Geology of Bricks and Brickmaking

About's guide to Geology, Andrew Alden, has an interesting article this week on a subject near and dear to my heart--brick making and the geology and chemistry behind the construction of this lovely stuff.

• The Geology of Bricks, Andrew's article discusses the chemistry and geology behind the ancient art
• Brick and Tile Making, a handful of resources on brick making
• The Transformation of the American Prairie, a discussion of the changes wrought by the ceramic drainage tile industry in the 18th and 19th centuries

This great photograph of an early 'Phorpres' brick was taken by Steve Roe at the Spurn Head, England, a National Nature Reserve on the Yorkshire coast.