A low thermal expansion ceramic, cordierite (2MgO·2Al2O3·5SiO2), was synthesized using pyrophyllite. Pyrophyllite usually consists of SiO2 and Al2O3, which are the main components of cordierite. MgCO3 and Al(OH)3 were added in various amounts to pyrophyllite and fired for synthesis and sintering. α-cordierite crystallized from 1000 oC with mixing of 20 wt% MgCO3 and 1.7 wt% Al(OH)3, and un-reacted cristobalite was also detected with the cordierite. As the temperature was increased to 1400 oC, the cordierite yield was gradually increased. Powder compacts of the synthesized cordierite were sintered between 1250 oC ~ 1400 oC; the sintered samples showed a low thermal expansion coefficient of 2.1 × 10−6/ oC and typical sintering behavior. It is anticipated that it will be possible to synthesize cordierite ceramics on a mass production scale using the mineral pyrophyllite.