Pipeclay

Pipeclay, a fine white plastic clay, very like kaolin, but containing a larger percentage of silica. For the manufacture of tobacco-pipes the most desirable clay contains only small traces of limonite and alkaline earths. Clays of this nature are met with in Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset, but the purer varieties of clay used for pottery-making are also employed in the manufacture. Such clays, however, have siliceous materials added to them artificially. Pipeclay is used by soldiers for whitening belts, &c.