| Title | ईंट चूर्ण (Surkhi (Brick Dust))Moderate Ī̃ṭ cūrṇa Surkhi (Brick Dust) |
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| Description | सुरखी, also known as *Ishtika Churna* (इष्टिका चूर्ण) in Sanskrit, is a finely ground ceramic powder derived from crushed, burnt clay bricks or tiles, traditionally used as a pozzolanic additive in *Chunā* (चूना) or lime mortar throughout the Indian subcontinent [1]. Its use is documented across various historical periods and dynasties, including the Mughal and Vijayanagara Empires, evident in structures across the Gangetic Plains and Deccan Plateau. The particle size typically ranges from 75 μm to 4.75 mm, with a specific gravity of 2.5-2.7. Surkhi's chemical composition primarily consists of silica (50-70%) and alumina (15-25%). The pozzolanic activity of Surkhi enhances lime mortar strength by reacting with lime to form calcium silicate hydrates, reducing permeability and improving workability. Traditional processing involved crushing waste bricks sourced from local kilns. Conservation efforts at heritage sites often require careful analysis of Surkhi's particle size distribution and mineralogical composition to ensure compatible restoration mortars. The red color of Surkhi also contributes aesthetically to traditional plaster finishes. |
| Also Known As | Surkhi (Brick Dust) Ī̃ṭ cūrṇa Surkhi Brick Dust Brick Powder Pulverized Brick सुरखी ईंट का चूरा भस्म ईंट इष्टिका चूर्ण செங்கல் தூள் (Sengal thool) ఇటుక ధూళి (Iṭuka dhūḷi) ಇಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಧೂಳು (Iṭṭige dhūḷu) ഇഷ്ടിക പൊടി (Iṣṭika poṭi) |
| Tags | सुरखी Surkhi Brick Dust Pozzolan Lime Mortar Additive Hydraulic Mortar Rajasthan Lime Surkhī Brick dust Lime mortar Udayagiri Water Resistance |
| Material ID | INHFMAT-186917660-20-11-25-SR |
| URI | https://www.inheritage.foundation/aat/material/brick-dust |
| API Endpoint | https://inheritage.foundation/api/v1/aat/materials/brick-dust |
| Total Sites | 25 |
| Primary Sites | 10 |
| Created | November 20, 2025 |
| Last Updated | November 28, 2025 |
| Types | Pozzolan Additive Ceramic Powder Cementitious Material Pozzolanic Material |
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| Regions | Uttar Pradesh Punjab Haryana Assam Pan-India Karnataka Bengal Pan-Indian Rajasthan Gangetic Plains Deccan Plateau All of India West Bengal Bihar Pan India Maharashtra India Sri Lanka North India South India Kerala Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu |
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| Time Periods | Medieval Period CE Mughal Period Ancient Times Colonial Period Ancient Medieval Mughal Ancient Period Mughal Period CE Ancient times Mughal Period (16th-18th century CE) British Colonial Period Mughal Period (1526-1857 CE) British Colonial Period (1757-1947 CE) 12th century CE Ancient Period BCE Colonial Modern Rajput Period Ahom Dynasty Period Ancient - Present 16th century CE 14th-17th century CE Chola Period (9th-13th century CE) Nayaka Period (16th-17th century CE) |
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| Dynasties | Mughal Delhi Sultanate Mauryan Empire Gupta Empire Mughal Empire Vijayanagara Rajput All dynasties Maurya Gupta Sikh Various British Chauhan Dynasty Rajput Kingdoms Maurya Empire Chola Ahom Dynasty Vijayanagara Empire Portuguese Gajapati dynasty Qutb Shahi dynasty Chera Dynasty Chola Dynasty Nayaka Dynasty |
| Sources | Local brick kilns specific geographic sources Local brick kilns in Assam Brick kilns Recycled brick waste Demolished brick structures Crushed waste bricks from local kilns Crushed burnt clay bricks from demolished structures or brick kilns Tile factories Brick kilns across India Specific regional sources Recycled brick and tile Local brick kilns near Sivasagar Recycled brick material Local brick kilns in Kannur district Local brick kilns near Udayagiri Locally produced from waste bricks and tiles |
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| Properties | Specific gravity: 2.5-2.7 Fineness: 75 μm to 4.75 mm Pozzolanic activity: High Improves mortar strength Pozzolanic activity Increases mortar strength Reduces mortar permeability Particle size: Varies Particle size: 75-150 microns Particle size: 75-150 μm Increases compressive strength of mortar Particle size: Varies (fine to coarse) Pozzolanic activity: Enhances lime mortar strength Increases compressive strength of lime mortar Improves workability Reduces permeability Particle size: 75-425 microns Particle size: Fine powder Specific gravity: 2.6-2.8 Increases mortar strength and water resistance Improves water resistance Pozzolanic activity: Reacts with lime to form calcium silicate hydrate Reduces permeability of lime mortar Particle size: 0.075-4.75mm Increases lime mortar strength Particle size: Fine Color: Reddish-brown Particle size distribution Specific surface area Moisture content: <5% Fineness: Passing through 90 micron sieve Compressive strength (when mixed with lime): Increases by 20-50% Fineness: <75 microns Particle size: <75 microns Silica content: 50-70% Alumina content: 15-25% Fineness: Passing through IS sieve no. 9 Silica content: >50% Alumina content: 10-20% Particle size: <75 μm Fineness: 75-150 μm Fineness: Varies Fineness: Varies depending on grinding Particle size: <75 microns for optimal reactivity Particle size: 0.075-4.75 mm Particle size: <150 μm Particle size: < 0.075 mm Silica content: > 50% Alumina content: > 20% Particle size: variable Specific surface area: variable Pozzolanic activity: Reacts with lime to form calcium silicate hydrates Silica content: 50-60% Alumina content: 20-30% Increases density of mortar Red color Fineness: Retained on 90 micron sieve < 10% |
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| Uses | Additive to lime mortar Hydraulic binder Plastering Waterproofing Waterproofing agent Hydraulic lime production Reduces shrinkage in mortar Improves workability and hydraulic properties Filler material Pozzolanic cement Hydraulic lime mortar Plaster Increases strength Reduces permeability Improves workability Improves mortar workability Increases mortar durability Reduces mortar permeability Lime mortar additive Plaster additive Concrete additive Increases mortar water resistance Concrete production Improving workability Concrete Increases durability of plaster Additive to चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) Lime-Surkhi mortar Additive in lime mortar Terrace waterproofing Improving mortar strength Terrace roofing Improves mortar strength Increasing strength of mortar Improves workability of mortar Improving strength of plaster Improves workability and durability Reduces shrinkage |
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| Materials | चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) ईंट - Īnt (Brick) Ishtikā (Brick) रेती - Reti (Sand) गुड़ - Gur (Jaggery) रेत - Ret (Sand) ईंट - Eent (Brick) बेल का फल - Bel ka Phal (Aegle marmelos) बजरी - Bajri (River Sand) रेती - Retī (Sand) पानी - Pānī (Water) चूना - Chunā (Lime) ईंट - Īnt (Bricks) बालू - Bālū (Sand) कंकड़ - Kankar (Lime Nodules) Bajri (Fine Aggregate) Bajri (Aggregate) कंकड़ - Kankar (Kankar) ईंट - Īṅṭ (Brick) इष्टिका - Ishtikā (Burnt Brick) इष्टिका - Ishtika (Brick) शिला - Shilā (Stone) जल - Jala (Water) Sand |
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| Styles | Indo-Islamic architecture style Regional vernacular styles Traditional Indian architecture All Indian architectural styles Mughal architecture Indo-Islamic architecture Nagara architecture style All styles Traditional Indian architecture style Mughal architecture style All Indic architectural styles Sikh architecture Colonial architecture style Indo-Saracenic architecture Rajput architecture style Rajput architecture Traditional Indian architecture styles Bengal architecture style Deccan architecture style Indo-Saracenic architecture style All traditional Indian architectural styles Regional variations of Nagara and Dravidian styles Regional variations of traditional architecture Vernacular architecture Traditional Indian Architecture Regional variations Dravidian architecture style Ahom architecture Sri Lankan architecture Indo-Portuguese architecture Vijayanagara architecture Deccan architecture Dravidian Architecture Nagara Architecture Vernacular Architecture |
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| Categories | Temple Fort Water structures Water Structures Temples Forts Palaces Residential Buildings Tomb Bridge Residences Palace Residential Water harvesting structures Water tank Well House Mosque Water Harvesting Structures Havelis Wells Stepwell Monument Water Tank Mortar All heritage categories |
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| Notes |
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| Title | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Limes in India | Report | Surkhi as a pozzolanic material |
| Pozzolanic Materials in Indian Construction | Journal Article | Surkhi properties and applications |
| Pozzolanic Materials | Technical Report | Properties and applications of pozzolanic materials in construction |
| Building Limes: Properties, Production and Use | Book | Information on pozzolanic additives |
| Pozzolanic Materials in Ancient India | Technical Report | Analysis of Surkhi properties and uses |
| Pozzolanic Materials in Construction | Book | Detailed analysis of pozzolanic materials |
| Traditional Mortars in India | Technical Report | Composition and properties |
| Building Materials and Construction | Textbook | Pozzolanic materials |
| Lime and Lime Mortars | Book | Surkhi as a pozzolan |
| Traditional Indian Building Materials | Book | Lime-Surkhi mortar |
| Traditional Knowledge Digital Library | Database | Traditional building techniques |
| ASI Technical Bulletin | Technical Report | Material analysis |
| Building Materials Research Reports | Technical Report | Surkhi properties and applications |
| Central Building Research Institute Reports | Technical Report | Surkhi properties and applications |