Abstract
A standard assessment of clayey raw materials from the Neftegorsk field in the Samara region was carried out. It has been established that clay, in all respects except CaO content, meets the GOST requirements for raw materials for the production of expanded clay gravel. The group of clay raw materials is defined as slightly intumescent clay. The influence of firing temperature, content of organic and iron-containing additives on the degree of swelling was studied. A non-standard assessment of clay was carried out using a calculation method based on chemical composition. The types of necessary additives and their percentage content for targeted adjustment of the composition in order to obtain maximum swelling are theoretically justified. A complex additive composition has been developed to increase the swelling properties of clayey raw materials from the Neftegorsk field, including flask, pyrite cinders, alkaline aluminum etching sludge and solar oil.