Loam
alluvial soil, consisting of sand and clay soil in considerable quantity. tes.
If one or the other largely predominates , the soil ceases to be loam. In founding, a mixture which essentially consists of sand and clay, the former largely predominating, with a certain quantity of horse-dung added, or some equivalent for the same, such as chopped straw, sawdust, cow-hair, etc. Beds of loam are sometimes found of nearly suitable composition, but it is more commonly made up by blending different sorts of sand, clay, etc., in a mill resembling a pugmill. In molding, it is always used quite wet, like plaster, but is dried perfectly before pouring. It is employed for large work in both brass and iron, obviating the use of a pattern.