Clay is a specific kind of mud.
Mud is a mixture of water and soil (or "dirt"). Soil is made up of small rock particles of various sizes, as well as some organic material, like decomposed plants. The kinds of rock particles found in soil are called sand (large particles), silt (small particles), and clay (even smaller particles). Soil with a lot of clay in it can be used to make bricks and other objects, like ceramic plates or coffee mugs, to be baked in a kiln, where the particles bond with each other due to the high heat and make a strong object.
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Mud is a mixture of water and soil, containing varying amounts of silt, clay, and organic matter. Clay is a type of fine-grained soil composed of tiny particles that are cohesive and plastic when wet. While mud can contain clay, it may also have other components, like sand or organic material, while clay is a specific type of soil with distinct characteristics.
The rock that is cemented mud, clay, or silt is called shale. Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock composed of compacted and hardened mud or clay particles.
A hot spring that erupts through clay is known as a mud pot or mud spring. The clay acts as a natural seal over the hot water below, causing it to push its way through the clay surface, often creating bubbling mud pools. Mud pots can be found in geothermal areas with high heat and water content.
Dust is made up of fine particles of solid matter that have settled on surfaces, while mud is a mixture of soil and water that forms a wet and sticky substance. Dust is typically dry and easily dispersed, while mud is wet and malleable. Dust is usually found in dry environments, while mud forms in wet or damp areas.
Sand has the largest grain size compared to mud and clay. Sand particles range in size from 0.0625 mm to 2 mm, while mud and clay particles are much smaller, typically less than 0.002 mm in size.
The word that means dry mud is "clay." Clay is a naturally occurring material composed of fine particles that is often found in a dry and hardened state.