[Rockhounds] Ink coloring minerals

[Kay Davis]

If you do a google using the search term 

inks in antiquity

you will find lots of references

A different approach is that I also remembered a article of poisoning in
antiquity because of the use of Cinnabar (Mercury compounds) and lead
compounds in makeup ( which could be used in inks as well 


I did a google using the search terms 

eye makeup cinnabar EGYPT  then I added a couple of exclusions to get rid of
repeated modern references

eye makeup cinnabar EGYPT  -ebay -mary

if you ignore the modern references there are some specs of gold in the sand
... 
Here is an interesting presentation

www.joolzfx.com/essays/Ancient%20Cosmetic%20toxicology.ppt


Hope this helps 

Kay
-----Original Message-----
From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
[mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of J Bryan Kramer
Sent: October 4, 2007 4:41 PM
To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Ink coloring minerals

Well there's Prussian Blue but I believe it is synthetic not naturally
occurring:

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussian_blue>

Iron salts are used in blue and black ink otherwise. I think it was made by
combining iron salt with oak extracts...yeah here it is:

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_gall_ink>

BK

On 10/4/07, Lawrence Rush <larryrush at worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
> 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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-- 
J Bryan Kramer
North Florida, USA
photos at:
http://pbase.com/photoburner


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