Patent ID: 8772207

Claim:
A ceramic propping agent comprising: a plastic clay comprising a plurality of layers having a thickness of five feet or less, wherein the plastic clay further comprises: from 7% to 25% alumina by weight, from 60% to 90% silica by weight, and 45% or less quartz by weight; an aluminosilicate network modifier selected from the group consisting of: kaolin, metakaolin, bauxite, bauxitic clays, aluminum oxide, metal oxides, or combinations thereof; a strength enhancing and flux agent comprising nepheline materials, wherein the nepheline materials comprise from 0.1 percent to 5 percent iron oxide by weight; and a binder selected from the group consisting of: cornstarch, polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose gum, bentonite, sodium silicate, vegetable starches, sodium lignosulphonate, and combinations thereof, wherein said plastic clay comprises from 38% to 90% of the ceramic propping agent by weight, wherein said aluminosilicate network modifier comprises from 30% to 70% of the ceramic propping agent by weight, wherein said strength enhancing and flux agent comprises from 0.25% to 20% of the ceramic propping agent by weight, and wherein said binder comprises 10% or less of the ceramic propping agent by weight.