Total Frustration

[Mynock]

It looks like you were hunting in a spot where they dump the already settled material, you need to find the settling pond itself, that's where the looser bottomless stuff is.

[mud_dreamer]

Thanks everyone for the reply. I'll of course keep looking, I haven't given up total hope. However, I think I may just find an area where I can dig my own pit. Somewhere private and near water. Has anyone done anything similar?

One thing that I have started to do is to look online for geologic surveys for clay in the states/counties of interest. They typically name the town or county and the type and amount of clay. Sometimes there will even be names of the clay pits and the type of clay. Some clay mining businesses list their clay pits too. I then look for state land nearby. I am prospecting one location which is a river near a several active and historic clay pits. At the moment the water level is too high to go exploring. I have been close only to find knee/hip deep clay but very private. I can monitor the water level online and since this location is 3 hours away I can avoid a wasted trip. I plan to kayak to the location when the water level is what I have determined to be worth a visit.

Interesting, I didn't know this was a thing. I've been to a couple sites, but couldn't find any info like that. Mind giving an example?

Here are two ... Georgia (kaolin), and Wyoming (bentonite). Search for "Georgia kaolin mining" or "Wyoming bentonite mining" . If you provide your state I might be able to help you better.

[klib21]

Here are two ... Georgia (kaolin), and Wyoming (bentonite). Search for "Georgia kaolin mining" or "Wyoming bentonite mining" . If you provide your state I might be able to help you better.

I've googled those terms... but I still don't know what I'm looking for I suppose...
How would I find useful info about Indiana?

[mudxdresser]

Indiana huh? Took a quick look and immediately spotted a promising quarry just west of Bloomington. You're looking for quarries that have a particular kind of washing operation that uses settling ponds.

Incidentally, the screen captures of the quarry you provided do actually provide a visual clue that the location might be a little sandy. Study the texture closely and you'll see that the drier areas do indeed look somewhat sandy. However, this is one of those places that requires checking in person to be sure as every once in a while a place like this will have a small area to the side of the water stream where the clay settles out and produces a marvelous deep clay mud area.

I am rather good at finding mudpits from aerial views, but even when I find a high probability location, my odds are still only about 10% that there will be good mud there. I you have specific places you're curious about, I'd be happy to give a second opinion on whether it warrants actually checking out in person.

[Mudbogz]

You know... they say when handed lemons, make lemonade.

In this case... if the area just LOOKS good, a lot of us manipulators could use the background shots... Might not be the sinky spot you're looking for but it's not a total loss that way...

Just an idea.

[enerj29]

I'm in south-western PA - if anyone happens to notice a quarry or anything in this area, please share!

[Slugjaba1922]

Indiana huh? Took a quick look and immediately spotted a promising quarry just west of Bloomington. You're looking for quarries that have a particular kind of washing operation that uses settling ponds.

Incidentally, the screen captures of the quarry you provided do actually provide a visual clue that the location might be a little sandy. Study the texture closely and you'll see that the drier areas do indeed look somewhat sandy. However, this is one of those places that requires checking in person to be sure as every once in a while a place like this will have a small area to the side of the water stream where the clay settles out and produces a marvelous deep clay mud area.

I am rather good at finding mudpits from aerial views, but even when I find a high probability location, my odds are still only about 10% that there will be good mud there. I you have specific places you're curious about, I'd be happy to give a second opinion on whether it warrants actually checking out in person.

I'm good at finding red clay and swamps but horrible at finding light colored mud like bentonite. I would like some help finding something in Georgia.

[Fred588]

Indiana huh? Took a quick look and immediately spotted a promising quarry just west of Bloomington. You're looking for quarries that have a particular kind of washing operation that uses settling ponds.

Incidentally, the screen captures of the quarry you provided do actually provide a visual clue that the location might be a little sandy. Study the texture closely and you'll see that the drier areas do indeed look somewhat sandy. However, this is one of those places that requires checking in person to be sure as every once in a while a place like this will have a small area to the side of the water stream where the clay settles out and produces a marvelous deep clay mud area.

I am rather good at finding mudpits from aerial views, but even when I find a high probability location, my odds are still only about 10% that there will be good mud there. I you have specific places you're curious about, I'd be happy to give a second opinion on whether it warrants actually checking out in person.

I'm good at finding red clay and swamps but horrible at finding light colored mud like bentonite. I would like some help finding something in Georgia.

Best place to find Bentonite is a hardware store that caters to cattle ranchers.

[Duncan Edwards]

Best place to find Bentonite is a hardware store that caters to cattle ranchers.

Yeah the local Co-Op has it by the pallet. And they deliver.

[Theo]

On the subject of "total frustration," I recall years back finding a secluded muddy spot along a creek deep in the woods, but only a short walk from home. It was oval-ish shaped, about 20x15-ish feet in size, and I was so excited to find it, only problem was, it wasn't much more than ankle deep. It was an absolutely perfect spot in all regards, except depth Still, I went down there dozens of times. Sometimes it was covered in water, sometimes not, and sometimes it was totally dried out. I even tried to dig it out a little a few times, but barely two feet down I always hit a layer of gravel. That was total frustration for me.