[Rockhounds] Ink coloring minerals

[Lawrence Rush]

I have an artist friend who is experimenting with home-made inks. She asked me for mineral samples which she could grind up to provide the coloring agent for these inks. I know the Native Americans used Hematite and Limonite to make "ochres", but the other colors they used for clothing dyes seem all to be organic and plant based. I have also heard of some minerals used for facial decor, such as eye-shadowing and rouge in the Middle Ages. But I couldn't come up with any soluble minerals that could color inks.

Any suggestions?

Thanks....Larry Rush


"Noel Coward thought work was more fun than play,  but he never, ever worked in the mines"

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