Belite:

It may not be dust. If the burner protrudes into the kiln, the reason may very well be that sticky materials (e.g. still contain some liquid phase) are lifted to the top of the kiln and drop onto the burner tip. This is easy to determine by visual inspection.

You're right. I have noticed that sometimes. But, I've also noticed that the speed of formation of 'rhino horns'  is certainly increased by dusty conditions, just as it is with  'snowmen'.

 BTW, why did you pick the name Belite? Was Alite already taken? 

Regards,

Ted.

Ted 

Of course you are right about dust - I just wanted to mention the other possibility. 

I chose Belite as a modest tribute to long term strength ;-) In our busy business anything beyond 28 days is discarded as more or less irrelevant.

Regards,

Belite