Violet Hematite (100 g)

Product Details:

100 g jar (3.5 oz)

Hematite is an iron oxide earth and the principle coloring agent in red ochre, such as Indian Red, Terra Pozzuoli, Venetian Red, etc. These pigments are basically hematite associated with varying proportions of accessory mineral such as clay, chalk and silica. In the case of Violet Hematite (alternatively called Caput Mortum), small amounts of iron sulfate and other compunds are usually associated with hematite, giving it the deep violet hue. The Violet Hematite pigment we make is a dark reddish purple (See also our deep red Hematite).

Hematite and its artificial varieties of iron oxide have been given many confusing names. Ralph Mayer writes that the best-grade bluish shades are called Indian red; the yellowish shades, light red, English red, and Venetian red. A very bluish or purplish iron oxide, known as Mars Violet is dull and subdued, but when used straight or in mixtures on the average painting of low intensity its serves well to produce the majority of purple and lavender colors ordinarily required.

Pigment Names
Common Names (mineral):	Blood stone, hematite, red hematite, red iron ore, red iron stone
Common Names (pigment):	bruno inglese, caput mortem, caput mortum, caput mortuum, colcothar, colore morello, corpum mortum, Côte d'Azur violet, vetriolo romano bruciato, vetriolo cotto The synthetic form of this pigment is called Mars Violet.

Origin and History
The word hematite comes from the Greek word hema, meaning blood and was given the name "bloodstone" in ancient Greece (Theofrastus, c. 325 B.C.), implying that the mineral is blood red in color. Hematite is an important ore of iron and its blood red color in the powdered form lends itself well as a pigment. Hematite is among the oldest pigments known to humankind and has been used by every major civilization. The term "caput mortum" originated in Latin and literally means in English "dead head." It was known since medieval times, but was mainly used in the sixteenth century.

Source
In nature hematite rarely occurs as crystals but usually as nodules or earthen masses. The color of the crystalline form varies from steel-gray to black, while crypto-crystalline hematite is dull red to bright red. This common mineral is found in deposits of the most diverse types. There are several varieties of hematite, two of which are suitable for use as pigments: oolitic hematite, which is a friable earth composed of small rounded grains of dark red color that are lustrous and greasy to the touch; and hematite rose, a fine-crystalline and crypto-crystalline form of hematite of red color, which are usually encountered in friable earthen masses or reniform aggregates of bladed crystals in a circular arrangement giving the appearance of a rose.

Deep violet hematite of excellent quality is found in the deposits in the vicinity of the city Novgorod, Russia, which is where we obtain our mineral for manufacture into the pigment Cold Hematite. Ours is pure hematite consisting of nearly 95% iron oxide. Because of this it has good tinting strength and is quite opaque. Besides pure hematite as pigment, hematite is also found as part of other mineral species, namely a pigment called "mummy" in Russia. Depending on the substratum it occurs, as in the case with ochre, we have identified several varieties useful as pigments: mummy brown and mummy violet. Pigments from the natural mineral hematite are mostly, pure products of dark hue, and as such is as equally permanent and dependable as those artificially made.

Permanence and Compatibility
Pigments made from the mineral hematite are dependable in mixtures with all other permanent pigments, and are considered to be permanent with considerable tinting strength and opacity. Ralph Mayer writes that iron oxide pigments have excellent covering power, are weather resistant and a strong absorber of ultraviolet light [The Artist's Handbook, p. 96]. They do not react with solvents, and are indifferent to alkalis, but are partially soluble in acids. Zinc white and hematite yield excellent flesh tints. Mixtures of Alizarin Madder and hematite were offered as Tuscan Red or Pompeian Red, according to F. W. Weber. The Alizarin Madder in this mixture does not decompose as is likely when mixed with hydrated iron oxide pigments such as ochre, sienna and umber.

Oil Absorption and Grinding
Hematite absorbs a small amount of oil when ground into this binder, and forms a good film in oil painting technique.

Toxicity
The pigment is considered non-toxic, but care should always be exercised when handling the dry powder pigment so as not to inhale the dust.

Pigment: Cold Hematite (Caput Mortum)

Pigment Information
Color:	Red
Colour Index:	Pigment Red 102 (77491)
Chemical Name:	Iron Oxide
Chemical Formula:	α-Fe₂O₃
ASTM Lightfastness Rating
Acrylic:	Not Rated
Oil:	I
Watercolor:	I
Properties
Density:	5.27
Hardness:	5.0–6.0
Refractive Index:	2.78–3.01