Cordierite ceramics are known for their low CTE and high compressive strength values which affords them place in fields where demanding thermal and mechanical properties are required. Development of such ceramics is greatly dependent on materials used. If raw materials are used formation of additional phases and pore/glass formation is expected. The purpose of this research is to examine the process of cordierite development from mixed compositions formed from precursors of the natural raw materials as illite clay, dolomite and quartz sand and synthetic additives – MgO, γ-Al2O3 and their influence on thermal and mechanical properties. It is verified that the addition of 10 wt.% of illite clay and about 20-21 wt.% dolomite in staring compositions at the sintering temperature of 1200 °C results in the development of dense ceramic material with perfect-shaped crystalline cordierite phase and secondary anorthite phase. Sintered cordierite ceramics have been tested, among other properties, for their compressive strength, coefficient of thermal expansion and modulus of elasticity after 20 cycles of thermal shock treatment.