A STUDY OF MINERALOGICAL AND AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SEDIMENTS IN GANSU PROVINCE, CHINA

Gansu province, China, sprawls the Gobi Desert and Chinese loess plateau over an area approximately the size of California. The purpose of this study was to understand the mineralogical characteristics of the surface regolith within four main regions of Gansu province, in tandem with their melt behavior when used as a ceramic glaze. These mineral compositions were obtained using X-Ray Diffraction and X-Ray Fluorescence techniques, while their melt behavior was observed after firing in a ceramics kiln to cone 6 (~1220°C). Increased dominance of quartz resulted in a thicker, grainier texture, while increased K-feldspar and calcite concentrations promotes vitreous luster; plasticity and cohesion were promoted by supplemental kaolinite. Concentration of hematite, combined with melt thickness, were primary factors in determining fired color in most cases. The appearance of these fired sediments was found to be varied and desirable for use in the ceramic arts industry, as they yield high-quality glazes with minimal preparation. All sediments studied had similar mineralogical diversity, though proportions of minerals varied with geomorphological origin. Greater understanding of the mineralogical contexts of widely available sediments shows the driving mechanisms of melt behavior. This understanding could help in the utilization of these sediments as a local, national or international industry to the benefit of economically challenged Gansu province.