{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.clay","code":"thing-q42302","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q42302/","name":"clay","alternateNames":["sepiolitic clay","kaolin","peloid","Devonshire clay","zaccab","fire clay","white pipe clay","London clay","diluvial clay","casting clay","terralite","bridged clay"],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.2.0-wave.4","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.MAT"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"A fine-grained natural earth material composed mainly of clay minerals such as kaolinite, illite and montmorillonite, plastic when wet and hard when fired, including kaolin or china clay, fire clay for refractories, sepiolitic clays and regional clays such as Devonshire ball clay; therapeutic peloids are mixtures that may contain clay, while Maya zaccab is a calcareous limestone material rather than a type of clay; clay is the basis of ceramics, bricks and many industrial and cosmetic products.","purpose":"Let an agent explain clay and its mineralogy, relay kinds, properties and uses from geological and materials sources, describe ceramic and industrial applications, and distinguish clay from silt, mud, loam and the clay minerals themselves.","scope":{"in":[],"out":[],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Fine grain","Plasticity","Hardens on firing","Many industrial uses"],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"understand","name":"Understand","description":"What clay is.","layers":[{"id":"definition","name":"Definition","description":"Definition.","findings":[{"id":"definition-finding","name":"Definition","description":"Definition.","questions":[{"text":"What is clay, and how does it differ from silt, mud, loam and clay minerals?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Is the question about geology, ceramics, industry or a specific clay?","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"kinds","name":"Kinds","description":"Kinds.","findings":[{"id":"kinds-finding","name":"Kinds","description":"Kinds.","questions":[{"text":"What are kaolin, fire clay, sepiolitic clay, Devonshire clay, peloids and zaccab?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Which entry fits the specific clay?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"science","name":"Science","description":"Mineralogy and properties.","layers":[{"id":"minerals","name":"Minerals","description":"Clay minerals.","findings":[{"id":"minerals-finding","name":"Minerals","description":"Minerals.","questions":[{"text":"How do kaolinite, illite and montmorillonite differ, and how do they form?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which references are standard?","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"properties","name":"Properties","description":"Properties.","findings":[{"id":"properties-finding","name":"Properties","description":"Properties.","questions":[{"text":"Why is clay plastic, and what happens when it is fired?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which sources are cited?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"use","name":"Use","description":"Uses.","layers":[{"id":"ceramics","name":"Ceramics","description":"Ceramics and building.","findings":[{"id":"ceramics-finding","name":"Ceramics","description":"Ceramics.","questions":[{"text":"How is clay used in pottery, porcelain, bricks and refractories?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits pottery?","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"industry","name":"Industry","description":"Industry and health.","findings":[{"id":"industry-finding","name":"Industry","description":"Industry.","questions":[{"text":"How is clay used in paper, drilling, cosmetics and therapeutic peloids, with health claims attributed?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits the specific application?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"context","name":"Context","description":"History and culture.","layers":[{"id":"history","name":"History","description":"History.","findings":[{"id":"history-finding","name":"History","description":"History.","questions":[{"text":"How has clay been used from prehistoric pottery and Maya zaccab to modern industry?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits the history of ceramics?","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"culture","name":"Culture","description":"Culture.","findings":[{"id":"culture-finding","name":"Culture","description":"Culture.","questions":[{"text":"How does clay figure in art, myth and building traditions?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits clay in art?","kind":"action"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Describe clay types such as kaolin, ball clay and fire clay and their uses.","Advise in general terms on safe handling of clay dust in studios and works."],"mustNot":["Encourage dry sanding or sweeping of clay in a way that raises silica dust.","Present therapeutic clays as cures without medical evidence.","Advise eating clay without warning of contamination and health risks.","Dig clay from land without the owner's permission or required permits."],"requiresHuman":["Opening or extending a clay pit or quarry."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Fine silica dust from some clays harms the lungs of workers.","Clay extraction can damage landscapes and water."],"affectedParties":["Potters and workers","Neighbours of pits","Consumers of clay products"]},"owners":{"steward":"The landowner or the holder of the extraction permit.","roles":[],"masterSystems":["Mineral rights and quarry permit registers"]},"relations":[{"target":"Q21685333","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"Q34669510","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"sculpture material","type":"related","note":"in registry terms"},{"target":"malleable material","type":"related","note":"in registry terms"},{"target":"clay mineral","type":"related","note":"such as kaolinite"},{"target":"ceramics","type":"related","note":"and brick making"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.clay","Wikidata: Q42302 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42302)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"required","items":["particle size: under 2 micrometres - by convention","main minerals: kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite list","firing temperature: about 900-1300 C - ceramics"]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["Clay is a fine plastic earth material composed mainly of clay minerals.","Clay types include kaolin, fire clay, sepiolitic clay and Devonshire ball clay.","Peloids are mixtures that may contain clay, while zaccab is a calcareous limestone material rather than clay.","Silt is coarser, mud is wet mixed sediment, loam is a soil mix, and clay minerals are the components.","A fine, plastic earth, grey, red, white or brown."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["explain mineralogy and kinds","relay properties and uses","describe applications","distinguish related materials"]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Silica dust in some clays","Confusing clay with silt or the mineral","Registry aliases naming regional and therapeutic clays"]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["Ceramic and refractory material standards","Cosmetic and pharmaceutical standards for clays","Mining and quarrying regulation"]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["Ceramics, construction, industry and cosmetics.","kaolin and china clay","ball clays such as Devonshire clay","fire clays and refractory clays","bentonite and sepiolitic clays","therapeutic peloids and cosmetic clays","regional and historical clays such as zaccab"]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q42302: clay","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42302","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Clay","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Should kaolin, fire clay and peloid be separate primary entries?","How should geological sources be linked?","The registry entry has merged aliases naming specific clays and a Maya material; should they be split off?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q42302/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q42302/spec.json"],"providers":["Claude"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-13T13:56:15Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"filled","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-07T10:10:30+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 2 live sources; review by codex: pass"},"score":1.0}}