Zia pottery is unique in that it is tempered with basalt, a hard volcanic rock. Pots are made by mixing clay and ground basalt with water and then coiling ropes of this mixture into specific shapes. Once they dry out, the pots are painted with nature and religious symbols. They then sit for about a week before they are fired in the kiln, in which cattle dung is usually used for fuel. Common motifs include geometric designs, plants, and animals, and are often on a white or red background.