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GerstleyBorate

• A calcium borate mixed mineral
  • Gerstley borate over time appears to react with lithium compounds to make LithiumBorate.
  • I believe that this material if included in clay bodies causes scumming that cannot be controlled with barium carbonate. I base this on two occurances, once at the Kansas City Art Institute where our brick clay often scummed very badly when mixed from slop but not so badly when mixed fresh. The slop clay scummed even when mixed with barium carbonate. The same was true in graduate school. Both places used a slip long on gerstley borate. Here is a picture of a piece I made in Kansas city fired with just slip that scummed all over.

Louis Katz circa 1979

I am not a safety expert, or a chemist. Do not use this site as a primary source for safety, chemistry or disposal information.

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