay.
The addition of a per cent or two of lime to defecliv e clay at the iem|)\r-
ing stage has been found to improve the working <iualities and to materially
reduce the tendency of the ware to crack in drying On the other hand
it has the disadvantage of bl aching the colour of red-burning clays and
making a scum appear on the surface of the ware. Hence, this cure cannot
be used in cases where colour is important.
The third method consists of preheating the clay, in a suitable appar-
atus, to a temperature sufficient to destroy part of the excessive plasticity.
The'temjierature required to accomplish this varies with each clay, but,
in general, it is around 550°C OWF.)
Keele' experimental with the red-burning clay used at i:sie\an f(jr
dry-press brick, and found that, when ground to pass a 16-niesh screen
and subjecting it to a temperature of 55()°C. for fifteen to thirty minutes,
it could be made workable by the stiff-mud process.
In practice this clay is subjected to a slight preheating or drying
treatment in a rotary kiln, but it is doubtful if the apparatus, as operated,
would give a temperature treatment sufficiently high, and long enough,
to render the clay workable by the plastic process.
Rotary kilns, for preheating clays of Tertiary age, similar to those of
Saskatchewan, are in successful use in a number of brick plants in the
north central United States.
In summary, then, preheating improves both the working and drying
qualities but requires an additional equipment and fuel to operate. Lime
•Staley, Tran.. Am. Ceramic Soc. Vol. XVll. 1915. p. 702,
•K«le. Memoir 25 G.S.C.. p. 83.
26
treatment iniprnves the unrkincr o„.i i ■
preheating, and a coml,ine^ S ^uj /''' ^''■'^ ''''^'' ^''•'' '"'^' ^'''
lx> tri«|. ^ ^'^ preheating and salt treatment miRht
RECORDS OF TESTS.
wet pan f.,r tnm; ..,.., Hand mnl T^ i^ • '"""''''"K and a small
process were ma, c of tho " davs ^^I-h "1 I" ;'""^""" «^ '^' -'^-'""d
the stiflF.m.,d machine. ' ^ "''""''"• '" '^^>''"K ^'^^n made in
Nocks approaching fu„ .J bH^rm^^crrcktdi;'^'*^'""^' "'"'^^^ ''''''
sman^tSr^Z'^:,':''"^ ^'"^ '""' ^''""•'^^- ^^ -asur^l on the
pass a sixteen-mesh scr en. r^sten«i' o thT, ' "''''""r' ^'^^ "'^"'^"^ ^«
sized i,nck pre..d I ^:^::i:^ ^z:^::"'^''"''''''^ '^' '^^^ °" ^""
while'r Tr rt!ri:r t^mXtiral^ ^" ^" 't '^"^^^^ -- ''"-.
-rcial kilns, in Sngstc!n and hIX" " "" "" '"""* '" ""■
an.1 ^"Sss:;:^^^- ;;;j: -ts;;.^^in,mer^
I
27
CLAYS OF THE CYI'RESS HIILS UISTRKI.
South of the C>-preM hilU, the Frenchman river has cut a deep trench
in the Tertiary and Cn'taceou» formations and exposed the valuable re-
fractory and semi-refractory clays which occur at the Iwne of the Tertiary.
A typical section measured on the big butte at the junction of Concrete
coul6e with the main valley near Ravenscrag resulted as follows: —
Top— Yellow silts and sands, calcareous 40 feet
HaH yellow sandstone ' »
Yellow clays and silts 20 „
Dark grey carlionaccous clay '• »
Yellow sands and silts IS „
Dark brown carlx)naceous clay 11 »
Fine sands and thin lignite seams 12 „
Dark brown carljonaceous clay 1 »
Strong greenish-yellow clay ^ <•
Dark grey clay 2 „
Yellow silty clay ^ "
Yollow sands partly indurated 7 „
Hard calcareous material 1 «
Yellowish silty clays and sand 10 »
Black carbonaceous clay 1 »
Light brown clay ^ "
Carbonaceous silty clay and thin lignite seams .. 4 „
Yellow silts and silty clays 18 „
Yellow sands ^^ »
Brown carbonaceous shale ^ »
Lignite fpoor quality) ^ »
Yellowish-brown sticky clays containing selenite
crystals ^ ' "
Dark brown carbonaceous clay, 2 „
Brown clay showing iron oxide stains 5 „
Thin irregular bed of limonite i »
Fine grey clay weathering white 1 1 «
Dark brown carbonaceous clay 1 «
Light brown clay weathering white S „
White clay silt (mostly fine quartz) 6| »
Lignite and carbonaceous material 1 »
Light grey clay ••■ ^ »
White to grey sands made up of angular quartz grains,
clay matter, and minute limonite concretion?. .55 „
Coarse rusty sands and clays 125 „
Lead grey shales S" »
Total 483 feet
BmideH the cInyH of the CrctaceouB and Tertiar>- mentioned aliove.
the glacial or recent alluvial clayn of the valley bottom are of tior.ie im-
portance.
The Bertion in the valley side can l»e divided into five distinct colour
horizonx; (1) the dark slate coloured Pierre shale at the bottom is followed
by (2) rusty sands and clays, (3) a light grey band consisting of grey sand
at the base passing into light grey or white clays and sands towards the
top, (4) dark grey clays and silts and tliin lignite scams, (5) and vcllow
clay silts and sands tf» the top. In all, there is a total tiiickncset of 480+ feet
exposed. (St^e Frontispiece).
Above the Pierre shale the indivi<lual lieds are ver>- irregular and lens
like in character, seldom being continuous for any distance.
The most striking feature of the exposures along the valley from Palis-
ade to Eastend is the white band at the base of Fort Union. This band
though only 20 to 50 feet in thickness forms a very conspicuous feature of
the section. Exposures of it in the distance look like great snow banks.
The clays and sands in it, like those above, graduate almost imperceptibly
one into the other and seldom remain pure for any distance. They are
usually as.s<x:iated with thin beds of lignite and carlx)naceous shale; a
relation which jwrsists wherever the white band has been found in the
Province.
From South Fork to Palisade the Canadian Pacific railwa\ follows the
deep valley of the Frenchman river, and for most of this distance, some
fifteen miles, the white band clays can be .seen outcropping in the valley
sides within a mile or so north and south of the railway.
In the vicinity of the town of Eastend the best workable outcrops are
to be found. To the north and south of the tov.n, erosion ha.s bared con-
siderable quantities of the valuable white clays.
West of Eastend there are numerous outcrops of the white clays, but
towards Ravenscrag the overburden thickens and erosion has not been
so extensive. West of Ravenscrag the white band thins to 20 feet near
Palisade and then disappears under a covering of glacial drift. A small
outcrop occurs well up the hills to the northwest near Belanger ix)st office,
but nothing more is seen of it until the deep valley of 4 Mi .; coulee is
reached. Here it is found near the base of the section, as a very thin and
rather sandy bed.
The deep cut of Battle Creek valley contains further exposures but
the quantity of material available and the location make the occurrence
of little economic value.
The clays above the white band are not well exposed near Eastend
but appear in greatest thickness near Ravenscrag. Many of these clays
are defective in their drying qualities, and others, particularly the yellow
calcareous clay silts of the upper part of the section, scum badly.
i* ^
29
The white bed> dip some 9 feet to the mile in an caxtcrly direction, and,
from the top of the valley udea near Palisade, decline to the liottom of the
valley some 12 miles southeast of Eastend.
The white clays are also founi in the west facing escarpment of Bound-
ary plateau.
The white clays of this section of the Province are not as refractory
as those farther east and arc l)cst suited for making stoneware pottery
and scwerpipe, or clay products that are burned to vitrified Ixxlies in a
range from cone 5 to 9.
The tiavs vary from place to place in their working (|ualitie8, some-
times Ixting silty, and again very fine and plastic. Selcnite is present in
most of the beds and soluble salts arc to \>c (intended vith in the more
plastic ones.
Some of the clays contain small concretions of iron oxide, usually
developed around grains of sand, but these can lie removed by washing.
Occasionally masses of concretionary iron oxide (clay ironstone) c. if
at the top of the section of white clays and strin^jers of it have penetrated
vertical joint plan s in the ciay. In this connexion it is imjH)rtant that
plenty of good clean water is to lie had from the Frenchman river for
washing the clays.
Old Fort Walsh.
In the valley of Battle creek near the old Mounted Police station,
known as Ff)rt Walsh, there are numerous outcrops of the white clays.
401. On the S E. } sec. 15, tp. 7, range 29, west of the 3rd mer..
the quartzite gravel at the top of the valley side is underlain b\- a thick
bed of sandy white clay. A sample of this clay required only 18',' of water
to develop maximum plasticity. It dries without defect to a shrinkage
of 2-3%. At cone 06 it has a total shrinkage of 2-6% and an absorption
of 10 -5%. At cone 7 the total shrinkage is 6-3% and the absorption
4-6%. Vitrification is complete at cone 9 and deformation follows with
cone 15.
This material could be used for brick or mixed with other clays of the
vicinity for hollow ware.
402. On the N.W. i sec. 8, tp. 7, range 28, west of the 3rd. mer.,
a cut bank in a coulee shows a section of sands, clays, and thin lignite
seams. About half way up there is a five-foot bed of yellowish coloured
clay under a thin lignite seam. This clay is defective in its drying proper-
ties, when wet moulded, but works well when moulded dry-press. At
cone 06 the shrinkage is 5-0% and the absorption 19 •0'^. The burnt
colour is a pleasing pink with a speckled effect.
30
Top— Oligocene gravel S feet +
Dark brown clay ^ n • .
Thin lignite seam ■.■.■.■.■.■.■.;■.■.; q " I
Cream coloured clay 4 " « " ...
Yellowsilt J " J .No.404.
White clayey sand 4 " „ "
White clay , " " '' .
Black carbonaceous clay.', '.'.'.['///.'.'.'.'.[.'a I q ^ °- ^*'^-
50 J^' 7?'^ '^ ^ ^"^ P'^*^''' '^'^y °^ stoneware grade. It reauires
snnnKage is 100%, the colour is buff and the bodv steel harH «,.>!, ,„
^5_0%. Deformation takes place with cone 13
This clay is well adapted to the making of stoneware pottery.
409. The sample collected from the bed indicated as 405 was lareelv
bourhood and used for mud plastering houses and bams.
Belanger.
416. North of Belanger post office and sec. 32, tp. 7, ranee 25 w of
mud r; V -''"^" ^"^^'•''P °^ -'^'^^ ^"dy fi-'ay dug cKail^fo
Z2 h ?•■■ '1^°"*^'"^ a considerable proportion of clay whU makes a
good^bond and the sandy nature of the material gives it a low air shrinkage
Burned at the temperature of cone 9 the total shrinkage is fi-oo/ anH
absorption 4%. Deformation takes place at cone 37 ^' " ' ""^^ ^"^
impoItance'^The °'ttf " Tf''. ?"" '* "^^ ""'^ -^^'^^ -^-^o-ic
mportance. The settlers of the vicinity will find it of value for makine
L'TseTpriTt.''"'"^^ '' ^^" ^ ''^'^^'^^ ''^ -«^ ^y^ ^^^^^^
Palisade.
n( J'' ^^l Frenchman River valley the white band was not found west
t. 'ZZr °' """r" ^'"'^- '' '^ -^ *"- -<! outers near"?e
Wo?g^;::Sh^i-te^ittnd^Tdnr4rfi^^^^^^^^^
:x-;:rtactLr --^^^^ -gjL vr::^-.--
31
544. On the north side of the valley, on sec. 22, tp. 6, range 24, w.
of 3rd. mer., another exposure was found in which the white clay makes up
20 feet of a fifty-foot section.
The clay is separated from the white sands lx>low by 3 fett of liRnitu
of poor quality.
Tests on the clay (No. 544) show fairly good working and drying
qualities. The air shrinkage of 8-3% is within working limits for stone-
ware, but grog would be necessary for rougher goods such as sewerpipe.
The body is steel hard at cone 07 with an absorption of 8-2^;. Vitri-
fication is complete at cone 7 with a total shrinkage of 16-5%. Complete
deformation occurs about the temperature of cone 15.
This material is 2 miles from the railway on the opposite side of the
nver, ana hence not so easy of access as outcrops to the east.
Ravenscrag.
417. Near the village of Ravenscrag there are numerous outcrops
of the white band clays. They can be seen along the valley to the east
and west as a white line half way up the slopes and in masses included in
slip blocks in the valley bottom.
Sample 417 was collected from a point on the north side of the valley
on sec. 30, tp. 6, range 23, w. of 3rd. mer. It is a sandy clay with fair
plasticity, requiring but ?3% of water to mould in the stiff-mud condition.
The drying properties are good and the air shrinkage is 5%.
Burned to cone 03 the test pieces show swelling characteristic of siliceous
clay; the total shrinkage being 4-4%. At this cone the colour is a dirty
cream, and the body is fairly dense.giving an absorption of 13 • 3%. Vitrifica-
tion is not quite complete at cone 9. Deformation takes place at cone 20.
The raw material contains minute iron oxide concretions and these
appear in the bricklets burned above cone 1 as black specks. They are
particularly prominent when burned under reducing conditions
418 to 423. The most important beds exposed in Eagle butte, at the
junction of Concrete couUe and the Frenchman River valley, were sampled
and tested as follows. (See page 27 for measured section.)
No. 418A is a six-foot bed of clay near the top of the section. It is
slightly calcareous and contains lignitic matter and numerous leaf im-
pressions
It works up to a rather stff mass with 27% of water and dries safely
without checking. However, a white scum is very prominent and in the
burned peces !t completely covers the red colour of the body. The air
shrinkage of 7-6% is not excessive.
Burned to cone 06 the total shrinkage is 8-6% and the absorption
20-4%.
When mixed with 25% or even 50% of the yellow calcareous silts
overlying it, this clay would make good common brick and hollow ware
by the stiff-mud process.
32
The heavy scum developed on the brick would make them of no value
for facmg purposes.
No. 418 is a thick bed of dark brown carbonaceous clay. The laree
amount of finely divided carbonaceous matter present makes this clay S
little value to the c ayworker.
tK K^!i ^^V^ ^" f"^°°' ^ ""^ greenish-yellow clay about 66 feet below
the hard sandstone horizon of the top part of the section. It works up to a
stiff, but not sucky plasticity with 25% of water. Slow drying can be
accomplished without cracking but the shrinkage of 9% is excessivT
Mixed With some of the sand, found a few feet Mow it. the drying Td
i>urnmg shnnkages could be reduced and the material made workable
Burned to the temperature of cone 06 the body is steel hard and the
colour a fair red. A small amount of scum is present, but the addition of
a very small percentage of barium salt cures it.
Mixed with 30% sand the drying properties would be improved and
the shrinkage reduced to within practical limits for making soft-mud brick
This clay could also be used for red face brick, moulded by the dry-
press process. '
420. About half way up the section there is a hard band of non-
plastic clay, which appeared much like flint clay. On testing a sample
in the laboratory ,t was found to be a hardened calcareous clay of little
value. ^
u^ *?*•,• '^'T* ^'^''^" ^^* ^^^^ ^^^ '^^'^' °f ^mple 420 there is a 6-foot
bed of a light brown or yellov.ish clay. It is in a part of the section that
consists largely of jellow silts, and differential erosion causes the clay to
project beyond the general line of the section as a ledge.
„^^,'^'"P'^ °^ V^'' ^ '*'°^' it to be a very sriff plastic clay, requiring
27% of water to obtain the best working consistency. It dries ver>' slowlv
and u-ill not stand fast drying. The air shrinkage of 7-0% is within
practical limits and may be considered low in view of its stiff plasticity.
At cone 06 the body is hard and promising as a common stiff-mud brick
matenal. The colour of the body is salmon bnt is obscured by a heavy
white scum. Deformation takes place about cone 2.
This clay, like many other red-burning calcareous clays of the district
develops so much scum in burning that it must be considered doubtful as a
face brick matenal. Its stiff nature when wet would make it hard to break
down with ordinary crushers and rolls so as to mix in sand or other non-
plastic matenal. If this could be done it could be used for making common
stiff-mud bnck, and perhaps hollow block.
422. The thickest bed in the white band of this localtiy is a greyish-
white clay of the stoneware type. A thin layer of limonitic sand overiies
the white clay but does not extend its effects into the clay except along
a few %-crtical joint planes. The clay has excellent plasticity when wetted
f**- T
33
with 24% of water and dries to a good strong body, without cracking, with
a shrinkage of 7-6%.
Burned to cone 06 the colour is cream-white, the body dense and steel
hard, the total shrinkage 9%, and the absorption 12-3%. Vitrification
takes place between cones 5 and 7, and bloating starts at cone 9. Defor-
mation is complete at cone 18.
The burning properties of this material suggest its use as a stoneware
or sewerpipe clay.
42?^. A mixture of equal parts of 421 and 422 made a very suff body
with ai. excessive shrinkage; 30-40% of burnt clay grog would be
neces. ' e it workable.
Sewerpipe .ests burned in a commercial kiln to cone 01 came out a
yellowish-green colour without the least sign cf salt glaze. The material
of 421 is too calcareous for this purpose, but makes a good bond clay uith
grog for manufacturing hollow block or tile.
423. A bed of some 6J feet of white silt is the most prominent material
between the white clay and the thick sands at the base of the section.
Under the microscope it is seen to consist largely of fine angular grains of
quartz coated by white cay. Musco\ ite mica and black particles of horn-
blende are present in minor amounts.
This material has very little plasticity or b nding power and hence
would be of no value used alone, but mixed with the 17 feet of clay over
lying it, the who'e would make a good basis for a sewerpipe mixture.
On sec. 20, tp. 6, range 23, w. of 3rd. mer., to the south ot the rnlway,
some stripping has been done on a 4-foot coal seam occurring at the level
of the white band. The coal is overiain by some 10 feet of plastic clays,
four distinct beds n all separated by thin lignite seams. These light
coloured clays are followed by yellow calcareous silts and grey plastic
clays similar to those described as occurring at Eagle butte.
424. Number 424 is a light grey clay immediately overiying the 4-foot
bed of lignite. It requires the laige amount of 30% of water to develop
maximum plasticity, and at its best this is excessive or sticky. Slow drying
can be accomplisheil, but, without grog, it would not stand fast drying.
The air shrinkage of 10% is excessive.
Burned to cone 06 the colour is a light pink shade, the Ixxly is steel
hard, the total shrinkage is 12-0% and the absorption 12-0^( . Vitrification
takes place at about cone 4 and bloating of the body starts at cone 7.
Deformation is complete at cone 1 1 .
425. Number 4?'! is the thickest bed in the section. It consists of
4 feet of greyish-white clay, which worked up into a mass of sticky plasticity
with 28% of water. The air shrinkage of 8-5% is on the verge of being
excessive. Slow drying can be acxumplishcd, but for fast drying consider-
able grog would be necessary to open up the body.
34
Burned to cone 06 the total shrinkage is 9 • 6% and the absorption 12-3%
At this temperature the body is steel hard and pink in colour. Vitrification
takes place at cone 5 with a total shrinkage of 14-6%. Bloating of the
body starts at cone 6 and deformation follows at cone 9.
426. Number 426 is a 2-foot bed of greyish-brown clay next in order
above 425. It requires 31% of water to n ake it workable and at that it
IS very sticky. The air shrinkage of 13-0% is excessive and full sized
bnck could not be dried safely.
Burned to cone 06 the colour is dark cream. At this temperature the
body IS steel hard with a total shrinkage of 130% and an absorption of
HO/c Vitrification is complete at cone 1, and deformation occurs at
cone 7.
Number 427 is a light yellow or cream coloured clay, requiring 32%
of water to develop the maximum plasticity. The working qualities are
not good, the mass being stiff and sticky. Large pieces could be dried
with difficulty, the air shrinkage of 10 0% being excessive.
Burned to cone 03 the body is steel hard and of a light salmon colour.
At this temperature the total shrinkage is 14 0% and the absorption 9 0%.
Vitrification takes place at about cone 4 and bloating starts with cone 7.
At cone 10 the body is completely deformed.
These clays (424-427) are characterized by an excessive or sticky
plastiaty. They take up large percentages of water, and, with the drying
out of this water, the shrinkage is correspondingly high.
A mixture of the clays, in the proportion shown in the bank, showed
no improvement in working qualities over the individual clays. The
addition of 33i% of grog (through 12 mesh) improved the drying and burn-
ing qualities. Better results would be obtained by mixing in about 25%
of a clay found on the north side of the valley. Unless used in connexion
with other clays of the district these beds have no value in themselves
for plastic ware because of the defects in drying and burning. They can,
however, be used for making dry-pressed face brick.
On the north side of the Frenchman River valley in sec. 23, tp. 6,
range 23, w. of 3rd. mer., the following measurements were taken on the
outcrop of the white band from bottom to top.
i*^-.
35
Carbonaceous sand 1 + foot
Lignite 2 „
Carbonaceous silt J „
Lignite 1 „
Fine white sand } „
Grey clay with rusty spots 2 „
Dark brown clay | „
Greyish-white clay 2 „ No. 429.
Grey clay containing rusty spots 1 „
Fine white silt 2J „ No. 428,
Greyish-white clay IJ „
Greyish-white sand containing numerous
iron oxide concretions 6 „
Grey clay containing much selenite 5§ „
26 feet
At this point the white band does not contain as much clay as in
exposures farther east near Eastend. Two of the cleanest beds were
sampled and the tests resumed as follows: —
No. 429 is a fine . - clay, greyish-white in colour. Mixed with
25% of water, the mass ..a. cellent plasticity and dries safely, both slow
and fast, with a shrinkage 1%. Soluble salts are present and appear
at the edges and corners of the drying ware, as feather crystals.
Burned to the temperature of cone 06 Lhe body is hard and cream
coloured. The total shrinkage is 8-0% and the absorption 15-0%. Vitri-
fication is complete at cone 5 with a total shrinkage of 14-5%. Bloating
of the body starts at cone 7. The vitrified body is a dark stoneware grey.
Deformation takes place at cone 13.
Number 428 is a clay silt in which the silt particles are mostly of
angular quartz. It has very low plasticity and required only 20% of water
to mould in the soft-mud way. The silty nature of the material makes
drying of the test pieces proceed very fast. The drying shrinkage amounts
to 5%.
Burned up to cone 5 the body shows swelling, but beyond that cone
shrinkage proceeds to 8 • 3% at cone 9. At the latter cone the body is white
and steel hard with an absorption of 5-8%. The body is deformed com-
pletely at cone 22.
The highest bed in this section is the thickest but it is badly con-
taminated by selenite and iron oxide nodules. It would have to be washed
to be of use for stoneware or sewerpipe. The whole section would make a
good face brick mixture worked either by the stiff-mud or dry-press process.
Because of the presence of considerable concretionary iron oxide material
it would not be a gooo section to work for sewerpipe clay.
36
Eastend.
On sees. 7 and 8, tp. 7, range 21. W. of 3rd. mer., there are excellent
exposures of the white clays at an elevation of about ISO feet above the
railway in the valley to the east. The amount of overburden is not great
and the amount of good clay shown is exceptional. An opening has been
made in the side hill and the following beds exposed :—
Glacial drift i_io feet
Grey plastic clay g ^ No. 430.
Yellowish clayey sand 2
White plastic clay s ^ No. 431.
Purplish-grey plastic clay 2 „ No. 432.
White plastic clay 6 "„ No. 433.
23 „ below glacial
The beds in this particular outcrop are good sewerpipe clays but for
iking stoneware they must be selected. The presence of appreciable
amounts of soluble salts requires an extra amount of water in the washing
of this material, otherwise trouble is caused by the clogging of the pores
of plaster moulds by crystallization of the salts.
430. This is a dull grey-coloured clay, very stiff and .sticky in its
working qualities, requiring 27 per cent of water to develop maximum
plasticity. It contains very fine grained concretionary iron particles,
and p'psuin lumps up to J inch in diameter. Soluble salts are also present
making washing necessary for use in making stoneware potterj-. The
drying qualities are good and shrinkage of 7 per cent not excessive. It
burns to a cream-coloured body at all temperatures up to cone 5, but the
unwashed material is speckled with fused iron spots at cone 7 and more
so at cone 9.
The total shrinkage at cone 9 is 14-3 per cent and the absorption
o • 8 per cent.
Complete vitrification does not take place until cone 11 is reached
and the body deforms at the temperature of cone 23. The same bed sampled
one mile east on sec. 36, 6, 22, w. of 3rd. is slightly more refractory, not
\atnfying until burned to cone 11 and requiring the temperature of cone 26
to cause deformation.
431. This is a very plastic greyish-white clay which works up to
maximum plasticity with 26% of water. It dries well in large pieces with
a shnnkage of 6%. It is fairiy free of concretionary iron grains and gypsum,
and soluble salts are not as prominent as in the overiying clay (430). The
burnt colour is white to cream up to cone 5, beyond which it assumes the
typical stoneware grey. Vitrification takes place at cone 7 and the body
begins to bloat at cone 9.
hiiL
r *^ i' '»
I'l ATK \
All om,ro() of the Whili'timd .stoiifwarr .l.ivs in tlir l'r,.n, hinan Kiv.r v.ill.-v,
west of Kastend, Sask.
I'l ATK VI
,
Whitemud stoneware clays, iK-ing worked on sec. 36, tp. 6, ransje 12. w. of 3rd.
mer , near Kastend, Sask.
u,
37
The total shrinkage at cone 7 is 15 per cent.
432. Particular attention must be paid to this bed by those using
these clays for stoneware because of the rather high content of soluble
salts. In casting or pressing pieces from this clay the pores of the piaster
of pans mould soon get clogged by the salts crystallizing in then«, after the
mould has been used several times, thus causing the ware to stick to the
mould. It also contains fine-grained iron oxide concretions.
This clay has excellent plasticity, requiring but 23% water to mould
stiff-mud. It dries well with an air shrinkage of 8-3%. The small amount
of water required to attain maximum plasticity in this clay do»«s not appear
to accompany a low air shrinkage.
The burnt colour is a dirty cream up to cone 5 where it assumes a
grey tint, characteristic of the vitrification range. Vitrification is com-
plete at cone 7 and bloating begins at cone 9. The total shrinkage at
vitrification is 15 per cent.
433. The lowest workable bed is the thickest and best white clay
of the section. It has excellent working qualities, requiring 24% of water
to develop the l)est plasticity, and drying to a good strong body with an
air shrinkage of but 5 %. It is free of concretionary iron jxidc lumps but
there is a small amount of crystalline gypsum present, making washing
necessary for pottery.
The burnt colour is cream up to about rone 5, wliere the tone becomes
grey. Bloating does not become serious until cone 10, giving a wider
range for burning than the fvo overlying beds.
This lied is the Ixist stoneware clay of the district and can Ik- recog-
nized in other outcrops within a couple of miles southwest.
433A. A mixture consisting of the three lower ix.is 431, 432, 4.?3,
in the proportions represented in the bank: 35% 431, 20^^ 432, 45'^,' 433.
Twcnty-fi\e per cent of water was required to develoj) maximum
plasticity. The working and drying qualities were good, showing an air
shrinkage of 6%.
The burnt colour is cream up to cone 5, beyond which it is grey. Vitri-
fication takes place at cone 7 with a total shrinkage of 15%.
It takes a good salt glaze in a range from cone 1 to cone 7.
On sec. 36, 6, 22, 3rd. there are several good exposures of the white
band, particularly on a long pointed erosion form (see Plate VI) north of
Wm. Days house. The beds resemble those of the previously described
section except in the absence of a bed corresponding to 432.
A considerable quantity of clay from this section was shipped to
Medicine Hat during the latter pait of 1Q16 for the manufacture of stone-
ware goods.
434. The lowest clay bed of the section is a light grey, almost white
plastic clay requiring 25% water to mould in the sti(T-mud condition.
It dries safely with a shrinkage of 6% to a body of good strength. Burned
»
in a ranRc fn.m 06 to 9 the colour chanRcs from a creamy-white tORtoneware
grey. The total shrinkage at cone 5 is 12% and the ab«>rption 5-4%.
The body is completely vitrified at cone 7 and continues good to cone 9,
with a total shrinkage of IS';!^. Deformation takes place at the temper-
ature of cone 16.
435. This is a rather silty white clay, requiring only 23% water to
mould. It dries safely with a low shrinkage of 4-5%. The colour is cream
in a range from cone 010 to 7, beyond which it turns grey. The body is
nearly vitrified at cone 9, having only 2% absorption and total shrinkage
of 11%. Deformation takes place about cone 19.
435A. A mixture of half and half 434 and 435 has fair plasticity and
dries well. It acts much like 434 in the fire, giving a vitrified body at cone
7, with a total shrinkage of 13-3%. Deformation takes place at cone 20,
indicating an increase in refractoriness.
436. The topmost l)ed of the white band is similar in colour and
refractoriness to the corresponding bed on sees. 5 and 6, tp. 7, range 21,
and represented by No. 430. It is a dark grey clay largely coloured by
organic matter. The plasticity with 25% water is excellent and moulded
pieces dr>' safely with a shrinkage of 7%. The burnt colour is cream-
white up to cone 9 at which temperature the total shrinkage is 9-6% and
absorption 9-3%. Complete vitrification takes place at cone 12 and de-
formation starts at cone 26. This is a No. 3 fireclay and the most re-
fractory clay in the district.
The three clays described above make a good sewerpipc mixture but
only the lower two beds should be used in a mixture for vitrified stoneware.
The top clay is a good refractory material.
South of Eastend near the top of the valley side on sec. 25, tp. 6,
range 22, 3rd. mer., there are several buttes showin^r e white clays.
One of the largest sections of the white band in the dip . was found on
one of these buttes. Six individual beds were sampled
Glacial drift ver^ thin.
White clay, becoming sandy towards top,
selenite and iron concretions present. ... 8 feet No. 437.
Greyish-white clay 5 ^ Xo. 438.
White plastic clay containing iron con-
cretions 4 "I
White clayey sat. 1 [[ 1 J ^'o- 439.
Dark grey clay 1
Wh! clay with thin sandy bands 4 „ No. 440.
WhK^ clayey sand 2 „ No. 441.
Light grey clay with thin sandy bands 3 „ No. 442.
Brown sand, lignite and clay 1 J „
Brown sand 4
^ n
Yellow and grey coarse sands 25
^
39
Thf upper part of the 8CcU«>n ronsim* wholly of day but louanln the
haw it l)W)m€ti more sandy and roncntionary, iron uxiile lump* are
prominent.
Be<!s 4.18 and 4M an- t!a\s of ixa-lltru working (|ualilies l»ut 4.W is
inclined to be stickx and lontains small granular iron oxidj- ronrrt-tions.
437. I.iRht gri\, almost whin- stontwari- day which rtriuires 24%
water to develop maximum plastidtx. h contains Kritty material and
would require to l)e washitl for pott«r> . h dries well with a shrinkaKe of
6"/;. A minor amount of soluble s;ilt is apparent at the corners and edges
of the (IriH test pieces where exapcration is most intenst-.
Burned to cone 1 the colour is cream-white, the Uxly haviuR a total
shrinkage of 7 -6' J and an absorption of 21 -Tf,'. Vitrification takes place
with cone 7 at which temix>rature the colour is a light grey and the total
shrinkage 12 -OS'^ Deformation takes place with cone 16.
This is a gooti stoneware or scwerpipc clay and could also he used for
making brick or structural hollow-ware if mixed with the other l)cds of the
section.
438. This is a fine white or light grey clay that darkens on the surface
in weathering. It is one of the best working clays of the district. Soluble
salts are present in small amount and appear at the corners and edges of
moulded pieces when air drying. Howc\cr, there was no trouble <;xpe-
rienced with the washed clay when cast or pres.sed in moulds.
The plastidty is excellent and the maximum develops with about
25% of water.
The drying qualities are good and the air shrinkage of 7% is within
practical limits.
The burnt colour is cream at temperatures up to cone 3. Be>'ond
this the colour changes to stoneware grey and vitrification is complete
at cone 7. Bloating of the body starts at cone 9 and complete deformation
takes place about cone 20.
The total shrinkage is 7% at cone 03 and the absorption 14 6^c.
At \itrification the total shrinkage is 14 0%.
438W. Washing this clay reduces the vitrification temperature to cone
5 and the shrinkage to 12-3%.
This clay is an excellent stoneware or modelling clay and should l)e
saved for this purpose and used in the manual arts departments of the
schools of the Province or in small potteries.
40
AnalysM ot Clays from EastMid, Saak.
SIO...
AhOb.
Ferf>,
FeO .
CaO .
Mip.
Na,0
CO,.,.
HiO..
434.
435.
69-04
21 ^.^
t-K4
•35
•4ft
■ fttt
2.-2
•43
•07
68^24
22 33
I ftl
•30
K.
■4H
2-77
•08
•07
.his
436
43* W.
21 -m
.'10
•24
ftft^94
1-40
■37
l(N) 49
•4H
•31
•(*»
■SO
•10
5 ■SO
100-43
■ Mt
-28
2-58
04
■10
3 Mi
100 -.^6
's iii.i
by ni
Iv v:<-'
.s much like No. 4.?8 in appearance, bin
nlastirity it is incline<I to lie sticky. It is
' minute concretionary iron oxith- jiartic Irs.
ill Init the sticky nature of the plasticity
439. Thr
Vihen wetted v
also contaminate'
These can be e
remains.
The dryinp nualities are gou.l hut the air .shrinknge of S-.S*;; is on (he
verge of being fxceasive. The sticky qualities of this clay cause it to clr\
slowly, and when presse<i in plaster moulds it has a tendency to stick to
the plaster in spots, and strains so induced cause cracking. The sand-like
iron oxide concretions have to be washed out to u.se it on the (X)tters wheel.
In burning, the colour is cream-white at the lower temperatures, but
changes to gre\- approaching the vitrification point. At cone 03 the total
shrinkage is 10^0% and the absorption 12-4S;^ \'itrification takes place
at cone 7. At this temperature the fine iron oxide concretions are evident
as black fused spots, but thi> is not so apparent as in No. 440. Deformation
takes place at cone 20.
This clay when washed and mixed with one of the more silty clays
makes a good stoneware body.
440. The lower three !)cds of this section are not as thick as the upper
ones and except for No. 440 the>- are more sand\'.
Bed No. 440 consists of white or light gre\- clay bands with thin sandv-
partings. It works up to a body of excellent plasticity with 26% water
and dries safely with a shrinkage of S-e*;;. Soluble salts are quite evident
as scum.
The colour of the burnt body is a dirty cream up to cone 3 beyond
which it turns dark grey. The total shrinkage at cone 03 is 12%, and
vitrification is about complete at cone 5, the total shrinkage at this temper-
ature being 13%. Bloating of the body occurs at cone 7 and is very bad
at cone 9. Complete deformation takes place approaching cone 14.
Near the vitrifying point the body is fineh- speckled by fused iron
oxide spots. It would be nece»sar>' to wash this material for potter\
^
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: is
ies*.
ity
lie
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41
work. In doing so the vitrifying temperature is reduced to coiu- .1, but
tile total slirinkage of 15% siiows an increase.
For stoneware pottery work this in-d should be avoided as loii^; as
possible in favour of other elays rontainiuR less amounts of soluble salts.
441. This is a fine white silt consistinn largely of minute ant,ular
quartz fragments coated with clay. Alone it is too silt\ to lu' of usi- but
when mixed with the "hole section would help make a giKxl si>werpi|)e
Ixxiy. It is (luite refractory, standing up to the temperature of cone 25
without deformation.
442. The lowest l)ed in the section consists of a light grey clay with
thin siindy lenses and partings. It is discolourwl here and there by streaks
of iron oxide concretions. Selenite lumps are also [>resent as an imi)urity.
The i)lasticity of this material is fair, inclining to be short. The
drying properties are go»Ki and the shrinkage of 7 •()',' not exces,sive.
Burnefl up to cone 06 the total shrinkage is 7-.V;; and the absorpli(m
14-0%. At this temperature the colour is a light pink.
Vitrification is alx)ut complete at cone 5 and deformation takes place
at cone 12.
This Ix'd if, \iA) thin (.? feet) to be of value alone but would work int«) a
sewerpi()e lxxl>- with the rest of the section.
442A. Near the alx/ve <1. i riljcd secti(m and on the same lot there is
a .? to 4-foot l)ed of lignite. Ii occurs at an elevation higher than that of
the white band.
Overlying the coiil there is a four-fiK)t IhkI of red-burning clay, which,
in turn, is co\ered by 8 feet or more of sand.
The clay is defective in having a very high shrinkage and soluble
salts that cause a scum to appear on the burni-d brick. The |)«)sition
the clay (x^cupies lx?tween the sand and lignite would not allow it to be
mined with the lignite. It would be re(|uire<l as a nxif to hold the san<l.
444. On or alx)ut si-c. 27, tp. 7, range 21, w. .*rd. mer., there i> a high
bluff containing one of the most complete si-ctions of Fort I nioii anti
OligfKX'nc IkkIs known in the district.
The white baml is represented by only 25 feet of grey clays, \er> stiff
and stivky in their working qualities. The white or light grey sands,
found la>low the white clays, in the exi)osuri>s to the southwest, are no.t
present here.
Near the top of the bluff there is a thick Ik-iI of a green and red mottlwl
clay similar to the clays at the top of the sc-ction exptjsed in the escarpment
south of Elkwater lake, All)erta.
This reti and green clay is calcareous but it cracks badly in air-drying.
Bricklets moulded dry-press burned weak and porous at 06 and firechcnked
badly at higher temperatures.
42
Mixing with grog iUh:s not help the working qualities because the clay
shrinks so much in drying and burning thai the brick jjecomes weak and
jxirous.
445. North of Kastcnd in a small coulee on sec. 29. tp. 7, range 21,
w. of .?rd. nier. the settlers of the vicinity are mining lignite from a 4J-foot
l)ed. Another lignite seam only a few inches in thickness occurs .l>o\e the
main seam and is separated from it by 4\ feet of grey carl)onact>ous cla>-.
This clay works up into a stiff mass with 32% water. The air shrinkage
IS 9 0':f and large pieces, dried slowly, do not crack; but it would lx> too
tender a clay to us<> in the stiflf-mud process.
In burning, the total shrinkage, at cone 03. of 10- 69c is excessive and
t hi red colour is obscured by a heavy scum. This material is of little value
to the clay worker.
446. About half way up the bluflf on sec. 29, tp. 7, range 21, w. of 3rd.,
there is a hardened band of clay which resembles a flint day T.-sts on it
in the laboratory show it to Ik- a hardenetl calcareous clay or impure lime-
stone.
In gliicial and early post-glacial time the Frenchman River valley
was occupied by a much larger stream than at present. This river was
over a mile wide in the vicinity of the present town of Eastend, where
Fastend coulee joins the main valley. The character of the sediments,
mostly clays and cla> silt, indicates a wide sluggish river.
With the comi)lete retreat of the continental ice the climatic conditions
changed from moist to semi-arid and the river was reduced to a small stream
some 30 feet across. It is now entrenching itself in the former flood plain
and has reached a depth of about fifteen feet.
Near the town of Fastend a number of excellent cutbanks are to be
seen along the ri\-er. and sample So. 500 was collected from a lO-Umt
section on the north bank of the river, about a quarter of a mile west of
Strong's ranch house
500. This is a clay silt of gcxxl plasticity requiring Is'/'f of water
to mould in the stiff-mud condition. It can l)e tlnai slow Iv with care,
but would ne«l 25'', to 35';; of s;md to reduce the shrinkage (8-6^";), and
overcome checking in dr>ing. Sand is available in the ri\er bottom rear
at hand, but k-tter results would be obtained with the red-burning Oiigocene
siind found to the northwest of Ravenscrag, some 4 miles distant.
Burned in a range from 08 to 03 the colour of the body is a fine red,
darker at the higher cones and Iwst at 06. At the latter temperature
the total shrinkage is S-e'; and absorption le^":,. Deformation takes
i)lace alK)ut cone 2.
This material treated with sand or burnt clay grog is valuable for making
retl common brick and drain tile. It can be worked either soft-mud or
stili-nuiti.
4,1
Southwest from Eastend along the F"rcnchniaa River valley, the white
band outcrops near or at the top of the valley sides as far south as Watsons
ranch. Southward from this locality the band dips In-neat h the valley
and its place is taken by thick l)eds of grey and brown RunilM> clays, of no
value to the ceramic industr>'. These clays take up large (juantities of
water and in wet weather lH>come very sticky. I.arge exfX)sures are to In.-
seen in the deep valley of Mule creek in tp. .S, range 17, w. of .Srd. mer.
On sec. 33, tp. 5, range 20, w. of .^rd. mer. along the east side of the
valley, very prominent exjwsures of the white band arc to Ik- seen, i he
lower exposc'il part consists of 30 feet of coarse grey siind, somewhat claye\'
in places and discoloured here and there l)y iron oxide from the weathering
ot concretions.
The sands pass into fine white silty clay and this again is covered by
white or light grey plastic clays. The silty clay bed is some 30 feet thick
and the plastic clays total but h.df that amount.
The silty clay is represented by sample numlx-r 448 and the plastic
clays by number 447.
On sec. 20, tp. 6, range 20, w. of .Ird. mer., extensive outcrops are to lie
.,een in a couli-e tributary to the main valley. Here llie material is largely
white silty clay similar to sample No. 448.
The overburden is very light, consisting of a couple of fe^t of boulder
clay.
447. The mixture of clays in this sample works up into a mass of
excellent plasticity with 26*^ of water. Drying may l)e carried on fast
witii >ut danger of cracking, the air shrinkage lieing but 6' ; Soluble
salts are present and appear as a white scum or encrustation at the corners
and edges of the flried pieces.
Burned to the temperature of cone 06 the body is cream-white in colour
and of fair hardness. The absorption at this temperature is I.VS'y .
At hightr temperatures the colour changes to stoneware grey and
vitrification is complete at cone 6 with a total shrinkage of 1 2 •()' J . Bloating
of the bo<ly starts slightly alxne core 7 and is very bad at cone 9. Com-
plete deformation takes place at cone 14.
448. Although this material has been described as a silt it contains
a fair i)ercentage of clay. Made up into stiff-mud with 24'; of water
the mass is s!u>rt but can be worked. Drying is (luite safe with an air
shrinkage of .S-O'/c.
When burned to the temperature of cone 06 the IkkK' is fairly hard,
the total shrinkage 5','. and the absorption l.'^O';.
Vitrification is complete at cone 7 with a total shrinkage of 12 3%.
Deformation takes place at cone 15.
The silt contains minute iron oxide concretions and when burned under
reducing conditions above cone 1 these appear as fine black six'cks on the
faci's of t he test pieces.
44
A mixture of 447 and 448 in the proportions found in the bank would
nnke excellent sewerpipe material. The good working qualities, low
6hnnka?e. and low vitrification temperature are all points in its favour
hrom the foregomg descriptions it is apparent that the Eastend district
IS well supplied with good clays suitable for making sewerpipe. stoneware,
and structural day products. The presence of these clays along the railway
and along a clear fresh water stream is particularly fortunate, and should
a cheap fuel supply, such as gas. be stn.ck within a commercial radius of
the district the town of Eastend should develop as a clayworking centre
for the middle west.
CLAYS OF THE SWIFT CURRENT DISTRICT.
Swift Current.
The town of Swift Current is a railway centre for the Canadian Pacific
railway and an important distributing point. An examination of the vicin-
ity aied to discover any good cla>s. The valley silt of Swift Current
dMcult*i^s '"'°'"'*'"'^' ''"^ '* P'*^"^"'^ ^^^ "*"^' ^l^'ng and scumming
The Pierre shale outcrops in th.- terraces along the west bank of the
creek just north of the town, beginning near the hospital. It is dark
grey to brown in colour and contains a considerable quantity of flakes
and rosettes of gypsum. This shale is defective in so many qualities
that It IS useless for the manufacture of burned clay products.
538. On the outskirts of the town southeast of the bridge over Swift
Current creek two terrace levels show stratified clay and silt to a depth of
uha. f '"'''^ °^ ^'"^ "PP*^*" 2^ ^^^ *°''« "P t« a mass of fair plasticitv
with 28% of water. The air shrinkage amounts to only 5% but ne>orthc-
less the brick crack in the drjing process.
Burned to cone 05 the total shrinkage is 4 • 3%, the colour a din % salmon
due to scum.
It would be possible to make a soft-mud brick from this material
by adding about 25% of sand and 01% of salt. The product would be a
low grade common '.rick suitable for backing purposes only.
539. A second sample collected near the Canadian Pacific railwav
siding east of the bridge acted similar to 538.
Beverley.
South of Beverley on sec. 33, tp. 14. range 15, w. of 3rd. mer., the
upper part of the Pierre shale outcrops in a coulee tributary to the valley
traversed by the Canadian Pacific railway. The Pitrre is here quite light-
coloured, and sandy, with thin bands of dark clay shale. Civpsum is present
m noticeable amounts. Samples of both the sandy and fat clavey beds
were collated (540 and 541) and teste<l. Both materials show excessive
45
shrinkage, cracking badly in air-dmng, and, although the colour of 540
when burned ii5 a good red, the effect is spoiled by white lumps of gypsum.
The Pierre shale of this vicinity is to be avoided as a raw material for
manufacturing clay ware.
An examination of the country adjacent to the main line of the Cana-
dian Pacific railway west to the Alberta boundary failed to discover wf)rk-
able clays. A large flat at Maple Creek is underlain by stoneless day
but the material is a typical gumbo. It is sticky or excessively plastic
and cracks badly in air-dr>;ng. When moulded in the dry-press way
and burned the body proiluced from such material is punky and weak,
with an excessive shrinkage.
Neville.
South of Swift Current, along the Vanguard branch of the Canadian
Pacific railway near Neville station, a small coul6e contains an exposure
of Oligocene clay and clay silt. The material consists of light grey and
reddish-brown interstratified calcareous clay and silt, the upper few feet
being contaminated by limestone concretions. Below the concretion
zone there is some twenty feet of clay and silt.
535. A sample of the lower twenty feet was made up into a full
sized stiff-mud brick, but it failed to survive the drying test. A large
quantity was then taken and mixed with 20% of sand and this mixture
was pugged and put through a stiff-mud brick machine. Made into solid
brick and hollow brick the mixture dried without cracking to a shrinkage
of 4 0%. Burned in a range from cone 07 to 03 the brick were all good
and sound and of a pink to brownish-red colour.
Treated with sand in amounts of 20 to ,10 per cent this material will
make a fair grade of face brick and hollow brick by the stiff-mud process.
The l(x:ation of the deposit along the railway near the town of Neville is
very favourable, but no good sand occurs in the immediate neighbourhood.
Woodrow.
532. The flood plain of the WootI river near Woodrow contains a
deposit of clay that looks prLimising in the field, but laboratory tests show
it to be very defective in its drs-ing properties. It cracks very badly even
in very slow drying. Burned to cone 07 the colour is a good red. If a
good deposit of sand could be located near hand it might be possible to
work the clay by the soft-mud process, adding 25 to 30% of sand. The
sample collected was too small to try this, but the addition of a large
percentage of sand is mentioned as the only possible means of working the
material.
ii
46
Ponteix.
533. West of VVocxlrow near Ponteix a similar clay to that described
al)ove occurs in the flood plain of another branch of the Wood river. It
cracks slightly in drying and would require the addition of 25% of s;»nd
to overcome this defect. A small amount of scum is present and barium
salt would be necessary to overcome this.
Burned to cones 010 to 03 the colour of the body is a go<Kl red. By
treating the clay as mentioned alxjve and moulding it by the soft-mud
prtx;ess a fair grade of red common building brick could be manufactured.
CLAYS OF THE WOOD MOINTAIN DISTRKT.
The central part of the Province along the international Ixiundary is
occupietl by an ele\ation, a remnant of Tertiar\ rocks, known as Wood
Mountain plateau. In its westward extension it consists of a narrow
ridge, some fifty miles long and only a few miles across, forming the water-
shed between the waters of the Frenchman and the Wood rivers. To
the east and northeast, the plateau descends and broadens, passing into the
Coteau du Mis.souri. Its surface, particularly in the southern and western
parts, is very rough cut by many short deep coulees of the Missouri drainage.
The north facing side of the plateau is not as rough as the south slope
and the descent to the plain is more gradual.
The abandoned river valleys of Big Muddy and Willowbunch lakes
cut across the eastern part of the district in a northwest-southeast direction
and in them are to l)e found the best exposures of Fort Union clays.
The Canadian Pacific railway crosses the Willowbunch valley near
the south end of the Lake-of-the-Rivers and afTords an outlet for the re-
fractory clays of the vicinity of Willows.
The Canadian Northern railway, Bengough branch, is constructeti
as far west as Willowbunch lake but does not tap the clay resources. The
proposed extension of this line westward crosses the Willowbunch valley,
enters the Big Muddy valley near Willowbunch village and follows along
the south side of Twelve Mile lake. South of this lake there are important
exposures of refractory clays and valuable beds of lignite.
451. The western extension of Wood Mountain plateau, known
as Pinto Horse butte, is well grassed and clay exposures are rare. On sec.
16, tp. 4, range 11, w. of 3rd. mer., a small exposure was found over a
lignite seam. A four-foot bed of greyish-white sandy clay semi-refractory
in character is the most important part of the section. Although limited
in amount and located some distance from transportation it has a local
value to the settlers for patching stove linings. Burned up toconeQ (2390°F.)
it has a total shrinkage of 100% and is not vitrified.
452. This material collected on sec. 24, tp. 3. range 10. w. of 3rd.
mer.. has the same interest as 451. It represents a 20-foot section of the
47
-
white band which in this case consists of that thicknttss of sandy ««"> fliiv
containing numerous lenses of iron-stainetl sand. Burnwl up t<» n>n«' 7
(2320°F) it makes a gtKxl strong body with a total shrinkage of «•()',' and
an absorption of \\6%. It deforms at alwut 26(K)°K. (cone 15).
The sandy character and limited amount of the material constiluiinn
the white band in this part of the area is a contrast to the thi«k cla\ and
sand sections found to the northeast and northwest. No trace of the
white band was fouml in the Tertiaiy exposures to the east iis far as R(Kk\
creek in tp. 1. range 4, w. of 3rd. mer.
In a large coul^- which cuts across the plateau through sec. 16, tp. .?.
range 6, w. of 3rd. mer. two beds of Fort I nion clays have In-en usid by the
settlers of the vicinity for adobe. These two Inxls, 453 and 453.A. are
rather conspicuous because of the contrast ng colours blue-grey and
yellow
453. This is a four-foot lietl of clay, blue-grey in colour. It reciuin-s
only 24% of water to work into a very stiff plastic mass. Small list
pieces cracked badly in air-drying. Dry-press tests indicate a Imk1> of fair
strength and a good light red colour at cone 06.
453A. A seven and a half foot Ix-d of yellow clay (>\erlies Ix'il 453.
Like most of the yellow fat clay beds of the Fort I'nion it is calcareou . The
air shrinkage of S% is not excessive but a 3" block cracked in air-dr\ ing.
Burned in a range from 010 to 06. the colour is a gixxl a-d but turns pink
to buff, approaching cone 1. Deformation takes place about cone 3.
These two clays are of small value from a ceramic standpoint liecause
of the drying defects, but the tests ser\e to illustrate the character of the Fort
Union clays in this part of the area.
Along the north slope of VVo(xi Mountain plateau, across township 4,
ranges 4 and 5, there are numerous exfxjsures of lignite, and clays imme<li-
ately associated with the lignite.
454. On sec. 11, tp. 4, range 5, two fairly thick beds of lignite are
lieing worked by the open-cut method. The scams are separated by alH>ut
4 feet of grey clay and the future working of the 1 gnite would Ik* much
more profitable if the clay could be mined and used in some wa>'. The
upper seam is overlain by a bed of yellow calcareous clay.
A sample of the grey clay requires 31% of water to attain maximum
plasticity for working in the stiff-mud condition. Even with this large
percentage of water the mass is stiff to work. Slow dryng of full size<l
brick can be accomplished without cracking. The air shrinkage on the
small test pieces amounted to 9 0%.
Burned to cone 06 the body is fairly hard and the colour a pleasing
shade of pink. At this temperature the total shrinkage is 10 %. Defor-
mation takes place at cone 5.
The total shrinkage of this material (stiff-mud) at the commercial
burning temperature is excessive and better results were obtained with
4S
dry-prcs8 bricks. Samples moulded in the dry-press way burn to strong
iKxIies with pleasing pink to buff colours in a range from cone 06 to 1.
This clay could be used along with the yellow clay which occur* over
the up|X!r lignite seam, for making a good buff dry-press face brick.
On sec. 1, tp. 4, range 4, w.of 3rd. mer.,a thick scam of lignite is being
worked in an open-cut along a small spring creek. It is o\erlain by a series
of grey clays, silts, and thin lignite seams to a thickness of 10 feet.
Grey clay, 2 feet Sample 456.
Lignite, IJ „
Blue clay, 4^ „ Sample 457.
Crey.silt, 2 „ Sample 458.
Lignite, 5-6 „
The materials of samples 456 and 457 crack badly in air-dr> ing and the
shrinkage is very excessive. No. 458 works up rather silty, but the small
fjuantity indicated in the above section condemns it as a commercial
material. When addctl to No. 457 in the proportions found in the bank
the working qualities of the mixture showed little improvement over 457
alone.
The drying defects of these clays make them of no value from a clay-
wot king standpoint.
At Henderson's lignite mine on sec. 16, tp. 4, range 4, w. of 3rd. mer.,
the section over the lignite is much the same as described at the locality
of samples Nos. 456-8. except that the lignite is thicker and the grey clays
above are thinner. Also the yellow silty clay on top is much thicker.
Yellow s.ity clay 8 fcetXo. 459.
Grey clay J ^
I'ignite 21 „
Grey silty clay |
Lignite 9
Sample No. 459, representing the 8 feet of silty calcareous clay at the
top, tievelops excellent plasticity when worked with 26^f, of water. Drying
can lie carried on slew or fast without sign of checking, the shrinkage
being S0%.
Burned in a range from cone 010 to one 03 the body is of fair hardness
and light salmon in colour. At cone Oo the total shrinkage is 7 0'^ and
absorption 21 0%. Approaching cone 1 the colour changes lo cream, and
deformation takes place with cone 4.
This clay will make good common brick and field tile bv thi - f?-mud
process.
Twelve Mile Lake.
North of Wood mountain in creek valleys cut through the Fo'-t Union
into the Pierre formation along Twelve Mile lake, there are numerous
exposures of the white band.
49
284.' Sample is from one of the prominent white IkxJs on the
north escarpment of the Wood Mountain plateau. The sample was taken
across a 7-foot seam. The material consists of a sandy clay of gixid phiH-
ticity and working qualities. It can be dried safely without checking
after moulding, the shrinkage on dr>ing Ix-ing 5-5^', .
Burned to cone 9 the colour is grey, the total shiinkage 8-5';t and the
absorption 12 0%. Deformation takes place at cone 14.
This materia' is only semi-refract or>- and could be used for making
sewerpipc. If mixed with a clay fusing at a lower temperature a hard
burned face brick could lie made from it by either the <lry-press or stiff-
mud process.
Crossing sees. 22 and 27, tp. 5, range 3, w. of 3rd. mer., the white band
outcrops in a north and south direction for some distance along a coul6c.
As in other exposures in this part of the area, the greater part of the section
consists of greyish-white sand\- cla>- as follows: —
Yellow silts 4 fet-t
Thin lignite seam 1 „
Sticky brown clay 8 „
Clre\ ish-white clay 4 „ No. 460.
„ „ sandy clay 3 ,. No. 461.
Dark giey clay 3 „ .No. 462.
Greyish-white sandy cla\ 30 „ No. 463.
Along the coul^ the beds were noted to Ik; very lenticular and the
thick bed of sandy cla>- at the ba.se varies from place to place in the content
of -lay. The thick l)ed of brown clay near the top of the section is wry
stiff and sticky, and hence was not sampled. There is a pos.sibility that it
may have some refractory value, anfl, when mixed with the rest of the
-section would make a good binder for the other rather sandy materials
in the manufacture of sewerpipe or structural clay protlucts, such as hollow
building blocks.
460. This is a greyish-white clay ha\ ing excellent moulding qualities
when mi.ved with 22^^ of water. It dries well with a shrinkage of 7-6%.
Soluble salts appear at the corners and edges of test pieces.
Burned to cone 06 the cream-coloured Ixxly is steel hard with a shrinkage
ot 9 09^ and an absorption of 14-2'^. At higher temperatures the colour
changes gradually to a light grey and the Ixxly is neariy vitrified at cone 7,
with a total shrinkage of 1 1 •0«'f . The edges are fused due to accumulation
of soluble salts in the drying process. Deformation takes place with
cone 22.
461. Although this is a sandy clay it requires 28% of water to develop
the maximum plasticity. Drying may Ix; carried on with rapidity without
fear of cracking, and, when complete, the shrinkage amounts to 7-6%.
A minor amount of soluble salt is brought to the surlace.
'Sr. 15. tp. 5. range 4, w. of 3rd . mer.
50
Bumitl to cone 06 the white (wcly has a total shrinkaKe of 8 ■ .V i and an
abdorption of 19-8%. At cone 9 the .^alour is cream-white, the total hhrinkage
is 12'O^j, and the almorption liO'J,. Althou|{h the body is not vitrified
at thiit hiKh temperature, it is hard and dense. It is the most refractory
material in the section, deformation takes place with cone 27. It is um)
open burning to make sewerpipe but would make a fair grade of refract(ir>'
brick.
462. This bed is contrasted with those immediately alxive and below
by its dark grey or brownish colour and fat nature. It requires 32*^ of
water to develop the best working consistency and at that it is rather stilf .
However, drying was accomplished without difficulty with a shrink;, ge of
9-O^J. No soluble salts were apparent.
Burned to the temperature of cone 06 the colour of the body is cream,
the total shrinkage 12-CJ and the absorption 17-8%. At cone 7 the
colour has darkened slightly, the total shrinkage amounts to 16 6'!^ and
the absorption 7 • 2%. Deformation takes place with cone 20.
463. The lowest l»ed in the white Ixind is not wholly exposed but the
part in sight is a very sandy clay. It requires 24% of water to work it and
the limits between the sti(T-mud and soft-mud consistencies are very narrow.
Drying is quite safe with a shrinkage of 7 -0%, but large amounts of soluble
salts come out on the edges and, in burning, cause fusion.
Burned to cone 06 the total shrinkage amounts to 7 0%, the colour
of the body is a dirty cream, and the absorption 13' 2%. Although a very
sandy material it appears to burn fairly dense at low temperatures, and the
density is not much increased up to cone 9.
Burned at the temperature of cone 7 the body is cream in colour, the
edges being fused and discoloured by the presence of the soluble salts; the
total shrinkage amounts to 9-0% and the absorption 10'5%. Defor-
mation accompanies the bending of cone 22.
These four clays (460-63) are all semi-refractory, except perhaps No.
461, which is equal to a No. 3 fireclay. A straight mixture would be tfxj
refractory for sewerpipe manufacture and not refractory enough or a
good firebrick. However if a small percentage — 25% — of the less refractory-
yellow clays of the vicinity be added to the mixture a very good face brick
or hollow ware body would result.
Similar sections to the one described above occur on sections 20, 21, 29,
and 30, tp. 5, range 2, w. of 3rd. mer.
East of Wood Mountain P.O., along the valley of Hay Meadow creek,
a small exposure of the white band was found on sec. 23, tp. 4, range 3, w.
of 3rd. mer. It occurs in the north bank of the valley at an elevation about
100 feet above the creek bed. Eastward along the valley a few small out-
iTops oi' the white clays were noted, but the sections were not very thick,
usually amounting to only four or five feet of rusty white clay.
51
Near the ea«t end of Twelve Mile lake on set-. 9, tp. 6, ranKe I , »'. of
3rd. mer., a ten-foot bed of Kreyinh-white sandy rluy ouicro|>H at the waters
edge (see Plate IX). Roue' dcttcrilieT* u wimple rolkfte<l from this locality
in 1914, No. 286, but the retiultn of the tests indicate either u rehtricte<l
sample or one from a distinctly different part of the (iiitcrop sainple<l in
1916.
286. This is a white clay of siindy texture, reM'mhIing 284, but not
quite so sandy.
It riHjuires 27^J of water to bring m the Ix-st working i-onttistency.
The shrinkage in drying is 6- 5','. This clay will have to U- drietl slowly
to a\'oifl checking.
The results obtained in burning wi-re as follows: —
The following section wa* measured in a butte whtre the sample was
taken in 1916:—
Sticky grey and yellow clays 17 feet
Grey sand 3 „
Greyish-white sandy clay 10 „ No. 466.
466. This is a greyish-white, sandy clay requiring 26% of water lo
mould in the stifT-mud condition. Very little more (29f ) water is neetled to
make it the right consistency for working by the soft-mud process. The
sandy nature of the material would be very hard on a stiff-mud machine
and die so this material would be best adapted to the soft-mud process.
Drying can be accomplished without difficulty and results in a shrink-
age of 8-0%. Minor amounts of soluble salts appear at the etlges and
coolers but do not appear to affect the refractoriness of the material.
*"' Burned to the temperature of cone 06 the total shrinkage is 7-3%, the
absorption is 16-0% and the body hcis fair strength. At cone 7 the total
shrinkage is 11-0% and the absorption is 10-5%. This is practically the
condition at cone 9. Deformation takes place with cone 28.
The siliceous nature of this clay keeps the shrinkage low, particularly
at the lower temperatures. It has .i value as a Mo. 3 grade refractory, and
as such could be used to advantage in making soft-mud firebrick, or for
making a bufT or flashed face brick.
In a coul^ crossing sees. 1 and 2, tp. 6, range 2, w. of 3rd. mer., the
white band is quite thin and contains considerable quantities of soluble
salts. Thick beds of dark coloured gumbo clays immediately overlie it and
>B. Rmc G.S.C., Memoir 89 p. 77.
52
rciiunin a workut)lf seam of liRnitf . A dark grey day fi^^rnw the roof of the
liKnite lift! and a Kitinple (No. 464) was collortcd and thr tt'MR may l»c num-
mari/cd an follows: —
4*4. This* is a ver>' stiff workinjj day re(|uirinK the larxf amount of
.U'^v water to obtain a maximum plastidty for mouldinK stitT-mud. Soluble
salts appear in air-dr>inK and the shrinkaKi- is 100';. It will not stand
fast tlryinR.
In burning, the test |)ie(Ts all shf)W rrarkinK and althouKh tlu colour
of the l)ody is a fair retl. a bad scum spoils it. Dry-press piens rh«Tk very
badly in burninK.
The defects of (his material are too great to make it of value to the day-
worker.
Ka.stwar(l along this vicinity, near Mullraney P.O., the white ban«l is not
st*n and the elevations indicate that it pinches out in this vicinity.
'Rose collectifl two samples in this \icinity from beds immediately
overlying co.-il seams.
173. A coal seam in the \alley side on sec. 12, tp. 6, range 29, w. of
2nd. mer., is overlain by a 10-fo«n bed of yellowish-grey silty day. It
requires 2.S''; of water for tempering. It will stand fast drying with
artificial heat, the drying shrinkage being 5 -S^r. Itburnstoa (lorous salmon-
coloured iKxIy at cone 06 and deforms approaching cone 6. It is suitable
for the manufacture of common building brick.
174. This is a dark grey clay shale occurring over a coal seam on sec.
6, tp. 6, range 29, w. of 2nd. It requires the extraordinary' amount of
44% of water for temjxTing and is very stiff to work. The drying shrink-
age of 10- 0% is excessive and cracking results. These defects make it of
little value for the manufacture of day products.
465. On the north side of he valley in sec. 13, tp. 6, range 30, w. of
3rd. mer. a very thick section ol the Fort Union beds is expose<l to view.
About 50 feet from the top there is a heavy bed of greenish-grey clav in
IX
which occurred several lenses of line grey sand. Sample No. 465 was
lected in a trench cut for 20 feet up the face.
This is a greenish-grey to yellow clay, very plastic in its working qual-
ities. Only 21'",' of water is required to mould it in the stiff-mud condition.
The air shrinkage of 9-0% is on the verge of being excessive, but a large
blfKk dried siifely in a moist atmosphere.
It burns to a strong body of a salmon colour at cone 010, but a heavy
white scum obscures the colour of the body.
The high .shrinkage and the scum are serious defects, sufficient to make
this material of doubtful value for the manufacture of clay protlucts.
■RoK (G.S.C.) Memoir K9. p. 76
ik
S.i
Hlllowbunch.
To the ■s<»uth«a»t. alon^t tlw Twelve Mile Lake hram li of th.' Ui^ MikKK
valley, exposurts of clay, similar to thr>se described iM'ar Mullraney I'M.
are to be found in coiil^-s tributary to the main valley. Most of the l«.|»
have seiiixiii defects »uch as (rarking in lirHlrxinK and scunmiinR. I he
m<«t promising b«ls occur in the upper part of the section. .No «x|K»iiires
of the white band clays were nnti>d In'tween Mullramy and Willowbiuu li
village but small outcrops were found at the head of a large couli'e lo tin-
southwest of Willowbunch on or alx)Ul sf « . 22, tp. 5. rainjc 28, w. of 2nd.
nH>r. A section measured from the top ( the bank downwarfl to th yrass
covered part of the slope resulted as follows;
Gla« iai bouldir clay 6 ftet
Fat yellow clay containinp selenite 8 .,
Fine grev clay 10 „ X,,. m2.
Light grey sandy clay ri>ni.iinit i; many iron
oxide concentration"! '' ,
Purplish-grey clay 2 „
Yellow sand .^ ,.
The most likely Icjokin^ piirt of this sci ( ,11 i .i' I(|-f(M)t bed of grey
clay and tests on the ni.iterial bear this otii
492. Sample of the ten-f«K>t bed des<ril«<l al«)\e. It works up into
a IxjcJy of excellent plasticity with 27' , of water. It is very snuKJth and
easy to work. FMing slow or fast is actomplish.d without cra^ king, the
shrinkage lx;ing 8-6%.
Burned to the temperature of cone 06 the total shrinkage amounts i(
9-3%; the liody i-* cream-coloure<l and of fair hartlness The absorption
18 16-4%. At higher temperatures the colour remains nuirh the samr- 10
cone 7, alxjut which temperature it changes to a lijjht urev. \ itrificatioi
takes place between cones 7 and 9, and def< >rmation h >ilows at rone 16.
This is a good semi-refractory clay of the stonewan- ty(H- and riMild Ik>
used for any of the purposes to which a stoneware clay s |)ut.
CLAYS OF THE M.MX BIG MLUOY V.XI.I IV
Southeast from Willowbunch village along the south branch of the
B"g Muddy valley to the vicinity of Big Muddy lake, the oiinro|)s of the
white l)and are most prominent along the north side of the valley. It is
very irregular in thickness and changes rapidly from {)lace to place in the
character of its material. All the white clay outcrops in the valley from
Willowbunch to Big Muddy lake are charactcrizetl by the presence of
considerable quantities of soluble salts, which, in dry weather appear as
white featherlike crystals coating the outcrops of the more sandy beds.
The clay part of the white band is particularly rich in soluble salts, and,
where sampled, it was found to be very sticky in its working qualities and
difficult to dry without cracking.
54
172. This is a Kn-yish-white gritty clay collected hy Rose from an
(■xj)osiire on sec. M, ip. 3, ranjje 24, w. of 2n(i. mer. It requires 24*;c of
water f(»r tenijX'rinK and is very plastic, stifT and pasty in the wet state.
It dries very slowly and exudes soluble salts. Small test pieces do not
crack in dryiuK l)Ui large pieces probably will. The air shrinkage is 10%.
The burnt colour is pink at all temperatures up to cone 5. The Ixxly
is vitrified at cone 9 and deforms around ci)ne 20.
This material couhl lie usetl in a mixed Ixxly for making sewerpific,
face brick, fire pnK)fing, etc., by the stilT-mud process or could be used alone
lor making face brick by the dry-press pnnx'ss, burning of the ware l)eing
tarrie<l to cones 1 to 3.
Two siimpks were collected by Rose from two thick Intls of the Fort
liiion oveilying the white band on this section Both provi-il to have
serious defe( ts in drying and burning, sufficient to render them of no value
to the clajwurker.
This part of the valley is characterizetl by numerous burnt clay out-
crops where lignite seams have In-en on fire and baked the overlying and
underUing clay. Practical usi- is In-ing niatle of this sort of material for
surfacing muddy roads. A considerable quantity has l)een usetj in the
\illage of Willowbunch for this purjx)se. Ip a large coulee, tributary to
the main wlky, near Waniska !'.()., bi-ds of clay as much as 20 feet in
thickness have Inen completely tiehydrated and baked in ihis way. Near
the head of this coukf several o|)cnings have \nxn made for lignite, and near
one of these at the south end of Coal Mine lake, Mr. Rose' collected two
-;im[)les of ciay. The tests on these were re|)orted as follows: —
179. "Sample is from a sandy clay or yellowish-coloured silt under-
lying \1')A. When temfx-red with 25 jkt cent of water, it forms a Inxly
of rather low plasticity, which is short in texture. The drying shrinkage
is 6 |xr cent and it probably dries without cracking. Burning tests, cone
06, fx-rccntage of fire shrinkage 0; percentage of absorption, 19-0; colour,
light re<l. This clay appears to l»e suitable for the manufacture of common
brick, although the drying »|ualities would have to Ix' further tested on a
large scale."
179A. "San^pU- is from a grey shaly clay which cxcurs in a 2-foot
seam. IkIow the coal at Coal Mine lake. This clay forms a higlily plastic,
stiff and sticky mass when wet, and will probably cr.ick in drying. It
burns to a hard n-d InKly at cone Oft, with a total shrinkage of 1 2' ,' , which is
txcessixf. The burnetl Inxly is badly scumnieil. This clay is of little
\'a!iie an<l is not recommenfle<l for brick making pur|X)ses."
A number of the thickest lx-<ls in this vicinity were tested in the field
for drying Ix-haviour .md all .showed excessive shrinkage, cracking and scum.
Big Mu(ld\ lake <H(U[)ies a depression that is partly due to the cutting
'Rn!<p: Milium H'l, <; S D |>. 15.
I-I Ml Mil
i-'-Si
tSs
f^Ul"-
IT*'
;r
V
i^^'^f^S
rijfa'-nii
^
^i:-^
t)iM. Kip 111 wliitr liui'l.iv- r\|Ki-nl cm m.. '). ip, u. i.mm 1, «. ol .<nl. niir ,
r»il\c Mile l.ik.. Xi-k.
I'l Ml l\
l'.>lr\.iii, Wliiti'iMiiil, .111(1 K.iM'iiMi.i^ l>ril~ <il ilii lull I iiiiin liii iii.iliiiii,
1 \|H)sr(| in ihi Ii.kII.iikI-, nm^i mI I!L- \Iii.|.I\ i.iki-, s.i-k.
5S
of (III main valk-y ami |>artl>- lo an inUTinorainal <li'f>ression in tht- nMwainis
(() (ht ifMl n( thv \,i\\v\
lo ihi' Miuth ..t tin uuun iMNh ,,f tl„. lake immc-nsf thi(kn«-.s«-s of sand.
MUh, am' i\avs '^ ijic hirt I nion arr ix|j<»«r| in the deep <-..uU'es .»f the
(«wllands. IjiH! ^f t« Itt- found l^f^ .rf th. (»»«■«' di\i-.ions of the Fort
I riioii /he F.sUvan f«w|» (ofw ih. linaust part of the section, the
W/)i(|[/m)d U-ds l)ei(/|jf /.(;,/ /^^/. ,,if,,,l the valley .%ides.
AJag/iifi(eiu ex|M)sui/s <#t f/j f)r w-mi m-^t kU-h.* - Mn.h in ip 2.
ran(!. - 22 and 23, w of 2m| riK f 4te' Hi ' arKle .tnd Huntley a>ul.'fs to
th: i.: r aof/ wesf of iJ/fj Wuddy /' O (%i| Male IX).
( Jn or a/,(Hif ilf< :\\W. J <lf Hi (i,. /. f^fi^f 22. «. of ind. »*f . in Hunt-
.....1/... .»,,> f,.ll.... ..... a .. . ,' i.,, , , , ...
•\ t|)( most important
llj f.el
I
I .
<
^
1
Minple 4'J,?
Ui liiilfh. fht' /oII"\\i/ifj snffon v>li< lUlliillfiil
yci/ow ^j/H ./ai
ffafd yellow linus(o//(
('(ir()li.sh-pri y clay
'Ireyish while sjndy cla\
y>|lovv //,iy full of jro;( I \ifli I r:ii(r( liipii
/i^<yj.shvvf)ilc plaslii ijiiy
f ir(\isli while sandx (a\
Talus
Some two tli(Ml>and fed .iw.i\ in aiNjilii r (aiKrop llic (i,i\ ImiU i4%
and 4<>7) near the lia>c of ilic .-(dion gixin .d /,>/■ ^f,. imrgiil Itllli Dili- |rf'd
aliout 7 fict thick.
493. This is a \ellow sili> < l.i\ . r. (/uiriun 27', of wall r In allaiii
niaxiim.m i)lasti(iiy for working in ih<- Miff iiukI (oiidiiioii. It ran iii
dried Willi .-afely l.y either naiiiral ot arii(i(i.d means. Th. .lir shrink i^e
.iiiioiini- lo 6-0' ,'.
Hiirrid lothe K'mpenilureofconf liMhe IhkK- is salmon-colound, ilie
tol.d shrinkage is ft <)' , aiwl liic alisorpiion 2.M',. At cone I ihe Uxly
is liidT in colour, .shrinkage int rcascs lo SO' , and the ahsorplion decreases
lo 12 1.',. Deformation lakes place al cone .v The (ol.,ur of the l««ly.
.11 .ill the temperatures uctd, is largely ohscured iiy a while s( urn.
I his material could be used for m.ikiiii; ( omnion Lacking liric k luirncd ,ii
.in\ icmicr.iuire fn m cone 010 to coiu 1.
495. The tof) \hh\ < f the while hand i- purplish-grey day, wealhering
while .n the surface. It dexelops .Aolliiii plasiiciiy when welted wiih
2V , of water ai. '. .hies .-^afely with a ^hrinkage of 7 0' , .
Hunu-d locom Oft i he IkkK i. i ream-i ( lourecl, ihe toial shrink.ige is
7-0', and the alM.ption MH',. |.i|.I,. change i> .ippareiit up K. cone
7. at which lemperatun- ihe shrinkage is 8 0', and the .disorpiion IIK;
1 )el<.rn>alion takes |;l,iie ,ii ccne 20.
56
The most valuable u.si- to whiili this matiTial triRht l)0 put, ,houl(l
l<Kal omditions warrant it, would uv for making face brick or structural
hollow ware.
496. A four-f(K)t bed of whin- silty clay underlies 495. Ii re<iiiires
but 21', of water to develop a rather silty plasticity and dries safelv with
a shrinkage of 6-6'",' .
Burned to cone 06 the Ixxly is fairl\ hard and cream-coloured. Pieces
burnwl at t his temperature have a total shrinkage of 6 • 6' ,' , and an absorption
of 14-9';. At higher temperatures the colour darkens slightly, and vitri-
fication is not complete at cone 9, the absorption In-ing 5 ■ 1 <; . i )eformatic,n
takes place with cone 26.
This is a rofraf lory miterial of a No. 3 grade.
497. The thivkesi Vd of the white band here consists of a greyish-
white plasiir cla\ . It recjuires as niuih as 30« ; of water to develop a rather
sticky type . f plasticity. Drying can Ik- accomplished with care, but ilie
shrinkage of 100',' is excessive.
When burned to cone 06 the bod\- is c ream-colourcti and of gixxl
strength, the total shrinkage In-ing 11-6', and the absorption 12-6',.
\'itrification is complete at cone 7 with a total shrinkage of \4-3%. Defor-
mation takes place with cone 1.3.
This is a fair grade of stoneware clay but Ix-cause of its sticky nature
could n()t Ik- usetl alone. Mixed with the material of Ix-ds i9> and 496
and a suitable amount of grog to rcnluce the shrinkage, nn excellent sewer-
pipe IxhK- couki be made, to make a salt glaze in a range from cones 5 to 7.
In the bald buttes around the sides of Carlyle coulee the white band
is si'en to thicken and thin out from place to place, and. in small tributary
couk'-es towards the international Iwundary, its place is largely taken by a
thick Ix'd of yellow to grey sand.
Ip the coulee on sec. 7, tp. 1, range 21, w. of 2n<l. mer., the whit»> slay
band is quite thick and the exposure consists of the following: -
Top Yellow silts 8 feet
White clay lull of iron concretions .S
1 )ark grey clay s
(irey carlK>naceous sill 5
(irey plastic clay y .. Sample 498
498. This is the thickest .md ino.st continuous l)e<l of the above
descrilnd s«-ciion and consists of 9 liei of a i)lastic grey clay. Mixed with
MY , of water it develops excellent plasticity for working in the stiff-mud
wa\. Dryinvj the ware niadi from it can be (arried on safelv but the
shrinkage of the clay alone, !()(»' , , is rather excessive.
When biirne<l to cone 06 the total shrinkage of l.^O',' is excessive.
\itrituMiion takes |)lace ai cmie .< wiiii a shrinkage of LS^.V ; and deforma-
tion follows with cone 12.
I'll I.I Ihr Ar.i'il.i ('l.i\ I'rciiliiii, ('
MCI 11111 (il line l.iy wiirki-il I
iiii|i,mv, ticir \\ illdw-, s.i-k : ,h,
or M*\Vfr[ii|M*.
I'lMi Nl
I in< l,iv null r(i|.>, .iliiii; C.in.uli.iii 1'-
iril'.r U.iilw.iy, cj-t ui \\iIlov\;., Sask.
57
Although the shrinkages of this clay in (lr> ing aiul burning are exccssiN c
the defe. t could be taken care of by the atkiition of grog Mixi-d with the
other materials of the section IhjIow the yellow silt, it would make excellent
face brick, and with the proper amount of grog to take care of the evrcssive
shrinkages it could also be used for making sewerpipe, burncl and salt
glazed m a range from cone 1 to cone 5.
499. In the badlands to the north of Kehoes ranch and aj)proxiniatel>'
on sec. 12. tp. 2. range 23, w. of 2nd. mer. the white band consists of a single
bed of white plastic clay some 20 feet thick.
A sample of this clay requires Sl^l of water to mould in the siiflf-nuid
condition and tl-e working properties are excel I- nt. t)|)cn air-drying of
test pieces and a full sized brick can be accomplished without crackinu
the shrinkage being H-3%.
Burned to cone 03 the body is cream-coloured, and steel hard, with a
shrinkage of 11 -3^0. and an absfirption of 11 -S^c- N'itrification takes place
around cone 7 with a shrinkage of 16 • 6^, ■ Bloating of the Inxly is apparent
at cone 9 anfl deformation follows with cone 12.
Material of this sort could be used for making high gratle face brick,
hollow ware, or sewerpipe.
CLAYS OF THE LAKE-()F-T1IK-RI\ ERS DlSTkK T.
Willows.
The Canadian I'.icific railway cros.ses the Lake-of-the-Rivers valley
near Willows, and in this vicinity close to the railway there arc large ex-
posures of the white band clays. For sexeral years the Alberta Clay Pro-
ducts Co.. of Medicine Hat (see Plate XI) has been mining clay in the
northeast bank of the main valley on sec. 1. tp. 8. range 29, w. of 2n(l. mer
This material was shipped to Medicine Hat and used as a whole, ami later
as a part, in their sewcrpijie body.
The section exposed in the pit is as follows:— (See Plate X).
Top— Thin covering of boulder clay 2 feet
Sticky dark grey clay with selenite 4
Lignitic clay 1
Purplish-grey clays 15 '[ X,,. 474.
Lignitic claj- i
Dark grey clay _^"
Light grey sandy clay 4 ^
Purplish-grey clay 5 I \„. 475
(irey clayey sand jj
Bottom — Carbonaceous sandy clay 2
Floor— Dark giey clay, much selenite.
The upper part of this section, where observed in the district, is dis-
tinctly clayey, while the lower part is ,,.,ite .vindy. Th.^ run-of-bank
5
al
58
is not quite vitrified at cone 10 and consequently burning «werpipe n,ade
from ,t .s a rather costly procens. During the past year the stoneware
clays of the vic.nity of Eastend have In^n mined and shipped L mS^
Hat to be m.xed with the Willows clay. A Ix^tter sewerp^ has LsS
from this mixture and the burning temperature has been rXced toTne 7
474. The most important part cf this bank is the fifteen-f,x>t bed of
purphsh-grey cays near the top. Examined in the laboratory Tsa^p^
nuritv TTL'T ^°"u^ '" '"""^^ °^ " ^'^ ^^™"« plastic day of fa r
^r^n There , "'' l''.° "'"*' '^''"" ""'^ '^^ remained on the
screen. The res.due consisted of iron oxide replacements of plant forms and
a lew clear quartz grains.
and SlnlT'*'"^ '*'"' ^'? °^*^'''' '^"^ '^"'^^"^ P'^^t'^'^y « excellent
anci <j^ ng the ... cos can be accomplished without checking, although
he addition of ^log would materially assist in the drjing. Wl hout grS
;l>nd day." ■"'' """""'^ '" ''"■ ^' *"' '" ^'^ P'"'^^''^" °^ ^ «^
1 2 fic^ ''"" /'!'k"''^u'° ^°"'' °^ '^^ ""'""■■ ''^ ^ ^"^ ^f"'^*' the total shrinkage
12-6 c and the absorption le-orc The test pieces developed fire checks
at ail temperatures to which they were burned up to cone 9. The bodv
remains a go«l white colour and is not vitrified at cone 9. In these respSs
It acts very^ much like a ball day and the similarity is extendi:^ S
to the fleformation temperature of cone 30.
Analyses of Clays from Willows. Sask.
' t. Z ",r^c"' " " "^^'^ '''''"'' '^^ t°^' shrinkage is
and th. ' . '^'^.»'"".' ' -^'^^ At cone 9 the total shrinkage is 13 3^1
and tho l„xl>- .s n,H quue vurihed, the absorption being 4-5^;. Deformati,
tion
sy
takes place at cune 22 indicating an open burning sicmi- refractory clay
suitable for face brick, a« part of a sewerpipe mixture, or for stove linings.
The remaining Iwls of the section are sandy tiays or clayey sands
in which the cotirsor material is principiilly angular quartz grains. When
these beds are mixed with the rest of the section the refractory value is
about cone 28 or a number three grade of refractory.
On sec. 33, tp. 7, range 28, 2nd. mer., about six hundred feet south of the
railway, an exposure of some twenty feet of white clay is to be found.
The proportion of good plastic clay in it makcH it one of the most important
outcrops in the district. A measured section resulted as follows: —
Top — Thin covering of boulder clay
Yellow silty clay (calcareous) 6 feet
Purplish-grey clay 10 „ No. 476.
Greyish-white clay 2 „ .No. 477.
White clay 7 , .\o. 478.
This if further illustrated in Plate XI.
476. Ihc top clay of the white band is purplish-grey in the fresh
cut bank, but weathers greyish-white on the weathered surface. It is a
very plastic material requiring 32% of water to temper it to a stifT-mud
consistency. Drying of ware made from it can be accomplished without
cracking, the shrinkage being 8-3%. Soliihle sails in minor amounts
appear at the corners of test pieces.
When burned to cone 03 the total shrinkage amounts to 13 0% and
the absorption Ifi-S^t. The burnt colour is a poor cream-white. At
higher temperatures up to cone 9 the colour remains cream-white, but dark
fused spots caused b>' iron oxide impurities are prominent at cone 5. At
cone 9 the total shrinkage is 18-3% .ind the absorption 3-8';y . Deformation
takes place with cone 28, indicating a body of No. 3 refractory grade.
The excessive shrinkage of this material in burning caused it to crack
badly at all temperatures to which it was burned. Like the other high
grade clay of the district it is a good bond clay and must not ?"-• used alone.
A washing test on this material produced 15% of material that would
not pass a 200 mesh screen. The residue consisted of fossil plant forms,
fruits and stems hardened by replacement by iron o.xide, minute iron
oxide concretions, and fine quartz sand grains.
476W. The washings were hard to settle and appeared to consist of a
large proportion of colloidal clay matter. When settled, dried and reground
it required the large amount of 35^J of water to develop a rather sticky
type of plasticity. Drying of small pieces can be accomplished without
checking but large pieces crack. The air shrinkage of 8-3% produces
a body of great tensile strength.
Burned to cones 5 and 7 the colour is a clean cream-white and the body
steel hard but nor vitrified. Deformation takes place with cone 30, show-
ing an improvement oser the unwashed material of two cones.
to
ATI,
on mZ^ lwit;!,^",;r ""'"I """ '""-^''' ■'"-■ -""• »'^.
oxide co„ere.io„?.T, few lnl.T ",''"■■"" -"'•" ""' '""""' i™
cond;?:„:;revXs7r:rs°' rrr ,"'°"" %i," "- •""■■■"■^
atnre b,...g advanced (mn, cone 27 ,„ „„o 2, ' *'"""»""" '^Pef
ot » "v tmolXeX^';,::*',';' ■"'' "r' •" ""••"•™ °»«"'
excelien. pla..ici.y TheT, 5 , " '""^ ^' « °' "»'" •" *velopan
working excop, ,o influence .hedcfonna i„ e:Sr« e '" '^'""'
.^"r?.:iZci;^i;ritt^^L'-°« f. '^^ »■-"■■'■>"
form , f mi„„„ !„>„ „J' „„™;2 ^'J "" '; '"'P"""". i" 'h'
Lriel. A, cone , ,h. toS .ZTa f ,5 ';. L^He",!::? •■"" '" '"^
"inlied, ll,c al>s„,pii„„ |^„. . 'j^: ^'^<' '"O «'" '»^>- " not quite
cone 22. ' "■ ■J^'o'mation talces place witl,
The re.idue, consiu,! '. ^ '" ,"*■"• "'«' ™'" «' "a*"! cJa
pacicie,, ^cZ™ ii „r£ gTartd':;'"""^. •""' '"'^"'" •"'-"
Bn^ned ,o Z- 5 the .".iuHH^eri^l^ra^Ti^aL:,';!.;"',^'!^:
61
Two cones higher the shrinkage is 17 0% and the absorption reduceil to
37. practically vitrification. The refractoriness of the washed clay in
increased over the unwashed material by 8 cones, deformation taking
place with conv> 30.
About two miles west of the above described locality and on sec 30,
tp. 7, range 28, w. of 2nd. mer., a large couk-e tributar>' to the main valley
shows a much more complete section of the white band. The section
mei jurwl as follows: —
Top, thin covering of bouldtr clay
Yellow sand, and silty clay 10 feet
Sticky brown dav with selenite prfw-nt ... 16 ,
Alternate grey clav and sandy clay biuuls .12 . No. 467.
Cariionaceous cla\ and lignite 1
Light grey clay 2 " No. 468.
Yellowish-grey clay 3 „ No. 469.
Da k grey day 6 „ No. 470.
Purplish-grey clay 3 ^ No. 471.
Greyish-white clay 5 Xo. 472.
Silt 1
Alternate silty grey clay and siiud l)and'«. .20 „
It will be noted that this section is somewhat different in the number
and variety of beds from the other outcrops in tho v ciiiity.
Working into the bank at this e.viJosure would require tl»e removal
of considerable overburden should the material be required for refractories,
but the quality of good rlay available would well repay its removal.
467. The toi) bed of the scries consists of some twelve feet of greyish
clay containing a few thin silty cl.iy bands or lenses. It requires 26% of
water to temper it and the resultant pla-ticity is excellent. The dr>-ing
properties are gotxl and the drietl body h.is a high strength although the
shrinkage of lOO':^ appears exces.sive. M all temperatures to which th.
test iiieces \vcre burm-d they fire chtrkii! very ba<lly due to ,in e.xcessive
fire shrinkage. At rone 010 the tntal shrinkage' is as high as 12-6%.
Deformation takes place with cone 31, indicatins; a refractory of No. 2
grade
The one important result brought out in tin tots and not mentioned
above is the ^;. kxI white colour of the burned 1xkI> at all teniiieratures at
which the tests were burned, up to cone 9.
This clay has a value as a white-burning lx)nd clay for making cheap
earthenware, as well as for making face brick and refr.ictory shapes such as
firebrick, glass pots, retorts, etc.
468. A thin lignite seam separates this bed from 467 abovr. The
clay is light grey in colour and contains a relatively large percentage of
fine sand. When moulded with 26% of water tin- plastirity is of a sticky
iture, and even with the large content of sand, small test pieces cracked
MKiocorr msouiTioN tbt chait
(ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
^ ^^^PPLED IK/HGE
1653 to»l Main Strnl
RochMrtr Nn Yor* UtOS US«
(716) 482 - OJOO - Phona
(716) 2SS - 3M9 - Fo«
62
I-
11
in air-drying. It is a very low grade clay to be found in such association.
Deformation takes place with cone 5. This material has no value used
alone but could be mined with the rest of the section for manufacturing face
brick. It would have to be avoided in making refractories.
469. This is a yellowish-grey clay which develops a stiff type of
plasticity when tempered with 30% of water. Drying is safe by slow
means but the air shrinkage of 9 0% is on the verge of being excessive.
At all temperatures to which the tests were burned the pieces were badly
cracked because of a further excessive shrinkage in the fire. However it
has good refractory properties, not deforming under cone 30.
470. The thickest bed in the lower part of the section consists of six
feet of purphsh-grey clay. Tested with acid it is found to be slightly
calcareous. Tempered with 28% of water it works up into a stiff plastic
"JTn^ *^^^ ^'^^^^ "'^'^^ ^'■°'" '^ ^"^ without checking to a shrinkage
As with the other beds in the section the strong character of the clay
base causes an excessive fire shrinkage with resultant fire checking At
cone 03 the total shrinkage is 12-0% and the absorption 15-6. At the
lower temperatures the colour is a dirty cream which changes to grey near
the vitnfying point. About cone 7 the total shrinkage amounts to 1 7 • 0%
and vitrification is neariy complete. Deformation follows at cone 29.
The fact that this material cracks badly in firing throws it out of
consideration as a clay to be used alone. It would require considerable
grog to work and dry it when using the stiff-mud process for the manufacture
of firebrick.
I *l\ ^**'^ '^ * purplish-grey clay in a bed three feet thick. It requires
only 24% of water to temper to a very excellent plasticity. The air
shrinkage amou. ts to 6-6%.
Burned to cone 03 the colour of the body is a good cream-white, the
total shrinkage is 90 and the absorption 15-5%. At higher tem-
peratures the body keeps its cream-white colour but shows a few fine-
grained iron spots. Burned to cone 9 the total shrinkage is 16 0% and
the absorption 5-1%, but little change from the results of cone 7. Defor-
mation takes place with cone 30.
. '*Ji' '^^^ '°^^®' distinctly clayey bed exposed in the section con-
sists of five feet of greyish-white clay. It works up to a very smooth plastic
mass with 26% of water, and resembles a stoneware clay in working qualities.
No defects occur in drying, the shrinkage of 7-6 being within practical
umits.
in nS"™^ *° ^°"^ °^ ^^ ^^y '^ cream-coloured, has a total shrinkage of
10 0% and an absorption of 12-4%. Vitrification is practically complete
at cone 7 and there is little change to cone 9. At the latter temperature
the total shrinkage is 14 • 3. Deformation takes place with cone 22.
6.?
In working this section of clays for refractories there would be a total
thickness of about thirty feet available. Beds 467. 469, 470, and 472 are
individually No. 2 refractory grade, and 472 is scmi-refractory.
These beds mixed in the proportions found in the bank hwe a refractory
value of cone 29. Bed 468 below the thin lignite bed is red-burning and
not refractory. It is only 2 feet in thickness and most of it could easily
be tl rown aside in mining the clay.
For making face brick a great variety of shatlcs and textures could be
obtained by mixing in various percentages up to 50% of the overhing
red-burninj clays anJ moulding by the dry-piess procet« direct. To make
clay ware in the stiff-mud way at least 30 per cent of grog would l)c neces-
sary to reduce the shrinkage and avoid fire checking.
The situation of this material neai Willows station and within one
quarter of a mile of the Canadian Pacific railway makes it of particular
value as a clayworking location. The bottom of the coul6e in which it
occurs is wide enough to permit the location of a fairly large plant at an
elevation such that gravity haulage could be used from the pit to the pi nt.
A siding of about half a mile would be required to the railway.
About a mile west of Willows station a deep coulte shows about \s
feet of very sandy, white clay. Some of this material was shipped to
Medicine Hat, but was found to be too gritty and refractory to use in the
sewerpipe body. This sandy clay is overlain by a thin covering of yellowish-
brown silty clay and boulder clay.
479. The yellowish-brown silty clay looks to be a promising material for
making common brick and to this end a thicker deposit of it was located
and sampled on the north side of a coulee on sec. 3, tp. 8, range 29, w. of 2nd.
mer. The material has excellent plasticity but dr>'ing tests show the clay
to crack in large pieces, although the shrinkage of 7-0% is not excessive.
However, the cracking can be cured by the addition of 25% sand.
Burned to cone 010 the colour is an excellent red with but a faint indi-
cation of scum. The total shrinkage is 6-4% and the absorption 13-5%.
At cone 06 the red bodv is at its best. It is hard and strong with a shrinkage
of 7-0% and an absorption of 13-3%. Deformation takes place with
cone 5. „, . i
Made into dry-press bricks the body is good at cone 03, the colour
being a deep red.
This material is one of the best red-burning clays of the whole area.
With grog it will make good stiff-mud or soft-mud brick and the dry-press body
indicates promising results for biick. It flowed very smoothly from the
die and three-inch drain tile made from it I'.ried and burned without sign of
Southeast from Willows past Readlyn towards Verwood the white
band thins and is represented by sand and a vei, sticky greyish-white clay
very much contaminated by soluble salts.
64
Viceroy.
On Willowbunch lake south of Viceroy on sec. 35. tp. 5, range 22 2nd
mer.. two thick beds of clay above a coal seam were sampled as follows —
1 op, Yellow-grey clay silt (calcareous) 30 feet No 489
Darkgreyclay 15 ^ ^o. 490.'
Lignite g
The lo'ver bed was sampled by Rose in 1912 and, w"hen tested, it was
found to be red-burning, but the shrinkage was excessive. A large sample
of this material made up into full sized dry-press bricks with the minimum of
water showed more cleariy the excessive shrinkage and the resultant fire
CflCCKS.
■>AC.^r^ "'''^'' ^ '* """'^ promising. It is a calcareous clay requiring
26% of water to mould in the stiflf-mud condition. Drying can be accom-
plished without checking, although the material must be considered tender
in this respect. The drying shrinkage is 8 • 3%.
Burned to cone 03 the body is hard and of a salmon colour; the total
shrinkage being 8-3% and the absorption 16-8%. Deformation takes
place with cone 3.
Made up in the dry-press way the ware requires to be burned to cone
02 to 1 to get good results. In this way it will make a good buff face brick.
Mitchellton.
Between the north and south ends of the Lake-of-the Rivers there are
no exposures of clays, the banks being well grassed. Near the forks in the
north end of tp. 10, range 28. W. of 2nd. mer.. the white band outcrops at
the water s edge on the W. \, sec. 27. tp. 10. range 28. In this outcrop the
matenal is a sandy white clay, no real plastic fat clay being noted. Along
the west shore to the north more exposures of similar material were found
on N.E. \ sec. 33, tp. 10. range 28, and on sec. 3, tp. 11. range 28 The
most prominent exposures are to be found on sec. 14. tp. 11, range 28 on
the east side of the valley at the junction of a tributary coulee. At this
point the following section was measured : —
Top, Thin covering of glacial drift 5 feet
Yellow silty clay 5 ^ No. 480.
Yellow and grey silt g
While sandy clay .12 ^ + No. 481.
480. This is a yellow calcareous clay which appears silty in the dry
state but when tempered with 28% of water it develops a slightly sticky
type of plasticity. A full sized brick cracked in air-drying.
Burned to cone 06 the body is hard and of a good red colour but on stand-
ing it becomes disrupted by the popping of lime particles. The shrinkage
at cone 06 is 90% and the absorption 15-8%. The drying and burning
65
qualities of this clay make it a poor clayworlcing material. It is too silty
to work dry-press and the preserxe of lime g;rains would reduce its value
for face brick.
A mixture of 50% sample 480 and .'0% sample 481 gave better drying
results, but the resultant colour is not a good red. However, the mixture
would make good common soft-mud brick or possibly stiflf-mud brick.
Further testing on a larger scale would need to be done, particular atten-
tion being paid to the dr>ing stage.
The mixture has an air shrinkage of 7-0%. At cone 06 the body is
hard and salmon-coloured, with a shrinkage of 7-0% and an absorption of
14 • 0^ . Deformation takes place with cone 8.
481. The lower bed consists of a greyish-white sandy clay which
requires 25% of water to temper to the stiflf-mud consistency. It dries
without difficulty either slow or fast to a shrinkage of 6-0%.
Burned to cone 03 the body is fairly hard and cream-coloured. The
total shrinkage is 6-6% and the absorption 12-7%. Little change takes
place in the body up to cone 9, at which temperature the total shrinkage is
7 • 0% and the absorption 1 1 • 3%. Deformation takes place at cone 28.
An analysis of a sample from this bed made by W. S. Bishop, at the
University of Toronto, for the Consumers Coal Co., resulted as follows: —
SiO, 66-30
AhO, 1902
FeO 5-10
CaO 0-11
MgO 0-60
Loss on ignition 7-29
This is a refractory clay of No. 3 grade. Its working properties
are good and it could be used for making firebrick or face brick, by either
the soft-mud, stiflf-mud, or dry-press process. A variety of colours could be
obtained for face brick by mixing in various proportions of the overlying
red-burning clay and flashing. It would also make fireproofing, flue lining,
and wall coping.
The Consumers Coal Co., of Moosejaw, have a lignite mine, worked
intermittently, on sec. 36, tp. 10, range 28, w. of 2nd. mer. In the open-
cut along the coulee across this section two thick beds of clay were sampled
a' the coal.
*82. This is a dark grey clay in an 8-foot bed immediately above the
coal. It works up to a very stiflf sticky mass with 38% of water. The air
shrinkage is excessive and test pieces crack badly. Scum also appears and
masks the red colour of the burned samples.
Made up in the dry-press way and burned to a strong body the shrink-
age is excessive and there is a tendency to fire check. It is of doubtful value
for clav ware.
66
483. The upper bed consists of 6 feet of grey calcareous clay. It
cracks bad!" in air-drying and, when moulded in the dry-preus way, burns
to a porous buff body with a tendency to fire check. Both these days,
482 and 483, are highly colloidal and consequently have high shrinkage.
They have no value for making clay ware in the ordinary processes, but
with lignite handy as a fuel they might be made workable by subjecting
them to a preheating treatment.
484. OntheS.E. i. sec. 33, tp. 10, range 28, w. of 3rd. mer., a new coal
mine has been opened and the roof of the coal is a six-foot bed of grey
clayey sand. It has been stated by the owners that this material has a
value as a moulding sand, but it is too clayey to be of use in that way.
However, it has a value as a soft-mud brick material, if it can be mined cheap
enough for this process. It has fair plasticity (sandy) when moulded with
27% of water and dries to a fairiy strong body with a shrinkage of 5 • 0%.
At cone 06 the colour is a fine dark red and the body is strong and hard
with a total shrinkage of . -6% and an absorption of 15-5%. This is but
slightly changed at cone 03, indicating a burning range from cone 04 to
cone 1. Deformation takes place with cone 6.
The only advantage clays of this vicinity may have over the clays at
the south end of the lake is the immediate association with a fuel supply.
The nearest outlet to the Canadian Northern railway would be a
siding about one and a half or two miles long.
CLAYS OF DIRT HILLS DISTRICT.
The only clayworking plant in Saskatchewan, using the white burning
refractory clays, is located at Claybank on the north slope of the Dirt hills,
some thirty miles south of Moosejaw.
Several extensive landslides south of Claybank and again in the vicinity
of sec. 11, tp. 13, range 26, w. of 2nd. mer., have exposed considerable
sections of the Tertiary clays, sands, and lignites.
As far back as 1873, Dr. Bell' of the Geological Survey described the
white beds of this locality, but it was not until about 1909 that their true
refractory value was known.
Claybank.
In 1912, Ries and Keele* made a detailed examinadon of the deposits
near Claybank and in 1912 reported as follows:— (See Plate XII).
The clays which w>?re examined occur in sec. 28, tp. 12, range 24, west
of 2nd. mer. and form a series of knolls at the base of the hills. All the beds
appear to dip westward, the knolls having a steep eastern face and a gentle
western slope.
'Bell, Rep. of Progrew, Geol. Sarv. Can., 1873-74, p. 76.
•Rlee and Keele, Memoir J4E.. Geol. Sarv. Can., 1912, pp. S442.
*)lnf I
67
The general topography of those hills in which the clay occurs is well
shown in Plate XII.
They can be described as a aeries of white and greyish sandy clays,
bluish and purplish clays, brown siliceous clay shale, and gypsiferous
shales.
At the west side of the ridge is a spur or knoll containing a series of
alternating red and brown siliceous shales. The individual beds of this
series differ somewhat in their sandiness, and, if used, the entire series
should be mixed together. (Sample 1646). A few scattered sandstone
layers are present, but these are soft and could be easily crushed up.
1646. When ground and tempered with water this material formed a
stiff plastic mass which was hard to work and checked badly in air-drying.
As the clay was useless in the natural state a portion of the sample was
preheated to a temperature of SOCC. Under this treatment the clay
changed to a red colour, became granular in texture, but retained sufficient
plasticity to be wet-moulded. It also stood wet-drying and the air shrinkage
was 3-3%.
Cone
Fire shrinkage.
Absorption.
Colour.
010
1-7%
9-3
13-3
9-7
5-5
vitrified
light red
red
brown
03
1
This clay has too high a fire shrinkage, but it might be useful to mix
with some of the more refractory clays of the locality in order to produce
vitrified w?.re at lower temperatures or speckled effects in face brick.
Hill No. 2 shows heavy beds of grey and greyish-white sandy clay and
brownish rey "^lay, the two sets being separated by a thin layer of lignite.
The bi - ) / clay (No. 1647) forms a bed about 20 feet thick in the
lower ' I, section.
I'"- 1 plastic clay, containing much fine grit, which worked up
with 3^ >ater. Small pieces dried slowly without cracking but large
or^.s cracked badly in rapid drying. The average air shrinkage was 8-5%
and the average tensile strength 334 pounds per square inch.
The wet-moulded bricks yielded the following results on burning : —
Cone.
Fire shrinkage.
Absorption.
Colour.
010
0-2%
4-4
5-4
5-3
16-38%
7-S2
4-28
439
pale red
light red
brown
n
03
1
3
The air shrinkage is somewhat high, but in actual working it would be
lower. The fire shrinkage at cone 1 is not excessive. The absorption at
this cone is also low. The clay burned steel hard at cone 03, but if fired
68
too rapidly may develop a black core at :one 1. It burned to a good
hard body and stands cone 3. The clay pave a dry.pre«8 bricklet of fair
colour and ring at cone OS. but if moulded by this method should probably
be burned to cone 03. '
The absorption at rone OS was 18o2, and at cone 03 it was 10-93
with the bricklet steel hard.
Overlying the preceding is a grey and white sandy clay (1648) con-
taming lenses of white clay (1649). Where the clav is exposed it would
hardly pay to separate these lenses, but if they occur in greater quantity
in other parts of the deposit it would be worth doing so. On this account
a test was made of the run of the deposit, including the white clay, and
also of the latter alone.
The run of bank (1648), although containing considerable sand,
worked up wuh 27% of water to a mass of good plasticity, and one which
caused no difficulty in moulding.
The average air shrinkage was 6- 1% and a full sized brick stood fast
drying.
The day appears to contair a noticeable amount of soluble salts,
which collected on the corners r.nd edges of the brick in drying, and caused
a slight enamel on those parts even at cone 03.
Wet-moulded bricklets yielded the following results:—
Cone.
Fire shrinkate.
Absorption.
Colour.
010
03
0-0%
2-7
3-3
Fuseti
18-58%
15-41
10-70
981
white
5
n
9
»
32
n
Small black iron specks began to appear at cone 1.
The clay has a low fire shrinkage, and the absorption above rone 010
IS not excessive. It burned steel hard at cone 1 .
This clay can be classed as a fireclay.
A dry -press bricklet burned to cone 1 was not st-el hard with n
absorption of 17-50 per cent.
Since the clay is rather loose in texture, it was put through a washing
test and 45% of washed product (1648W) obtained. The latter showed an
average air shrinkage of 8-5%. Burned to cone 5. its fire shrinkage was
9 • 7%. absorption 7-11%, and colour light creamy-white. It was also steel
I f ,'r^ I "^""^ ^""^ ^'"^" "^''^- ^^ *=°"« 9. the fire shrinkage was
II -3%, absorption 3-7%, and colour greyish-white.
Since there is a large quantity of this material it might pay to wash
It and use it in pottery bodies. Some difficulty would be encountered in
getting suffiaent water, but the springs on the neighbouring slopes could
be drawn upon for this purpose.
69
The white clay (1649) forming lenses in 1648, although appearing
smooth, nevertheless contains .considerable fine grit, and an appreciable
quantity of soluble salts, which come out on the efi|{es a.<« needle shafied
crystals in drying.
It worked up with 30% of water to a mass of good plasticity, whose
average air shrinkage was 7 • 79c.
On burning, the wet-moul -"ed bricklets behavwl as below : —
Cone.
Fire ithrinkage.
.\baorption.
Colour.
010
0.35%
S-3
6-6
6-6
Funed
16-74''i,
lO.M
7-67
4-67
2 W)
Creamy-white
03
J
**
5
9
31
The clay burned nearly steel hard at cone 010 and gave a pretty dense
body at cone 5. Small black iron specks appeared at cone 1 . This is a dense
burning fireclay and it is unfortunate it does not occur in larger quantities.
The grey clay (1650) described here, overlies 1648. It does not
appear in the steep southern escarpment of the hills but 'nuvs on the
gentle north slope. Like 1648 it mixed up to a mass of good plasticity,
whose average air shrinkage was 7 ■ 8 per cent.
Wet-moulded bricklets were tested as follows: —
Cone.
Fire !ihrinlc3f;e.
Absorption.
Colour.
010
>o';;
3 6
6f
66
8-4
Fused
16.76'J
11 M)
8-23
4 -.17
2-25
Creamy-white
03
1
5
9
"
32
The clay burn 'arly steel hard at cone 010 and thoroughly so at com-
03. Small black sf s appeared at cone 010.
This clay resembles 1649 but has a slightly higher fire shrinkage.
It is a good dense burning fireclay and well worth working.
Owing to the fact that 1646 cracked badly in drying it was d cided to
try a mixture of equal parts of 1646, 1647, and 1648. This (1651) when
tempered with 32 per cent of water was very plastic and small test pieces
dried without checking. The air shrinkage was S per cent.
The wet-moulded bn klets fired as follows: —
Cone.
Fire rhrinkagr.
Absorption.
Colour.
010
3-3
4-3
14 16':i
8-00
S3Ct
light red
red
03
1
brown
70
The mixture humetl to a Meel hard body at cone 010, at which temper-
ature it would proliably make good common bricic either by the soft-mud
or utiff-mud proccim. At cone 1 the fire shrinkage is rather high and the
body not burned quite dense enough for scwerpipc, but would probably
become more vitrified at cone 2.
The mixture makes an excellent dr>-pre«w brick of gocxi colour and steel
hardness at cone 05. with an absorption of 13 • 75%.
Simc 'he almve report was made the Saskatchewan Clay Pralucts
Company (now the Dominion Fire Brick and Clay Products Company)
have been operating a drj-prcss brick plant (see Plate XIII) at this location,
and the resulu have borne out the alwvc report. Until early in 1917 the
chief product was a range of flashed face brick manufartured principally
from the fireclays. An attempt »-a8 made to produce a red brick using a
similar mixture to 1651, but the mixture did not work well in practice.
The excessive shrinkage of the red-burning clay (1646) caused fire checking.
However, there are possibilities in using less of 1646, or by calcining it and
then using it in mixtures up to as high as 50 per cent.
There is a possibility of finding red-burning clays in the series of beds
above the white clays where they occur in place near the top of the main
hills. At present the upper slopes are well grassed, but, when a red-burning
clay is needed, a little prospecting above the level of the white band might
prove of value.
The reorganized company proposes the installation of a producer gas
burning system and an expansion of the plant to manufacture firebrick and
fireclay shapes. With this enlarged plant, the development of a greater
range of face brick textures and colours should accompany the production
of refractories.
At Dickenson and Hebron, North Dakota, similar clays are worked
for firebrick and face brick. In the earlier exploiting of these deposits
the dry-press process was the only method used for moulding the brick,
but with the increasing demand for rough textured bi <, sti(T-mud machines
were installed and operated with considerable success. This appears
to be a logical development in the Canadian plant.
South of Claybank in section 24, tp. 12, range 24, west of the
2nd. mer., boring for lignite was in progress during the summer of 1911.
An examination of the clay outcrops ' • 'x)rings at this locality was made
by J. Kcele at that time, a com^ lete i... ount of the results with tests beinp:
given in Memoir No. 25, of the Geological Survey. The white clays at
this point are not so thick as those at Claybank, but heavier beds occur on
section 1 1 of the same township.
I'l Ml Mil
I'l.mt 111 Itic Diiiiiiiiiiiii lire Hrii k .iiid I l.iv IVihIikIs ( ijim|;.iii\ . ( l,i\lj.ilik,
S.i«k. '()iil.ro|i(il while tircihi\~-li(.wn in the iMikurmiml.
\l\
J
S\vcTpi|K' pliiiit of tiu' AllKTta (lay I'nxliKls ((hhikmiv. Mtdirir-i- H.it, AllRTIa.
71
A chemical analysis of a sample of the washed clay from section 24
is as follows: —
Silica 51-94
Alumina 33.^2
Iron oxide j . 5
Lime 0-23
Magnesia trace
Potash 0-82
Soda 0-22
Sulphur trioxide none
Loss on ignition 1 1 • 44
This compares very favourably with analvses of whiteware clays from
Woodbridge, X.J., and Salina, Pa.
Blue Hills.
Twelve miles due west of Claybank, on sec. 11, tp. 13, range 26, w. of
2nd. mer., the following bank of clays was measured, near the top of the
east-facing escarpment of the Blue hills. Although this outcrop is some
distance from a railway, the presence of the white refractorv clays may
make it of importance in the future.
Top, Gypsiferous yellow clays, thin lignite seam included 30 feet
Purplish-grey clay 5 ^ Xo. 485.
Alternate clay and lignite seams 4J^
Light grey clay containing some selenite 4 „ No. 486.
Greyish-white sandy clay 6 No. 487.
Greyish-white clay 3
Carbonaceous brown clay 2
Dark grey clayey sand 1
Purplish-grey clay . 6 I No. 488.
The gypsiferous yellow clays and silts of the upper part of the section,
wiien moulded into brick by the wet method, crack in air-drying. They are
red-burning.
The purplish-grey clay. No. 485, in the five-foot lx?d below, although
chfferent in cclour from the yellow beds above, acts very much the same.
It IS stiff and sticky and will not stand fast drjing. In slow drying a heavy
scum is apparent, and on burning the brick this scum hides the salmon-red
colour of the body. This clay has no value considered alone, but might
be mixed m small percentages with the sandy refractory- clays below for
making face brick.
486. This is a light grey clay which requires 24% of water to temper
It to the stiff-mud condition. It has excellent working qualities and dries
without difficulty to a shrinkage of 7 0rf . Burned to cone 03 the colour
is cream, the total shrinkage 80%, and the absorption 11-3%. Defor-
mation takes place with cone 28.
72
This is a No. 3 grade refractor>' clay of an open-burning character
up to at least cone 9. It has a value for face and firebrick.
487. Immediately below bed 486 there is a six-foot bed of greyish-
white sandy clay in which a few streaks of iron stained material occur.
It works up into a mass of fair plasticity, but decidedly gritty, with ■>3%
of water. The drying of ware made from it can be canied on either slow
or fast without fear of cracking, the air shrinkage being 6 0%. Soluble
salts m small amount appears where evaporation is most intense.
Burned to cone 03 the colour is cream, the total shrinkage is 6 0. and
the absorption 15-8%. At cone 9 the total shrinkage is 7-0% and the
absorption 11.6%. indicating a rather open, burning body. Deformation
takes place with cone 20.
This material is only semi-refractory, and would have a use as part of a
mixture with the other clays of the section for making face brick.
The open-burning nature of both 486 and 485 would make them
unsuitable for making vitrified ware, unless mixed w! h a low temperature
(cone 1-3) vitrifying material.
488. The thickest bed in the lower part of the section consists of some
SIX feet of a purplish-grey clay, A sample of this rec|uires 23% of water to
develop a rather stiff and sticky type of plasticity. Drv-ing proceeds slowlv
without cracking to a shrinkage of 10-3%, but it is doubtful if the material
wi 1 stand commercial fast drying. The shrinkage is excessive and a further
detect in the form of a heavy scum becomes apparent in the burning.
Burned to cone 06 the colour of the body is a salmon-red but the surface
IS covered by the scum mentioned above. Deformation takes place with
cone 6.
The uses to which this material could be put would depend en the work-
mg of the rest of the section for making dry-press brick.
CL.WS OF THE ESTEVAN-WEYBURN DISTRICT.
Brooking.
In a coul6e near Brooking station on the C.N.R., Bengough branch
a 2-ft. seam of greyish-white plastic clay was sampled by Rose in 1913
It was completely hidden, in 1915, by the filling for a bridge, so its extent
was not determined. When tempered with 21% of water this clay forms
a ver>- plastic mass of good working qualities. Its drying shrinkage is
^•0 c and It will probably dry intact when made into full sized wares
I his clay burns to a cream-coloured body at all temperatures up to cone
^ and the body remains open and porous, behaving so far like a firecla^-
1 he body is vitrified and grey in colour at cone 10. Deformation takes
place with cone 20, indicating a semi-refractory material suitable for high
grade face bnck, sewerpipe, and possibly stoneware.
73
The clays associated with it are stiff and sticky in their wori«ing qual-
ities and defective in the drying process.
Yellow Grass.
Near Yellow Grass and Halbrite there are outliers of the Whitemud
beds. That at Yellow Grass is not exposed at the surface but is covered
by 20 to 30 feet of boulder clay on sec. 24. tp. 10, range 17, w. of 2nd. mer.
That at Halbrite is exposed in a wide coulee tributary to the Souris valley,
on sec. 30, tp. 6, range 12, w. of 2nd. mer.
565. The white clay at Yellow Grass was discovered in a well boring
about 1907, and samples taken at depths of 50 feet were reported on by the
Mines Branch. In 1916 a small sample was collected in the field, and a
third sample was taken from a trial shipment made by the owners to an
eastern refinery.
The clay is sandy but has good plastic properties, requiring only 20%
of water to temper to the stiff-mud consistency. It dries without defect,
either slow or fast, to an air shrinkage of .SOf^;. It burns to an open
porous body without much fire shrinkage at all timperatures up to at
least cone 10.
Deformation takes place with cone 28, indicating a material of No. 3
refractory grade.
All three samples examined are of the sandy t>pe, and it is probable
that the plastic clays noted in the white band at other localities have here
been cut away by glacial erosion.
Unless further prospecting shows this material to ha\ e less overburden
than observed in 1916 its extraction will be costly. It would have the
competition of the more refractory and easier worked clays found out-
cropping at the surface along the C.P.R. Weyburn-Stirling branch at
Willows.
Halbrite.
556. Similar material to 565 of the Whitemud Ix-ds outcrops in a
coulte about 2 miles west of Halbrite. It is underlain by a considerable
thickness of the Estevan beds. The coulee sides are much disturbed by
faults and slips, and the Whitemud material has been protected from erosion
by being in a depression caused by the tilting of a fault block. In thi.
vicinity the overburden is slight, and prospecting back from the coulee
side may show up considerable good clay.
Burning tests on this clay show it to be in all respects similar to that
tested from Yellow Grass. The air shrinkage is 5 0%, and when burned
to cone 7, this is increased to 7 0%. Deformation takes place with cone
27, so that it is a No. 3 fireclay.
This material, as well as that at Yellow Grass, if the latter can be
extracted profitably, should find a market in established brick plants, such
74
as thoM.. at Estevan and Weyburn. It could be mixed with the red-burnine
on •?'' JfT ''*^".^' "^'^'"'^ ^""^^'^ ^«« •""'^h colloidal matter to be
considered for cUyworking. The drjing defects are xery bad.
Weyburn.
At Weyburn a small brick plant was started in 1910 using a loamv
surface clay of Pleistocene age. This clay is only six feet dip aST
—bbe^^Th^^^ T'^k'^'^^ ^''"^^•"'■"^ """"--^ conctLTand
s^)nK pebbles The top clay burns to a good red colour, but the body is
not strong and .s easily over fired. The lower clay is too badly conUmin
at«l by calcareous concretions to be of much value unless ground ve"
fine. As was mentioned above, this plant might be turned over to use th^
UirS^urte t: "^"'^^ "^ '""^^- ^^^ ^" ^ '"^^^"^ -^'^^'^«^^-
Estevan.
The Nici^nity of Estevan is rich in resources of lignite coal and the
common grades of clay. Hence it would appear to be the logJS p'ace for
the^^^oiiomic production of structural materials such asTSictd fi^
The Estevan Coal and Brick Company has a well established plant at
^ce'brickT" T"""" '"'' ^^•''■'""^ (^'^^ -^> brick, and red dr^^^
tace bnck, from clays associated with the coal
the cfav oit^L'hThr^ ""' ^'"''"' 'r '•°" °^ '^' P'^"*' ^-^ P'-te XVI
the clay pit, with the surface outcrop of the coal seam showing
The following is the section of clay and lignite mined :-
Top. Glacial drift ,.„„, ...
XT „ , very thin.
\ allow calcareous and sandy clay 10 feet No. 1645.
ureyish-yellow clay more plastic than that
above . x r^,
, . .^ 4 „ No. 566.
Lignite g
Parting clay j "
Lignite - "
Blue clay with sandy bands, particulariy
towards the bottom 30
to th^T' ^"'""'^^*':^ "PP^"- yellowish clays as glacial, but they belong
to the upper part of the Fort Union formation and may be referr^^ i^ the
Ravenscrag division. The top day contains hardened sandrilyers
very much ripple marked. ^ layers,
'Rie«, .Memoir 24E.. G.S.C., 1912. p. 79.
'I mi: W
riant of the li?ttvaii Coa! and Hri( k (dntpany, Ks-tivan, Sa>k.
I'l.ATK XVI
t lay pit of tile l.^lcv.iii I oal ami lirkk (.'oiiipaiiy, showing lop Ud of l)iilT biiiiiiii^;
i-lay; intermediate bed of lignite coal; and fower lH>d of reel biirniiii; day.
I'owards RckHc Perc^v the yellow calcareous IrmIh increase in thickness
and occupy the whole of the valley side. These clays are of great value
to the common brick industry because they are easily worked and will dry
fast in an artificial dryer without checking.
1645. This is a yellow calcareous clay which requires 2\% of water
to temper to the stifT-mud condition. It can be dried slow, or fast (20
hours), without defects to a shrinkage of 5 0%. The best Ixxly is produced
in a range from cone 03 to 1. Deformation takes place with cone 3. It is
used for wire-cut brick and has t)ossibilities for hollow block.
566. The yellowish-grey clay under 1645 and immediately above the
oal seam is of excellent plasticity and working qualities. It burns to a
pink colour when made up stifT-mud, and the burning range is from cone
OS to cone 02.
Made up in the dry-press way the burnt colour is a speckled buff, and
the burning range is from cone 04 to cone 1 . It deforms at cone 3.
This clay has a value as a dry-press face brick matetial, and as little as
possible should be used in with the upper calcareous clay for common
brick.
5©4. Near the bridge south of Estevan there is a section of some ten
feet of silty claj- in the river bank. This material is very short in its w orking
qualities and requires careful handling in drying, when moulded in the soft-
mud way. It burns to a porous weak bod\- up to cone 1, beyond which it
shrinks rapidly. It has doubtful value for tnaking clay ware.
557. A grey calcareous clay, above the coal, was sampled in Anderson's
coal mine in Long Creek valley. It requires 26% of water to temper to
the StifT-mud condition. It moulds rather stifHy, and would require more
power to work it than the other calcareous clays tested in the district.
The air shnnkage of 6-3% is well within practical limits, and fast drying
can be carried on without trouble.
Burned in a range from cone 010 to cone 1 the body is salmon-pink in
colour and has good strength. The total shrinkap'e increases regularly
from 7-0% at cone 010 to 10-6% at cone 1. In this range the absorption
remains around 24%. Deformation takes place rapidly at cone 3.
This n-i :^rial would make a good common wire-cut brick or hollow
blocks.
Shand.
Six miles southeast of Estevan, at Shand station, the Saskatchewan
Coal, Brick and Power Company is operating a lignite mine and manu-
facturing StifT-mud (side cut) common brick (Plate XVII). The coal is
mined by underground methods at a depth of seventy feet. The clay is
7' S
taken from a fifteen-foot open-cut to the went of the plant. I„ the pit the
following section was measured:— ' '"®
Top, Thin glacial covering
Yellow clay 5'-0"
Thin lignite scam O'-l"
Grey clay and sand 4' n" w. nt^x
I nm lignite seam q' 1"
^,'?y"'«y '■''■'■'.'.'.'. 2'AKy' So. 5603.
I hin lignite seam q' 2"
^, ^'^yf^y- ^^^■i:::::::4':o"No.s6oc.
•tiff m„H ""k" u ^"u '•' '"^""f««^'"'-«' i"to an excellent grade of common
8tiflF-mud bnck, pink to cream in colour. In the yard a number of th^
bru:k were observed to contain stiff lumps of red-burning Z J Z
following tests on the lower three beds indicate that bed No 5608^ he
only one free of red-burning clay bands.
. ^^^' .T'l'Vf ^'^y calcareous clay which develops a silty tvoe of
snrinlcage only 60%. It burns to a good hard body, pink to cream in
colour in a range from cones 010 to 03. It is overburnS at cone 1 and the
^h'ctel """""^ """' °' '''' '"'""^ '^- '' '^'^f--^ --P'etely
with^^^* J^'" '" ^ ^ry'^^ ^^"y ''^ ^"'■'^"^"^ plasticity when tempered
«.th23%of water. Itdries without defects to a shrinkage of 6- C^,
C'-'.S th"e totllT-l' '^"^^ '•'"^^ ^ ^^^"'"« ^yP'^-' °f -^'careous
Lin,n/nf shrinkage being 50%. It has a burning range from
cones 010 to 03 in which a good common brick can be made. At the lowe
temperatures the colour is pink but this changes to cream at cone O.S. The
deJormation temperature is cone 4.
thP !^' 7^^ ^r-^' ^'7 *^'^y ''^"''■*'' 20% of water to temper it to
the stiff-mud condition. It dries without defect to a shrinkage of 7 -0%
is sX"'^^.^''' '^" '^^ '' '•^''* P'""^ '" ^'^'«"^' '^^ »"''-' shrinkage
^n^U- 1 / absorption 13-4%. This clay has a burring range for
good bnck of cones 010 to 03. Above this temperature the shrinkage
IhereT'a hl^".'?^'^.''''' ^'^'•^ '^", '°^' "' ^ ^^P''' "^ ^bo"^ «eventv feet
iav n ?f ^^/-a'^areous silty clay very similar to those sampled in the
(lay pit. It works up into a mass of excellent plasti, itv with 23% of water
and dnes without defect to a shrinkage of 5 0%
thecoZ^ '^°"' "*' ^IV^'al shrinkage is 6.3'?, the body is hard and
the colour a good cream. The absorption is rather high at 27 • 5% At the
higher temperature of cone 1 the cream colour turns'to a greenih-ye lot
aLnTac;ir^^' ". '"^^ ^"^ '""^ ^^^---Pt'- 2.>.5%. Deformation
taxes place with cone 5.
I'l Ml Wll
Briik plant ami nial ti|.|>le of the Si>kal. li.vv.m ( oal, Itri. k, ami I'ow.r
('"iiipany, SliamI, Sa-k.
I'r vti; Will
Plant of thf Wcyburn Hiiik <."oni|)any, Wcyhiirn, Sank.
77
This in a gotxl commun brirk rlay and ran lie workcti like the rlays
already Ijeinp; used for wire-cut brick.
Near Mileage 141 + 300 on the C.P.R., Mtuthfant of EHte»an, the
ureyish-yellow calcarvouH ila>« outcrop at the iturface. A itain|)le collecti-d
to the wcHt of the truck |)roved to lie similar in its working (jualitics to the
clays of the same poHition at Kstcvan and Shand.
C)n the west sitle of the Souris valley and for some distance up I-onn
<ri'ek these same yellow calcareous clays are foimd outcropping in the valley
sides. Their resemblance to the Ravenscra^ vds is suKRestive, and Koinjj
south, (low n the main valley towards Rfx'he I'erc^-e, this resemblance is seen
Hi In- inv.re definite.
Roche Percie.
The red-burninR Kstevan betls dip liencath the river at Roche F'crc^-e
and the whole height of the valley side consists of calcareous clays, silts,
and sands.
At the junction of a tributary couke northwest of the school house the
following [lartial section was measured: —
Top, Buriii day -ash and glacial material 6'-0"
Yellow sil*y clay with concretions lO'-O" No. 511.
Lignite... 0'-8"
Rusty grey clay including thin lignite bctl . 9'-0" No. 510.
l.ignile 2'-0"
Grey clay and silt 8'-0" No. 509.
Clayey grey sand 6'-0"
Lignitic clay with concretions 3'-0"
C'.reyish sands and silts 20'-0"
509. This is a grey silty, calcareous clay, and, although only 22% of
water is required to mould it, brick made of it require to l)e carefully dried
to avoid checking. The air shrinkage is 8 0'^ . It burns to a good strong
buff-coloured IkkIv at cone 06, and continues so to cone 03. If mixed with
some of the other cla>-s of the section it would make a gootl common building
brick. Deformation takes place with cone 3.
510. Sample of a yellowish-grey calcareous clay which requires 23%
of water to temper to the stiff-mud condition. It dries slow or fast without
sign of defect, the shrinkage being 6-0^1 .
Burned to cone OS the colour of the body is a pinky-cream, the total
shrinkage is 6-0'^( and the absorption 21 -T'f . The body remains good up
to cone 02, l)eyond which the shrinkage increases rapidly and the c(;Iour
liecomes greenish-yellow. Deformatiou takes place with cone 3.
The principal use to which this material might be put would lie for
common brick and possibly hollow block by the stiff-nmd process.
511. The thickest bed in the upper part of the section consists of
yellow .silty clay containing a few concretionary lumps. These were
7S
.u«p.Tt«l »f l-'inK hiKh in lime but ihv burnt tct ,rie,-c« »h.m no ««„ .,f
hmc ,«r,K- c„. lh,H day i. more .ihy than ,h<«. in the lower p«rt u{ h.'
TT" ""; r"'' *"'^'•^•"'•^ "'''^' -"h 'hem. The air ,h^nk«L il
*r«uWe eith!;Ti'"' P" T* '^' '^'^'"'' ^"" '•^' «'«-"'"P'i»»'«l without
rouble either »low or fant It burn- to a very porou. pink to rream-
L'orc3.cotut;S;.r^^^ '^•'"^'"- " ^^"'^ '^ -'" '"«^^- ~"-
R™.k"p '" "'u '■•'*"''^' '•"""•" "' '^'' ^•""•'- "^•'" 'he Hch.K.! h»u«. at
Koche Perm., the river cut* mto a luink. showing eight feet of silty clav
rnvdeHam by ..n.l. Thin clay rc.,uires 2V, of water',.. tem.H.r it lo tie
«.ft.miul conc..„on. ft .lne« without cracking ,o a .hrinkaRc of 7 0';
hurnecl m a range from cone 010 to erne 1 the colour change, from light
red to dark red, and the fire shrinkage remains practicallN at zero. A Mnal
rm 7") ',' "'"''■'"'•. ''"' '^^ '""''* •■*• '""^l ''y'h.- addition of a
•mall amount of ktnum salt.
Tr. JH one of the few gcKxl red-burning common brick clay, in the
district. Itw..uldwork»H-stbythe»oft.mu.lpr,Kes«.
Pinto.
1- •J'Hl''"'"^ ^'""' '*"'' "'''■'' ^ "'"Pany oiK-raied a mine in the upper
hgmte bed m 19 0. an<l the shale, overlying and underlying the coal Zn
wfth tLTr . '"'■J";«'".'"«^'«" «» that time. A very complete report
with tests on these shales is given in Memoir 24 of the (>ological Sur>ey.
Bienfait.
East of ihv Souris valley the glacial Iwulder clay thickens and the
underlying formations are not well exposed to view. At Bienfait several
companies arc mining coal at a depth of 80 feet. and. in sink-holes on the
properties the boulder clay is seen to have a thickness of 15 feet It is
underlain by the yellow and grey calcareous beils referre<l to the Ravens-
crag division The coal seam is overlain by a calcareous silty clav .similar
to that noted over the coal at Estevan. Shand. and Roche Percee '
c.n 'ii' r^'^'i I' ""^K .^ "'"^^ ^^^^ '^"^ '^'^y^ ^^^■'^ 'he main coal scan.
can all be used for making common brick and face brick, bv both the stilT-
mud and dry-press methods. Certain of the beds will make hollow ware
None of the clays hav any refractory value.
East from Bienfait the country has a rolling glacial morainal topo-
graphy and in the vicinity of Oxbow the drift has a thickness of several
hundred eet. No good clay was found in the extrc ne . .uthc.istern par,
of the district, but further prospecting in the flood plain of the Souris riv er
where it is crossed by the G.T.R. north of Elcott. and in the flood plain of
Antler creek between CarnduflF and Carivale, may sh a up small bodies
ol material suitable for making common brick.
Areola.
South of MuiMc nuiuntaiii (u lur|{f kI'W iai tnoraiiu) ihi-rc art- ntinuniiti
Hniall buMn-ithaped areui«, thi' Kiteit of extinri l.ikf» or |n>iuI», in whit li k'xxI
bufT-burniriK common brick cluyit an* to In- foiintl. At Areola a !tiilT-iiiii<l
brick plant has liecn in opcraiiiMi for a niinilicr. of vt-am u><inK ihi- i l.i\
of one of thcNc iMHtinit locatetl on the outskirtH of the town. Tlu- day i;* a
yellowi»h-grey calcareous material containinx cryHtaU of M-leniic. It in
worked to a depth of six feet. In pliut-N it in (|uitc Mirt .iiul plaHiic. in oihrrt
it in windy and iihort .
Care i» nee<led in digging the clay toaitHure a k"<nI mixturt-. Ii worki*
well in a »tifT-niu(l !na''iiine and driett slowly without defect in o|H>n hack**,
a reauopable amo'.int «>f care U-ing taken to prolin l the ware Iroin cxcesi^iM-
wind and Hun.
Burning Ih carriwi on in scove kilns to a ti'ni|H'ratiire of cone OS for
good hard butT brick. Ware burned to cone 010 is pink in colour and shown
white iKirticles ()f burnt gy^Mum. ()n standing in the air thvM.- particles
take up moisture and himII the brick. Hence it is de><irable to carry the
burning temperature to cone 05. It does not deform until cone .? is reaclu-*!.
indicating a safe-burning range for gotxl brick of cones O.S to 02. .At eoiu-
05 the total shrinkage is l-t% and the absorptiim 20' 2' i .
Carlyle.
East of Areola, to Manor, there do not app- ir to Ih? any good c!a>s, the
surface covering being largely stony lM)ulder clay. .At Carlyle an attempt
was made, a number of years ago, to make .soft-mud brick from surface
clay to the north of the town. A small scove ki'n was set but ne\er
burned. An examination of the brick showed the preseiue of numerous
limestone pebble:).
Stoughton.
West of Areola, towards Stoughton, there are numerous depressitms
containing clay similar to that used at Areola. Along the road U-tween
st<r.s. 20 and 29, tp. 8, range 8, w. of 2nd. mer., near Stoughton, a small
sample (No. 561) was collectetl from one of these clay basins. It represents
a depth of 3 feet.
561. This is a yellow surface clay which requires only 22'/c water
to develop an excellent grade of plasticity. It dries without defects to a
shrinkage of 8-3%.
Burned to cone 010 the colour is pink, the total shrinkage 8 • 3% and the
absorption 17-7%. At this temperature the body is fairly hard and no
gypsum is evident. The body is a good buff colour at cone 05 but best
at cone 03. At this latter temperature the total shrinkage is 9-0% and the
absorption 15 -7%. At cone 1 the body is on the verge of being over
burned and deformation takes place with cone 3.
80
This matenal will make a good buff-coloured eom.„on brick burned
in a range from cones 010 to 02.
CLAYS OF THK NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE AREA.
Regina.
The immaliate vicinity of the capital of the Pro^•ince is poor in work-
able clay resources. The city is bn.lt on the site of an extinct glacial lake.
I>ut the clay depos.tc-d .n the lake bottom was derived largely from the
cro.s,on of the stiff and sticky Pierre shale. Hence wet-moulded bricks
made from this material crack badly in air-drying, and when made up dry-
press the clay has e.xcessne shrinkage, with a burnt hcxly of low strength
and high porosny. The burnt colour is red but obscured to some extfnt
ny w lute .scum.
. 'i.^"'^'j"" "'.^'^■■■ved in the excavation of a trunk sewer in 1911 con-
lamed the following material:—
Top, Dark coloured loamy clay 4'.o"
Stiff dark clay, jointed 15'-0"
Yellow silty clay 2'-6"
Stiff dark clay, jointed jq'.
Tin- jointed clay forms the greater part of the section, and unless it
could be preheated with success commerciallv it would have no ^•alue as
a clay workmg material.
The yellow silty clay (Sample No. 1809) is a workable material, but
unless found in quantity at the surface somewhere it has no commercial
value. A careful search of the stream Nalleys in the vicinitv of the city
did not reveal any quantitj- of the yellow clay, but a flooti plain deposit of
similar material was found in the valley of \\'a..kana creek one mile north
of tond.e. The stream bank shows some six feet of gcxxl clax- oxerlving
a bed of stony clay. ' ' *
521. laboratory tests on a sample of the bank show the material
to be calcareous and to have fair working and drying qualities. The drving
would lK» miproved by the addition of 20^; of ^m,\. The air shrinkage
isO'JVf.
" nef ""IT'u'' T" ^^^ "'"^ '■°'''"'' °^ ^'^^ '^°'^>' '« P'""^-- the total shrinkage
'J/o^nd the absorption 20-4^;. At higher temperatures up to cone 03
he colour changes to buff, the body is hard and the absorption decreases to
1 /•-<.,• At cone 1 the bcxly is hard burnt and .leformation takes place
with cone ,■>. Cone 03 is the best burning temperature.
This material promises well as a common brick clay, but more exten.sive
(Irving tests would lie necessary to give it definite value.
564. A calcareous clay was found in a flood plain in the valley of
Bogg>' creek along the north side of sec. 1 1, tp. 18, range 9, w. of 2nd. mer.
It cracks badly in drying and requires as much as 50% of sand to overcome
81
this defect. With this large amount of sand in the bodv it is i)ossil)le to
make soft-mud brick of the material requiring to Ix; burned as high as cones
05 to 1 to produce brick of good strength. Plenty of sand is available in
the large sand pit one mile to the east of the clay In-d.
Pilot Butte.
East of Regina towards Pilot Butte the Canadian Pacific railway line
passes from the old glacial lake bottom onto a s;indy glacial outwash area
of which Pilot Butte appears to be the centre. Two brick plants are in
operation at this station, one using the sand of the outwash for sand-lime
brick, and the other, the silty clay found in small basins within the sand.
These basins are \cry small and irregular, and much trouble is experienced
m making brick from the cl ,y l)ecause of the presence of lenses of stifl gumbo
clay similar to that of the plain to the west.
East and northeast of Regina, to the Manitoba boundary, the country
changes from the level treeless plain u> rolling w<xxlcd topography. On
the surface numerous extinct glacial lake basins are to be found, in, and
between the main moraine s% stems.
The glacial material, boulder day. roxering the Cretaceous rocks, is
of considerable thickness and bed rock exposures are few. From Lost
Mountain lake to the vicinity of Tantalloii, in the gu'ApjKlle valle\-, the
full depth of the valley sides (200 to iOO feet j consists of glacial drift.
Wolseley.
Along the main line of the Canadian Pacific railway, east of Wolseley
to Whitewood, there are many of these clay basins containing workable
deposits of buff-burning clays. At Wolseley a soft-mud brick plant was
in operation a number of years ago using a \ellow siltv dav taken from a
basm to the south of the railway. Many of the stores in the town were
built of brick made in this plant about 1898, aiul thdr present excellc.it
condition attest the quality of the pnMluct.
Summerberry.
562. East of Summerberry station there is a wide flat underlain by
stratified clay. A sample collected in a .Vfoot ditch on sec. 8, tp. 17, range
8, w. of 2nd. mer., works up to a mass of good plastidty with 28% of water
It would work better with about 20% of sand. The drying qualities are
bad, full .sized brick cracking badly in slow drying. The air shrinkage is
Burned to cone 010 the body is light red. but the colour is partK-
obscured by white scum. At this temperature the total shrinkage is 70' '
and the absorption 12%. At higher lemperatures up to cone (M. the
82
shrinkage does not materially increase but the effect of the scum is more
pronounced.
The material rcpresentetl by the sample would Ix; difficult to work
Ix-cause of the sticky plastic nature, scumming and cracking defects in
the drying process. About a mile farther cast, near the margin of the
flat, a more sandy clay might be found, but the scumming defect would
probably still be present.
Broadview.
At Broadview, the Broadview Brick Company operates a soft-mud
brick plantusingabuff-burningsurfaceclayfoundin aflat north of the railway.
See Plate .XIX. The product is a good grade of common brick and has been
largely used in the district for constructing stores and houses. An attempt
was made to use the clay in a stiff-mud machine, but lamination intensified
the brittleness of the material in the burned brick made by this process.
This was the only idle plant in southern Saskatchewan during 1916, due
largely to internal business difficulties, liiere is plenty of good soft-mud
brick clay in the vicinity.
Qi'.Appelle V.\lley.
Tantallon.
The most important clayworking material discovered in the north-
eastern part of the area is the Odanah shale horizon of the Pierre formation
which outcrops in large exposures a hundred feet thick in the Qu'Appelle
valley near Tantallon.
The Canadian Pacific railway, Brandon-Saskatoon branch, descends
from the south through Cut Arm creek coulee, follows the main valley for
several miles and ascends another large coulee to the general le\el of the
country north of the valley. Ti r best exposures of the shale occur along the
railway southeast from Tantallon, and particulariy good sections are
accessible near the bridge over Bear creek. See Plate XX.
The upper sixty feet in this section consists of hard grey, thinly bedded
shale having iron oxide stain along the fracture and bedding planes. Below
this there is a very heaxy talus of the shale only in small part weathered to
cla>-, the greater proportion remaining in hard splintery fragments.
515. This is a hard grey shale slightly darker than the underiying
part of the section. When ground to 16 mesh and tempered with water
to the stiff-mud consistency it has good working qualities. A large sample
was put through a stiff-mud machine and found to work very smoothly
with a small amount of lubrication.
The dr>'ing properties of solid brick are fair, care being necessary to
avoid unequal dr>ing. Trouble is experienced in making hollow brick or
block because of checking due to strains set up in the die. The material
is therefore regarded as tender in its drying qualities for this class of ware.
I'l \ii MX
^^j^^^Si
' ' * V ■ ■,. -• ■ •
"^•<^- .
('Dinnion liriik |)l.im ul tlic liro.idvi.w lirii k ( onii'.iiv. IJidadv iiw, S;i>k,
I'l. All: \\
^■''^):ym
^^■•^-''•:-fe.ii^Lt:
I liHcnip ol Od.iTi.ih shalo alDiiy tlu' r.iii.iili.ui I'.iiilic r.iilw.iv. Iii'twi-cn l<(«,iiui!lr
and Taiitalloii, in the Uii'ApiH'llf \alliy, Sa>k.
83
Burned up to cone 05 the colour is a beautiful red, the total shrinkage
9-7% and the absorption 24-6%. At cone 1 the total shrinkage is 11 O','
and at cone 5, 15-3%. At the latter temperature the burnt colour is a
rich dark red. Deformation takes place with cone IS.
516. The lower thirty feet of the section consists of thinly iKflded
light grey shale similar to that almve. A few hard concretionary mas.ses
were noted towards the base. This shale, when ground to 16 mesh, acts
much like 515 except that the air shrinkage of 5 0% is less. The working
and burning properties are in all respects similar to 515.
A mixture of these two samples works very well in a stiff-mud machine
with lubrication in making cither brick or drain tile. Drying full sized brick
requires some care, the moist air system being the most efficient. At cone
06 the total shrinkage is 7-5% and this increases to 8-3% at cone 03.
In a range from cone 06 to cone 6 the colour changes from light red to a
rich dark retl. Flashing in the burning results in beautiful red and burnt
orange tones. Deformation takes place with cone IS.
.■\ dry-press I, rick l)urned to cone 03 gave a total shrinkage of 6-2'^,'.
Brick made by this process requires tc be burned to rone 1 to get a strong
body.
The mixture takes an e.xcellent salt glaze at cone 7, but the Ixxly is
hot vitrified. It is not a gooH sewerpipe material but it will make a high
grade face brick, either alone or mixetl with the underlying beds represented
by No. 1810.
No. 1810. The underlying Millwood beds are not exposed in the
section described abo\e, but a considerable thickness is to be seen in the
road cuttings up the valley side south of Tantallon. The lx?ds sampled at this
point are dark brown to grey plastic shales. The material of which they
are composed absorbs a large amount of water in developing maximum
plasticity. Stiff-mud brick cracked very badly in air-drying. The burnt
colour is a good red, partly obscured by scum. When liurned to cone OS
the absorption is 1 ■$% and vitrification is complete at cone 1.
This clay might L^ of use mixed with the hard shale above for making
dry-press brick. The vitrifying qualities at cone 1 would produce a strong
t)rick from such a mixture.
The valley bottom contains flood plain clays that are inclined to be
tender in their drying qualities, but prospecting near the valley sides may
show up good workable material.
The red-burning and semi-refractory grey shale of the upper part of
the valley sides is, therefore, the most important clay working material in the
Tantallon district. It will make dry-press and stiff-mud brick of excellent
quality, at least a pound lighter in weight than the average shale brick.
Further testing will be necessary o definitely establish its value for hollow-
brick or block. The tender nature of the material indicates that the strains
set up in the dies will cause cracking in air-dr>-ing, except under most
84
favourable conditions. So much depends on the structure of the die for this
class of ware that extensive testing is necessarj-.
Saltcoats.
North of the Qu'Appelle valley to Saltcoats, the country has a rolling
morainal topography and is well wooded. About three miles southwe.»t of
Saltcoats there are wide flat treeless areas underlain bv stratified sity clay
This material is yellowish in colour and very- calcareous. It would be
suitable for making buff or cream common brick by the soft-mud process.
Melville.
Farther west to Melville the rolling morainal topography comes in
agam and the town of Melville is built on a gravel outwash plain. This
contmues to alwut one mile east c.f Duff, where extinct lake basins or flats
are found. These treeless flats arc in striking contrast with the well
wooded morainal areas.
In a road cutting along the north side of sec. 5, tp. 22, range 8, w of
2nd. mer., and about 400 feet south of the railway track, some 4 feet of
stratified clay, silt, and sand were found. This material is calcareous and
burns to a buff or cream colour. It would be suitable for making common
l»nck by the soft-mud process.
Balcarres.
Two or three miles south of Balcarres stratified clay was found in road-
cuttmg, but the material is similar to that deposited in the larger glacial
lake basins such as that at Regina. It is very stiff and sticky in its working
qualities and cracks badly in air-drying.
519. More promising material occurs in smaller glacial lake basins
in the glacial outwash area to the northwest of Balcar-es. The silty
calcareous clay from one of these basins along the railway half way between
Balcarres and Patrick has been used for making soft-mud brick. The
small plant on the property is in ruins at present.
A sample collected in a four-foot pit near the railway south of the brick
yard was made up into soft-mud brick and found to have an air shrinkage
of 4-0%. When burned to cone 03 the colour is buff and the total shrinkage
3-0%. The brick is hard but rather porous, with an absorption of 24-5%.
Most of the brick in the abandoned scove kilns are salmon-pink in colouf
indicating a burning temperature of about cone 07. Better brick could
have been made by burning to the higher temperature of cone 03.
In the Qu'Appelle valley, at the east end of the Qu'Appelle lakes a small
soft-mud brick plant was in operation about 1900. Bricks were moulded
by hand and burned in small scove kilns. The clay used was the top foot
or two of the flood plain of the river south of the course of the present
85
stream. The product was a fair grade of salmon to buff-coloured common
brick.
Lebret.
518. At Ubret a stream tributary to the Qu'Appellc has built up an
alluvial fan into the main valley, near the railway on sec. 1, tp. 20, range
14, w. of 2nd. mer. A cut bank shows some six feet of clay. This material
requires only 21% of water to develop a silty type of plasticity. It has an
air shnnkage of 6- 69c, which is not excessive, but it cracks in dr>ing.
This defect could be overcome in making soft-mud brick by the addition
of 25% of sand. Without sand it burns to a pink to buff body in a range
from cone 010 to cone 1. The total shrinkage after burning is practicallv
the .same as the air shrinkage and the absorption remains at about 17 59;.
The sample collected was too small to try mixtures with sand, but the
matenal will probably require 25'y, to make -ommon soft-mud brick.
Re£ina Beach.
Dark grey to brown shales of the lower part of the Pierre outcrop in
the valley of Lost Mountain lake near Regina Beach. Samples of this
matenal tested by Keele in 1912 were found to be defective both in drying
and burning. A further examination of this material in 1916 confirmed the
above.
Lumsden.
In the main Qu'Appelle valley at Lumsden the vallev bottom silt
could be used for making a fair grade of common soft-mud' brick. This
material burns to a salmon-pink colour at cone 07.
CLAYS OF THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF TflE AREA.
Moosejaw.
An examination of the vicinity of Moostjaw failed to reveal material
suitable for clayworking. An attempt has been made to work the boulder
clay south of the town for soft-mud brick but considerable trouble wa.s
experienced with small limestone pebbles.
Three miles east of the town railway cuttings show nine or ten feet of
stoneless clay, but this material is the typical gumbo of the district and
cannot be dned successfully. When made up dry-pressed it burns to a
body of low strength and high porosity at temperatures commercial for the
material.
m
86
Mortlach.
Seven miles s«uth .,f Mortlach the Fort Union beds outcrop in the
north-faang escarpment of the Coteau. In the east bank of a coulte on
«tc. 1 7. tp. 16. ranKe 1 , w. of 3rd. mer., the following section was observed :-
^"''l*"'- «-'«> 3 feet
Brown sticky clay 25
Lignite 1 "
Greyish-white plastic clay 9
Yellow sticky clay > "
In the west bank of the couWe the greyish-white clay is nearer the
surface, but it is thinner than in the east bank. Tests made by Keele'
on a^mpie of this clay showed it to have the very high air shrinkage of
100,,. It burns to a bu«T-co!oured body in the temperature range of
cones 03 to 5. It %-,tnfies at cone 10 and deforms at cone 20. It resembles
a stoneware clay but it could not be used alone for this purpose because of
the excessive shnnkag... I* could be mixed with the other clays of the
section for making dry-press face brick. It would also find a use in a sewer-
pipe mixture.
So much of the country in the vicinity is covered by a mantle of boulder
c ay that it is impossible to form an estimate of the good clay available,
nnlling in the areas along the railway west of Parkbeg might bring to
SdnTHat** '"^ '"'""' '°' '''''""^"' '" '^^ sewerpipe worfa at
Herbert.
Rush lake occupies a depression between two morainic ridges, and its
d shore hne indicates at least twenty feet more water than that in the basin
at present A small creek enters the basin from the east and has built
up a delta deposit of sand, gravel, and clay.
550. A sample of this clay was collected on sec. 3, tp. 17, range 10
w. of 3rd mer. Soft-mud brick made of this material cracked in air-drying'
but not badly. The air shrinkage is 8-6%. When burned to cone 010 the
7,V \u" i!'""" ^,°'°"''' '^^ *°'^' shrinkage 8-6% and absorption
1 . 7 ^^^'^'°" «f sa"d to the amount of 20 to 25% would cure the
drying defect, and a fair grade of soft-mud brick for backing purposes could
Ardkenneth Post Office.
fU kT)."*- ""! !*'"*'' Saskatchewan river, near Ardkenneth post office,
thej-ort Union beds outcrop in the northeast facing hills of the Coteau.
'Keele. Memoir «6. G S.C. 1915. pp. 24- 2J.
87
On section 17, tp. 21, range 10, w. of .Ircl. mcr., the following section was
ol>8erved : —
Glacial boulder clay 24 feet
Yellow clays 50 ^ \o. 552.
Black lignitic clay 1
Greyish-white sandy clay 20 „ No. 551.
Yellowish-grey clays ?
551. This is a sandy greyish-white clay which works up into a mass
of fair plasticity with 20^*^ of water. It dries without defect to a shrinkaue
of6.0rt.
When l)urned in a range fronj cone 03 to cone 9 it expands rather than
shrinks, the burnt colour is a dirty cream, and the absorption rei.iains
aroumi l^OVi- Deformation takes place with cone 26. This is a \ery
open burning semi-refractory clay and it could I. used alone fcr making a
low grade of refractory or with other clays for dry-press face brick.
552. A sample of the yellow calcareous In-ds ovei lying the "white
mud." requires 19% of water to develop a rather stiff typo of plasticity.
In air-drying the material cracks very badly and hence could not be used
alone by either the soft-mud or stiff-mud process. The air shrinkage is
8-69c and when burned to cone C5 the shrinkage increases to 10-3%.
The burnt colour is a fine red.
An excellent range of dry-pres.sed, flashed, face brick could l)e made by
mixing 551 and 552 in various proportions.
The proximity of this section of clays to the Saskatchewan river
suggests the possibility of transporting the material in scows down stream
to Saskatoon to be manufactured into brick at that industrial centre.
Lucky Lake.
Four miles north of Lucky Lake post office, on the N.E. J. sec. 1, tp.
24, range 9, w. of 3rd. mer., a cut bank in a coulee shows a F)eculiar mixture
of bright coloured clays and glacial drift. Masses of yellow, red, black, and
white clays appear to have been transported by glacial ice and dumped at
this point along with the common boulder clay.
Settlers of the vicinity have gathered the red ochreous clay for painting
barns.
However, the material is not in place, and prospecting in the district
failed to locate the source. In this locality the glacial ice movement was
from a northeasterly direction, and the source of the clay may have been
near or far.
Lancer District.
Along the Empress branch of the Canadian Pacific ra" ay, from a point
about two miles west of Shackleton, to Lemsford, the numerous railway
cuttings show clay silt interstratified with very thin bands of stiff plastic
clay. One mile west of Lancer a cut shows some ten feet of this sort of
Is.
material ami at a .Itpth „f dKht f«-t there i» a bami ..mtainiuK ^helU
>^o.t c^^« i„ open air..,,.i... On test pi.es the air .Hri^ull^e
brick"r"J';'hr.T'''^*^u'''*:' '^""^''^'' '' '■'"" "^'^ -'-'^ '^ - K-Hl
excellent hardness, and the al,s.,rpti.,n is 150';. A small amount of
jcum .s present but it could be cure,l by the ad.lition of half a ~nt o
banum salt to the clay in the pug mill.
546. On sec .16. tp. 21. ran^e 2.?, w. of 3r,.. mer.. a railv.ay cuttinR
hows ten fm of stratified yellow clay-silt A sample representative 3
the bank requires 25^;, of water to .levelop a fair degree of plastic y for
mouldrng .n the stiflF-mud condition. The drying shrinkage ofToC^^^^^^^
well withm commercial limits. luwcw
When burned to cone 010 the material shows no fire shrinkage, the
body .8 of a dark salmon colour, and of good strength, the absorption being
20-3%. At cone 1 the body is dark red in colour and the total shrinkage
matlTT^ ? '■''"\J^' ^y -"W be overfircl at cone 2 and deTor^
mation takes place rapidly with cone 3.
Btiff mud Z!^l'u '" !!1''^^'' ^°'' '"^'''"•^ ^ ^"^ «^^"^^ «f either soft-mud or
8t.ff-mud bnck burned at temperatures ranging from cone 010 to cone 03.
A mmor amount of scum .s apparent but less than a half of a per cent of
barium -alt would cure this defect.
cut mt ^"''' "/"""f ^T "^ ^^"'^'''■' "^^' ^"-"««f^ '" «" the railwaN-. a
cut shows some twelve feet of .stratified silt separat«l by thin bands of
Top. Yellow silty clay 6-5 inches.
Orcasy clay q . ^
Silly clay i . ,
Creasy clay 0. - "
Silly clay j Ij
Greasy clay ^
Siltyclay '''.'.'.'.'.'.''.'.'.'.'. 7.5 "
Greasy clay q.^ "
Siltv clay un "
Cjrcasy clav r, e
Siltyclay.; ''.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 6^5 "
Greasy clay q ,; "
Silty day, etc '■'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. W-O I
I'l Ml NM
.^j»^;**^5a
gyki 1
lig
^
^^mB
B*^WIHfW
s
s
^.
'■;•:>.
1
i
Krtl luiniinu v.''" '''1 ' t^»'" ' l.i\'^i tu-.ii l.,iiiin , Si>k.
A rcprfmntalivr m\mp\v of ih.- lunk rwiuin-H 27' ,' ..f w.,l.r to work it
la the MilT-miul condition. Th.- workinn ciualiii.s arc cx.cll.nt an.l the
•IryinK ol full hi/,^| l.ri.k can U- c iH«| on without .It f.ct. the air .hrinkiiuc
iJcinK '*o';.
Burnc-,1 K. com- 010 the t..tal shrinkaRc is HO' , . ihc |„hK i, l.ard an.l
of a k'mmI rc.1 .-olotr. an.l the al.s..r|.tion i^ \>)V,. At .oik I th,- total
HhrinkaKc is «>-.?' ; . il,,. 1h«Iv in Hteel hanl an.l of a .lark n.l or l.rown ...lonr
an.l thealworption is l.S-0. Deformation tak.H place with .on.- 4.
This material will make a k<hkI r.-.l l.ri.k if workiV l.v .itlMT the >ofi.
mud ..r stiff-nui.1 pr.Kess an.l luinu-d in ,i ranK*- of ..me OKI to (M.
The usual s<umminK defect is pr.Mnt Init less than half..f a iH-ront
of barium sidt will cure it.
These clays of the Lancer district ar.- an im|H,riant clavworkinn
resource .)f the ouniry m.rthwest ..f Swift Current. They will' mak.- a
K'^Kl Krad.' of re.1 l.uil.linK brick an.l will pr.)l.ably w..rk w.ll en..uKh to
make hollow liuildinK bl.M-ks an.l drain tile.
Estuary.
Near the bridge ov.r th.- K.-.I |),.er rWrt. w.-sl of l-lsluarv, tiun- is a
...nsHlerable flat in the valley Ix.itoni underlain bv siliv .lav.' Also in a
prominent butte known a.s the "HuHs For.-luad" faring th.' river a .ot.sid.-r-
able thickness of clay silt is to Ih> seen. A si.tion mcasurul on the part of
this butte resulte.1 as f.)||f)ws: —
Top, Very fine siind or silt )
Sandy clay
Sill an.l clay ' , . ^ f *" ^^'^'^ ^"- '^■*-^-
Plastic clay I
Boul.ler clay 30
Stratified Sijnd with some .lay K)
B.)ulder clay |>artly oxidiz.-d 10 "
River le\el.
545. A sample ..f the sixty-foot secti.m of dav, or <la> and -ilt n-
<|uircs 26% of water to work it in the stitT-mud condition.
It requires extreme care in the drying ,)rocess t.> avoid cracking ; an.l a
further defect is present in the form of a very ba.l s.-um. It would not be
advisable to work this material for brick lR'.ausc- of th.-se def.-cts, and ilu-
act that so much good clay is available along the railwa%- east and west of
1-ancer.
INDEX
Alliorta Clay Pro(lui:ls Co
Analysis: h^stend clays .
„ Mitchellton
„ washed ria
. Willows cl;
Anderson's coal mine
Areola Brick Works. .
„ clays at
Ardkennetli: clays at.
.15,
"l,ivl.ai
PACK
16,57
41)
05
71
IS, 58
75
2
79
86
Balairrcs: clay at.
Ball I '
I clays
Belanger: fireclay
Bell, Dr.— Dirt Hills white riays ilestrilied by.
Beverley : clays at
Bienfait : clay and coal at
Big Miidflv Valley: clays of
Blue Hills: days at
Ilroailview Brick Co
„ clay at
Brooking : clays at
M
15
30
66
44
7S
5.<
71
S2
K2
72
G
Carlyle: clay at 79
Clay industry: future of 5
Clays: Cypress Hills district 27
Dirt Hills district f>6
„ Kstevan-Weyburn district 72
l.ake-of-the-Kivers 57
, Main Big Muddy valley 5.1
„ record oftcsts 26
„ S;iskalchcwan: classification of 14
Swift Current district 44
„ Wood Mountain district 46
Clayhank: clays .it 66
Coal seams 52
lignite mine.
Consumers Coal ( o.-
Cyoress Hills beds. . .
„ „ district : clays of.
65
tl
27
Dirt Hills district: clays of 66
Dominion Fire Brick and Clay I'roilucts Co 2, 70
Drying defects Saskatchewan clays 25
E
Eastcnd: clays at ^(>
„ „ analysis 40
Estevan beds 9
clays at 74
„ Coal and Brick Co 2, 74
Estuary: clays at ^''
Fireclays 14, 15
Flint cl.iys 15
Fossil plants in Willows clay
Fuel: transportation and source of supply
59
3
9i
(>as producer tests on Soiiris tf).il . . .
CicoloKV, general, of S. Saskatcla-wun ,
(ilaciation
(iypsum
G
flalhrite: clays at
Hebron Fire ami F-'acu Hrick Co.
Herbert: clay al
II
liKMite useil l)>
PAGB
4
5
U. 13
44
73
4
86
Introductory.
I.ake-of-the-Rivers district; clays of.
Lancer district: clays of
I.ebret : clay at
Lignite
Lucky Lake: ochrcous clay
Luinsden: clav at
57
87
85
41, 46, 47, 4N, 61, 0.<, 64, 65, 66, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78
87
85
NLinufacturinn: mctlicKls
.Maple Leaf Mines, Ltd
Medalta Stoneware, Ltd
Melville: ciiy at
Mitchellton: clays at
NUxlellinK clays
M<«)sejaw: t l.iyworkinK ni.ilerial |KH)r
Mortlacli : clav at
M
Neville: clavs at.
N
Ochrcous clay, Lucky Lake
Old Fort Walsh, clays of. . .
O
16
2
16
84
64
16
85
80
45
87
20
Palisade: clays at.
30
Pierre shale 6, 44, 45
Pilot Butte Brick Co
„ clays at
Pinto ( oal and Brick Co
„ shales
Poiitcix: clay at
Pyrometers, thermo-electric
3
81
78
78
46
23
Qu'appelle valley: clay working material.
Ravenscrag lieds
clays at .
R
Regina: clays at, poor quality.
„ Beach: shales tested . .
Roche Percte : clays at
82
10
31
80
85
77
S
Saltcoats: clay at 84
Sand-lime brick made at Pilot Butte 81
Sandstone: Fox hills 6, 7
Saskatchewan Clay Products Co 70
„ Coal, Brick and Power Co 75
Scumming 24
Segcr cones 22
93
PACE
Scwerpipe clays 1 <>
Shale: Odan.ili at Tantallon 82
Shand : clays t "S
Coal uid Brick Co 2
Stoneware clays l'>
Stoughton: clays at '''
Siiiiiinerl«rry: clay at • • • S*!
S*ift Current : clays at 44
T
Tantallon: Olanah sliale f*2
Twelve Mile lake: clays of 48
V
Veritas firing system 23
\ iceroy: clays at ^>4
W
Wcyburn Brick Co _2
„ clays at "4
WhiteburninR refractory clays: only plant using Wi
Whitemud beds '*
U'illowbunch : clays at S3
Willows: flays at S7
Wood Mountain district: clays of 46
Wfxxlrow: clays at 4S
Wolseley : quality of brick made at >*1
Y
Yellow (irass: clays at 73
CANADA
DEPARTMENT OF MINES
MINES BNANCH
r*(i'i M»>.riN HiiKHi II, M,>«i', 11 M. K ('. ( i .jnni 1 1 It ► n'» ,V,n
CUOKMI HaaHKL Ph D DinffCTOf*
ItIT
ilittillAiril
7 -^ .:
i^^^^^^^^^ttii^' ■■■■"■'
11
NES
ifriiTr MiM'ittw
LEGEND
Culture
Water
1 .*::*.
'4^-^
BuUdtnga
Lull
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