Cob and Red-clay in Cornwall

https://thecobspecialist.co.uk/restoration/cob-in-cornwall/

It’s widely known that Cornwall has an abundance of sub-ground minerals, in particular the wealth of clayey deposits that are found in abundance throughout the county. Clay in Cornwall has been, and still is a valuable material that continues usefulness and necessity…..and is principally the essential ingredient for the successful making of cob.

https://thecobspecialist.co.uk/restoration/cob-in-cornwall/

There are a few colours of natural Cornish clay that are familiar [to some] and these hues range from grey to an orangey, ochre. Perhaps not so commonplace is red-clay.

https://thecobspecialist.co.uk/restoration/cob-in-cornwall/

Red-clay seams are few and far between in Cornwall however during our excavations (in mid-Cornwall) we found a geologically natural example.

https://thecobspecialist.co.uk/restoration/cob-in-cornwall/

Typical Cornish clays can be seen in these images – below the red-clay – displaying their usual colours and likely positioning within sub-ground strata.

https://thecobspecialist.co.uk/restoration/cob-in-cornwall/

So, why is it red and not the consistent colours of natural clays in Cornwall? Well, we have to turn the clock back 2.4 billion years to find out.

During this period the earths oceans lacked oxygen but were rich in dissolved, free-floating iron. Over time, and with the help of photosynthesis, bacteria used the sunlight to produce oxygen. The newly introduced oxygen combined with the iron, sank to the ocean floors and formed what is known today as Hematite

https://thecobspecialist.co.uk/restoration/cob-in-cornwall/

Hematite is an iron oxide found on the earths surface and within the earths shallow crust. Arguably, Hematite is the most important ore of iron and continues to be mined around the globe. It is also being mined at our site in Cornwall (for demonstrative purposes) and the clay-infused deposits are providing us with a furthering of knowledge…and oodles of fun!

https://thecobspecialist.co.uk/restoration/cob-in-cornwall/

So….can we build walls this stuff?

https://thecobspecialist.co.uk/restoration/cob-in-cornwall/

Yes, we can. This example (albeit ivy and concrete clad) is also in mid-Cornwall!

Cob Repairs in Cornwall

Cob Rebuild Cornwall

Cob Survey Cornwall