Thank You, Gerry, for your quick reply.
Yes the jar of water settled in less than 10 mins with about 1 1/4" of sand with about 3/8" of light brown stuff at the top.
So is it correct to say that if you remove the top soil and under it very hard gray or red dirt ( not sand or gravel ) then it more than likely clay?
We are not from here we moved here about 12 years ago and as you know many of the terms are different ( Newfinese ) so anyone I try to ask about clay they think I mean potting soil.
I may also have trouble finding straw as there are not many farms here. Hay yes I can find this everywhere, but I don't know if it would be a suitable alternative.
I believe I can use most anything for the mass storage bench as long as it doesn't have insulative property, ( packed dirt or fine pebbles ) but can I use refractory cement to hold the fire bricks in place? If I can't source clay?
I do have "the rocket mass heater builder's guide" book that I am slowly making my way threw.
