Local clays of Iğdır and its surroundings, structural properties and usage areas in ceramics

As a raw material, clay is the main ingredient of clay-mud used in ceramic. There are many types of clay-mud with standard firing temperatures for use by producers. Alongside of these clay-muds, there are also clay-muds produced using local clays. Local clays are mostly used by the local people to meet their needs such as pottery and tandoori. In this study, some clay types in Iğdır and its surroundings were examined, primarily Tuzluca district of Iğdır province, Diyadin district of Ağrı province and Kağızman district of Kars province. Along with clay investigations, researches were made on ceramic production areas and interviews were made with tandoori masters. Information about the raw material fields in the regions was obtained and samples were taken from the field. Physical and chemical tests of the samples were made and CaO, SiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3, MgO, Na2O ve Ka2O compounds were determined in their contents. For physical experiments, test plate models were shaped and molded with plaster. Firing color, kneading water, shrinkage and water absorption experiments were carried out. Clays were taken from the field and turned into clay-mud by natural methods without adding any additives or using machinery. During the clay investigations in the field, the ceramic forms to be used in the exhibition were planned in the form of ceramic stones to be integrated with the land, based on the natural appearance of the raw material and unique natural formations such as clay, rocks, stones, slopes, mountains and hills. Ceramic stone form has been chosen in order to create a perception that the sample taken from fields turns into a form and returns to its own region, not to destroy the environment unconsciously. While the issue of inadequacy of raw material stocks is on the agenda of most organizations around the world, this method has been preferred to emphasize conscious and controlled extraction, not to open the untouched areas of the region for rude use. After removing the dirts from the stones selected as models from the three different areas of the study field, fragmented plaster molds were taken. For the land settlements, the clay-mud obtained from the clay of each region was prepared separately. The clay-mud of each region was shaped by pressing the plaster molds formed from the stones taken from that region. The clay-mud coming out of the mold was retouched with the stone model itself and the mold joint seam were removed. Stone models whose drying process was completed were fired at 900°C. For glazed applications, the same production was made with vacuum clay-mud. After the biscuit firing, Mount Ararat lava stone powder was added to the special 1000°C glaze recipes and glazed. Glazed firing was done in an electric chamber furnace in a neutral environment. Natural acquisition fields of raw materials have been consciously chosen as the exhibition area. All ceramic forms were exhibited and photographed in the field. Afterwards, these ceramic stone forms were left in the field and returned to where they came from, thus revealing regional awareness. In the first part of the thesis, objectives, methods, scope and boundaries of the research are stated. In the second part; local clays, some local clay types of Iğdır province, usage areas of local clays in and around Iğdır, tandoori and ceramic production are explained. In the third part; chemical and physical experiments on the local clay groups in and around Iğdır, the production of local clay and clay-mud, and the use of local materials in ceramic glaze are included. In the fourth chapter, the art applications and the structure that is constructed specifically for the land are explained and the photographs from the exhibition moment are included.