Yeah just for fun, here’s a glossary of terms I use. Yeah, I know, most of them aren’t exactly new to anyone, but here they are anyway:
- Clay – Around here, clay refers to a type of soil consisting of the finest particles, much finer than silt or sand, sometimes as fine as 1μm. Gives mud a somewhat creamy texture. See also: Clay
- Day spot – A secluded place where one can enjoy some mud without worrying about having an audience.
- Dredging – The process of removing sediments from bodies of water, usually for environmental or water management purposes. See also: Dredging
- Mud Hole – A hole in the ground that is full of mud.
- Silt – Very fine soil particles, larger than clay, but smaller than sand. Usually made up of some sort of quartz or feldspar. Makes great mud and is easier to work with than clay. See also: Silt
- Silt pond – A dug out and usually lined pit where water that has been contaminated with fine granular material is pumped. The fine particles will, in time, settle on the bottom of the pond. After some time, the water is usually drained and the particulate matter is “dredged” from the pond’s floor. Or, sometimes the water will be left to evaporate and the pond will be rehabilitated to support plant and animal life, similar to the original habitat from which the pit was dug.
- Stoniness – Describes the ratio of stones to mud. More stone horribly negatively impacts a mud’s texture.