ZiNi-Purple Clay: Three main depths, shallow, middle, and deep. Purple/light brown Qing Su Ni, Clear Water Clay, is technically a type of Zini. This clay can be pure.
HongNi-Red Clay: Becoming less common, so often times Hong Qing Su Ni is sold as HongNi, but it is not quite so good. Also, repeated in the ZhuNi section, Modern ZhuNi is actually compressed HongNi, like a lab-created ZhuNi. This is the brownish-orange ZhuNi (still really, really good clay). These clays can be pure.
DuanNi-Yellow Clay: Last of the pure clays, but we didn't talk much about it. I know there are many varieties (Stone, Pear, Sesame, Golden, Yellow), so please jump in and comment!
HeiNi-Black: This is not a pure clay, but is a mix of purple clay and firing techniques, and sometimes chemicals (but not harmful).
LvNi-Green/Blue: Also not pure, but mixed. I was told a good way to see fake from real is that there should be dots of color variation. If it is all a solid color, it is probably fake. Like HeiNi, this one is mixed with the other clays, often (only?) DuanNi, but also with chemicals (not harmful ones).
ZhuNi-I forgot what Zhu stands for, help?: This has been the most enigmatic for me. I was told there are three basic ZhuNi clays (not counting each mountain as its own). Modern ZhuNi, as listed above, is the brownish one. Least of the three. Next is the standard, orange/golden ZhuNi that I think we all think of, which is extinct and is superb quality. Finally, I learned of a super rare clay called Da Hong Pao ZhuNi, which is much more red (but still orangish), and is almost impossible to find. This is the best of the ZhuNi clays, and most of the pots are very, very old. Also the most fragile (I only saw it because it was cracked from using boiling water straight away instead of warming it slowly). It was beyond beautiful. So Modern ZhuNi is really HongNi, but the other two are their own, pure category.
Whew. Thoughts? I know it is always more technical than a clear breakdown, and the the mountain and depth and master who mixed the clay makes a huge difference, as does the firing, but in the spirit of understanding I offer the above simplifications. Thanks for reading, and add some wisdom, y'all!
