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X-ray powder diffraction investigation of green earth pigments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2012

Alicja Rafalska-Lasocha
Affiliation:
Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, ul. Ingardena 3, 30-060 Krakow, Poland
Zofia Kaszowska
Affiliation:
Faculty of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art, Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Art in Krakow, 27-29 Lea Street, 30-052 Krakow, Poland
Wieslaw Lasocha
Affiliation:
Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, ul. Ingardena 3, 30-060 Krakow, Poland andInstitute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry PAS, ul. Niezapominajek 8, 30-239 Krakow, Poland
Roman Dziembaj
Affiliation:
Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, ul. Ingardena 3, 30-060 Krakow, Poland

Abstract

Laboratory X-ray powder diffraction was used to investigate mineralogical compositions of green pigments labeled by suppliers as “green earths.” It was found that glauconite and celadonite—minerals historically considered as the main ingredient of this pigment—were present only in Bohemian green earth, green earth from Thuringen (glauconite), and Bavarian green earth (celadonite). Other investigated pigments consist of mineralogical-component minerals with added synthetic organic colorants. The obtained results may be useful for scientists, restorers, and artists in proper choices of the pigments they use in their works.

Type
Technical Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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