One crucial problem in quarries associated with mining dimension stories is the generation of enormous amounts of waste, which strongly impacts on the environment. Slate mining and processing generate large amounts of fine powder during extraction, cutting and polishing procedures. In the present work, suspensions were produced by mixing slate powder with different solid fractions in water, and then casting into plaster moulds ("slip casting process"). The "green samples" ("as cast") were characterised according to density and pore size distribution by mercury porosity and X-ray diffraction techniques. Ceramic pieces from slate powder, produced through slip casting were fired at 1000 degrees C/4 h. The results show that slate powder waste has a potential use in the manufacturing of ceramic pieces by the slip casting process. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.