Forty-eight　consolidometer　tests　were　performed　on　various　natural　clays　and　a　kaolinite　clay　reconstituted　in　the　laboratory　at　different　initial　water　contents　using　a　modified　consolidometer　apparatus.　These　data　together　with　those　published　previously　allow　a　multi-regression　analysis　for　the　development　of　an　approach　for　determining　the　intrinsic　compression　parameters　that　depend　on　initial　water　content　and　liquid　limit.　The　approach　proposed　by　Burland　can　be　thereby　extended　to　provide　an　expression　describing　the　compression　response　of　a　wide　range　of　clays.　Based　on　the　intrinsic　concept,　a　simple　way　of　determining　the　virgin　compression　lines　of　reconstituted　clays　is　also　proposed　using　the　density　of　soil　particles,　initial　water　content,　and　liquid　limit.　©　2015,　National　Research　Council　of　Canada,　All　Rights　Reserved.