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
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      9. Marble Offcuts


      Test tiles using marble offcut glaze blends, fired to midfire (cone 6, left) and stoneware (cone 9, right). Materials were not added to clay bodies due to fluxing or invisibility. Glaze tests (top to bottom): marble offcut glaze alone, +10% brick, +10% concrete, +10% brick & concrete, +30% marble.


      FIRST LIFE  

                  ORIGINUnknown marble source

                 MEASUREMENTSVarious offcut sizes, 20 mm thick slabs 

                 COLOURWhite and gray
                 TEXTUREBroken edges are sparkly with some variation in texture.

      Note: if difficult to break and broken edge reveals super-fine/consistent particles, this is an indication it may be engineered stone containing resin and should not be used in ceramics

                FINISH / FEATURESFace finish will depend on product type (generally polished/smooth). Unpolished edge is sparkly and jagged when broken or matte when cut.  

      SECOND LIFE 

                 COLLECTION LOCATION -37.769362468782774, 144.98249648554113

                  DATE OF COLLECTION
      October 2023

                  SUBURBBrunswick East

                  COUNTRYWurundjeri Woi Wurrung

                  LOCAL COUNCILMerri-Bek

      MATERIAL INFORMATION

                 COMPOSITION Marble is composed of 38–42 percent lime (CaO), 20–25 percent silica (SiO2), 2–4 percent alumina (Al2O3), and 1.5–2.5 percent oxides (NaO and MgO), and 30–32 percent water (MgCO3 and others). 

      POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS

                 SUBSITUTE FOR
      Calcium Carbonate
      Calcite
      Whiting
                 IN CLAY BODY
      Coarse mesh recommended for sculptural applications, not tableware as unmelted calcium carbonate may convert to calcium hydroxide: the material will likely swell and becomes powdery (popping through the clay body). Minimum 120# may be used in clay bodies as a flux.

                 IN GLAZE      Test as 1:1 substitute for ingredients listed above in a glaze recipe.

      PREPARATION

                 CALCINATION
      n/a
                 CUSTOM PREPARATION
      Remove any labels. (If applicable) remove fiberglass backing reinforcement mesh generally on back and scrape off glue.
                 MINIUMUM REQURIED EQUIPMENT
      Hammer

                 RATING
      (Scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being hardest)
      2-3

                 NOTESEasy to crush and break with hammer. Relatively soft rock (flaky, sandy)
      If hard to break, it may be engineered/imitation marble.

      SAFETY &
      HANDLING

                 HAZARDS
      Fiberglass backing reinforcement mesh generally on back - adhered with glue. Caution with fumes if not completely removed.
                 SUGGESTED PPE
      Respirator

      SOURCING

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

                 WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
      Bring gloves for sharp edges

                 QUESTIONS TO ASK
      Ask any employees for unwanted off cuts (natural stone only)

                 RECYCLABILITY AS-IS
      Industry
      • Marble mining by-products are already being turned into calcium carbonate overseas

      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.