Ceramic structures

A ceramic composition comprising:

• from about 15 wt. % to less than about 50 wt. % mullite;
• from about 40 wt. % to about 75 wt. % tialite;
• and
• at least about 1.0 wt. % of a Zr-containing mineral phase;
• wherein the weight ratio of tialite to mullite is greater than 1:1, and
• wherein the ceramic composition has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of equal to or less than about 1.5×10−6° C.−1, and a thermal strength parameter (TSP) of at least about 150° C.