What Does The Word Clay Mean?

Clay is a type of fine-grained soil. This soil can retain water and is very soft when moist though it hardens as it dries up. This soil is very plastic and can be moulded into any shape when it is wet or moist. Clay particles are smaller even than the sand particles. It is a substance that is found out of the separation of mineral oil. It is formed as a result of the chemical weathering that occurs in rocks. Clay is either reddish or gray in colour. A clay particle usually has a diameter that is less than 0.002 mm in diameter.

There are four main groups of clay i.e. kaolinite, monmorillonie-smectite, illite and chlorite. It is used for several purposes like sculpting, pottery, brick-making, tile-making etc. it is inorganic in nature. An oven called kiln is also made of clay. Thus clay has both practical and decorative uses. It is being used since the ancient days. The first writing material was made of clay.