KAOLIN, the name of an earth which is used as one of the two ingredients in oriental porcelain. Some of this earth was brought from China, and examined by Mr Reaumur. He found that it was perfectly infusible by fire, and believed that it is a talky earth; but Mr Macquer observes, that it is more probably of an argillaceous nature, from its forming a tenacious paste with the other ingredient called peluntse, which has no tenacity. Mr Bomare says, that by analysing some Chinese kaolin, he found it was a compound earth consisting of clay, to which it owed its tenacity; of calcareous earth, which gave it a mealy appearance; of sparkling crystals of mica; and of small gravel, or particles of quartz-crystals. He says, that he has found a similar earth upon a stratum of granite, and conjectures that it may be a decomposed granite. This conjecture
Kareck
||
Kareck.
jefture is the more probable, as kaolins are frequently found in the neighbourhood of granites. See POUCE-LAIN.