Discerning Zhuni and Hongni Clay
From wikiCHA
Source: "Dictionary of Chinese Yixings" ISBN 9787534421471
Translators: LaoChaGui
Original
【红泥】紫砂泥之一种。亦称“朱泥”。《阳羡茗壶系》、《阳羡名陶录》称“石黄泥”。制作紫砂器原料。产于宜兴川埠赵庄村，矿层位于嫩泥和矿层底部，质坚如石。清 吴骞 《阳羡名陶录》云 “未触风日之石骨”，指的即是红泥。亦名“朱砂泥”，因其成陶后，色似朱砂，故名。这种矿物，其特点是含氧化铁极高，矿源有限且采掘困难。20世纪50年代起，在川埠查林，继而在濮东小埠头等地，发现替代石黄的小红泥。小红泥贮存于古生代晚泥盆系茅山组下段矿层中。矿石外观为浅黄绿色致密块状，是一种以黏土为主要矿物成分的黄绿色粉砂质黏土岩。其矿物组成经薄片光学鉴定为：伊利石、高岭石、氧化铁、石英和白云母。红泥，具有合理的化学成分、矿物构成和工艺性能，经加工成“泥坯”，可单独成陶。红泥因烧成温度偏低，故常用来制作小件器物和作为化妆土，供装饰用。参见“石黄泥”。
【石黄泥】亦称“红泥”、“朱砂泥”。古名“石黄泥”。制作紫砂器材料。明 周高起《阳羡茗壶系》、清 吴骞《阳羡名陶录》载：“石黄泥，出赵庄山（宜兴川埠乡），即‘未触风日之石骨’也。陶之（烧成）乃变朱砂色。”参见“红泥”。
Translation
Hongni: Also known as "Zhuni." In the books "Comprehensive Yangxian Teapot" and "Record of Yangxian Ceramics," it was referred to as "Shihuangni." It is a material used to make Yixing Zisha ceramics. It is found in Chuanbu Zhaozhuang Village in Yixing county, the seam is located located at the bottom of the soft mud (Nenni) layer. It is as hard as stone. Qing Dynasty writer Wu Jian in his book "Record of Yangxian Ceramics" states "bones of stone which has been hitherto untouched by sun or rain (unweathered stone)", referring to Hongni. Another name for it is , "Zhushani(Cinnabar Clay)," Because after it is fired, the finished piece becomes the color of cinnabar. This mineral is characterized by high iron oxide content, the source is limited and extraction is difficult. During the 1950s, in Buchuan Chalin, and then in smaller wharf in Pudong Xiaobutou as well as other places a replacement was found for Shihuang: Xiaohongni. Xiaohongni is found in the late Paleozoic Devonian strata directly underneath the Maoshan layer of rock. The appearance of this material is light yellow-green in color and usually a dense block, it is a yellow green sandy clay rock, mostly clay in composition. Its mineral composition has been identified through electron microscopy as: illite, kaolinite, iron oxide, quartz and white mica. Hongni, has a similar chemical composition, mineral composition and similar performance in ceramics. After re-processing and making "Nipi," Xiaohongni can be used alone to make ceramics. Because the firing temperature is relatively low, Hongni is used to make small pieces and was also used a beauty product. See also: "Shihuang"
Shihuang: Also known as "Hongni" and "Zhushani (Cinnabar-Clay)" In ancient times it was called "Shihuang." It is a material used to make Yixing Zisha ceramics. In the books "Comprehensive Yangxian Teapot" by Ming Dynasty Author Zhou Gaoqi and "Record of Yangxian Ceramics," by Qing Dynasty writer Wu Jian it is recorded: "Shihuangni comes from Zhaozhuang mountain (Chuanbu village, Yixing), it is an 'unweathered stone.' When made into ceramic, it turns to a color like Cinnabar." See also: "Hongni"
