Ball clay is a key ingredient used in making ceramic products and refractory materials. It is a very fine-grained, natural clay that fires to a light cream or near white color. Ball clay gets its name from the practice of mining the clay in lumps and hand-shaping it into balls before transporting it. The balls allowed for easier transport and minimized waste. Ball clay is valued for its high plasticity and strength when used in ceramic manufacturing. It is often combined with other clays, minerals, and additives to create clay bodies and glazes with specific working and firing characteristics. The fine particle size of ball clay allows it to fill small pores and improve the strength and workability of ceramic products. Ball clay also contributes to the firing properties of the clay body, affecting its maturation temperature, color, and thermal expansion.