KAOLINITE

Kaolinite is an industrial clay mineral and the primary material from which porcelain is made. Porcelain derives its present name from the old Italian ‘porcellana’ because of its resemblance to the shell’s translucent surface. Originating in China, it was valued by association with the court.16th century Portuguese traders would return home from China with samples to reproduce the porcelain, but failed up until Frenchman Francois Xavier d’Entrecolles published the manufacturing secrets where porcelain began to be produced throughout the world.