Process of forming lightweight aggregate

Claim 1

A PROCESS OF PRODUCING LIGHTWEIGHT AGGREGATE WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF ADDING A HYDROCARBON OIL TO DRY CLAY-LIKE MATERIALS; SUBSEQUENTLY ADDING WATER TO SAID MATERIAL OF THE ORDER OF ABOUT 15 TO 25 PARTS OF WATER BY WEIGHT TO 100 PARTS OF THE RAW MATERIAL; SUBSEQUENTLY FORMING THE MIXTURE INTO SUBSTANTIALLY ROUNDED PELLETS; SUBSEQUENTLY TREATING THE PELLETS WITH A HYDROCARBON OIL HAVING A RELATIVELY HIGH VAPOR PRESSURE RELATIVE TO THE VAPOR PRESSURE OF THE FIRST NAMED HYDROCARBON OIL; AND SUBSEQUENTLY HEATING THE SUBSTANTIALLY ROUND COATED PEILETS IN AN OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE AT A TEMPERATURE WHICH RISES FROM ROOM TEMPERATURE TO A MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 1000* C. TO 1260* C.