Clay

"Next time you're exploring a dank, mushroom-filled swamp, or sailing along one of the majestic rivers that [wind] their way across Minecraft's blocky landscape, keep an eye out for one of the most versatile building materials the game has to offer - clay!"

- Duncan Geere

Clay is a block that can be found below water.

Obtaining
Clay blocks can be mined with anything, but shovels are quickest. Destroying clay blocks will yield 4 clay balls each. If broken with a tool enchanted with silk touch, it will drop itself instead. Destroying clay blocks with a tool enchanted with fortune will not increase the amount of clay dropped.

If a player has the Hero of the Village status effect, a Mason Villager might give that player a clay block as thanks.

Natural generation
Clay is commonly found at the bottoms of rivers and lakes in shallow, diamond-shaped patches, disregarding adjacency to other types of blocks. It can also be found commonly in swamps.

Clay generates inside mason houses in plains, savanna and desert villages.

Trivia

 * In real life, clay can actually be reddish brown, not just gray, and can be often found under the surface and away from sand. This color is reflected in the appearance of terracotta, bricks, and flower pots.