Clay soil in backyard ? Can it work like the clay used for molding things ?

Question

Well my backyard is composed of clay soil, so like is clay soil pretty much clay ? So can I use it to start molding things ?

Answer 1

try
mix with water
put through fine sieve let settle
pour of water ,let dry out slightly and try

Answer 2

Basically no. I found out that there is gray clay from old Rio Grande river deposits and that the local indians used to come here and dig it up to make their pottery. It looks just like potter's clay. I don't know when the resaca behind my house was actually the Rio Grande but if it was as polluted then as it is now, I don't want to put my hands in it.

Answer 3

I would say yes you could use, it but agree with previous answer that there is a possibility it could be polluted - old maps reveal some pretty toxic old factories in some parts so you could never be sure something nasty has leached into it somehow and be harmful.