Their nonlinear electric properties distinguish ZnO-doped metal oxides ceramic matrix. Clay comprises a group of metal oxides that can be doped with a ZnO matrix. The precipitation process in distilled water can modulate clay structure to develop each characteristic through different Si, Al, and Fe concentrations. The column result from the precipitation is divided into layers from 1 to 12 and each layer of 2 cm thick. X-ray analysis is utilized for phase determination in the clay layers. Modulated clay layers were doped with ZnO according to the formula (1 – x) ZnO − x (n), where n is the precipitated layer (1, 5, 9, and 12) and x is the doping percentage and takes the ratios 5, 10, 15, and 20%. The samples are pressed and sintered at 1200 °C for 2 h. The ceramic composite structure was investigated using a scanning electron microscope with an EDAX unit, density measurements, and electrical properties measurements. All samples showed nonlinear electric properties with high leakage current also the remarkable electric insulator sample is the sample doped 20% from layer 5. It protects from 600 V/cm and has the smallest 25 mA/cm² leakage current. At last, the samples are tested as a gamma rays shield using a narrow beam transmission technique, sodium iodide detector, and three-point sources (Ba-133, Cs-137, and Co-60). Linear attenuation (LAC) coefficients and mass attenuation coefficients (MAC) shielding parameters are calculated for all samples. ZnO doped 5% from layer 12 ceramic sample is the optimum sample as it has the maximum MAC values, which are equal to 0.1125, 0.0780, 0.0598, and 0.0558 cm²/g at 356, 662, 1173, and 1332 keV, respectively. The result proves the efficiency of the clay precipitation process. The experimental MAC of the optimum sample is compared with the theoretical value obtained from the Physics-X program in which a slight difference is detected and does not exceed 10%.