A New Field
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Recipe

Shell aggregate (coastal composite)

Mussel, oyster or cuttlefish shell crushed and mixed into a binder for a speckled, sea-scented panel.

Every A New Field recipe has been run in a domestic kitchen or community hall. Read the safety notes before you start and adapt for your venue.

What you’ll make

Grey-white with blue or pink speckle; coarse texture.

Flexible slots (flex around your material)

  • Calcium carbonate

    Calcium carbonate (shell, chalk)200g crushed

    Ground shells, bones or chalk. Acts as filler, whitener, mild abrasive.

    Examples Mussel, oyster, cuttlefish

    Note, Bake shells first.

  • Sand (optional)

    Sand / grit100g

    Inert granular mineral. Stiffens clay bodies and cob.

    Examples Builder's or beach sand

    Note, Adds a terrazzo grain.

Fixed ingredients

  • Casein or gelatine · 150ml

Equipment

  • Baking tray
  • hammer
  • mortar
  • mould.

Refinements and variations

  • Mix with sand (P26) for a traditional terrazzo.

Source notes

Adapted from shell lime traditions.