Alternative Ceramic Supply


Materials
  1. Brick Rubble
  2. Granite Offcuts
  3. Dolerite Offcuts
  4. Broken Bisque
  5. Concrete Rubble
  6. Glass Sludge
  7. Wood Ash
  8. Bone Ash
  9. Marble Offcuts
  10. Oyster Shells


Bulk Buy
Ground Works


Info
Instagram

      2. Granite Offcuts

      Test tiles exploring second-life granite in ceramics, fired to midfire (cone 6, left) and stoneware (cone 9, right). Rows show granite at three mesh sizes (super fine, fine, coarse); columns test it in clay bodies (5% and 20%),  the material alone on the surface (applied with CMC), and in glaze (+30%).

                                      
       

      FIRST LIFE  

                  ORIGINUrban stone (supplier)
      Origin unknown

                 MEASUREMENTSVarious offcut sizes 2.9mm thick slabs
                 TEXTUREMedium-coarse grained where broken edge - crystals and mica

                FINISH / FEATURESTop - Smooth, slightly grainy surface
      Bottom - Unpolished, abrasive
      Consistent colour, texture and finish in all offcuts
       

      SECOND LIFE 

                 COLLECTION LOCATION -37.78518007011687,
      144.99800743425573

                 DATE OF COLLECTION
      September 2023

                  SUBURBNorthcote, 3070

                  COUNTRYWurundjeri Woi Wurrung 

                  LOCAL COUNCILDarebin


      MATERIAL INFORMATION

                 COMPOSITION The chemical composition of granite is typically 70-77% silica, 11-13% alumina, 3-5% potassium oxide, 3-5% soda, 1% lime, 2-3% total iron, and less than 1% magnesia and titania.

      POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS

                 SUBSITUTE FOR
      Trachyte
      Ilmenite
                 IN CLAY BODYSource of iron, silica, magnesium
      Dark brown / black melted grog

                 IN GLAZE      Use for colour and texture additions
      Use powder in glaze as colourant and fluxing agent

      PREPARATION

                 CALCINATION
      Yes, calcine at 900-1000C
                 MINIUMUM REQURIED EQUIPMENT
      Hammer

                 NOTES
      Calcine first, otherwise very hard, dense and loud


      SAFETY &
      HANDLING

                 HAZARDS
      Silica dust
                 SUGGESTED PPE
      Respirator

      SOURCING

                 SEARCHING FOR SUPPLY
      Contact stone quarries and manufacturers, marble and natural stone suppliers, kitchen benchtop businesses and stone landscaping suppliers.
      Contact builders and construction companies

                 WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
      Bring gloves for sharp edges

                 QUESTIONS TO ASK
      Ask any employees for unwanted off cuts (natural stone only).
      Confirm if it is engineered stone or natural. 
      If it's being cut on site, ask to collect wet-cutting slurry as well as any offcuts. 

                 RECYCLABILITY AS-IS
      Civil/Infrastructure
      • road base and fill

      Construction
      • Addition (usually fine particles) to composite materials 

      Landscaping/Gardening
      • Build garden beds, walls
      • Pavers

      Craft & Furniture
      • Terrazzo or mosaic
      • Homewares

                  COLLECTION RECOMMENDATIONS
      Be careful not to take engineered stone that contains resin. Look for a barcode or product identifier to google search and check.