Emulsion processing has been utilised to produce sub-micron spherical particle precursors, which can be sintered to form dense a-cordierite ceramics at temperatures as low as 1100degreesC after 2 hours. The products are slightly magnesium deficient, resulting in trace amounts of mullite being present in the final ceramics. Flexural strengths of 73 MPa have been measured, with a Weibull modulus of 12. The Vickers hardness was measured at 8.5 GPa, and the fracture toughness at 2.2 MNm(-3/2).