China’s mineral-rich clays are the raw material for world-renowned porcelain – and super-strong magnets.
Jiangxi Province in China has a 2,000-year history of innovation with kaolin clay.
Imperial blue-and-white porcelain from the town of Jingdezhen was famous for its vibrant glazes, achieved by firing ceramics at high temperatures. “People went berserk for it,” commented British potter and archeologist Graham Taylor, referring to Europe’s infatuation with Ming-era ware in the 1600s.
A more recent addition to Jiangxi’s pipeline of clay-based exports is the mass-produced rare-earth magnet.
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