French Brown Ocher Pigment
Our brown ocher pigment is finely ground and exhibits a reddish brown masstone. It has good tinting strength and covering power.
French Brown Ocher consists of yellow and black iron oxides that is a reddish-brown pigment for use in tempera, oil and watercolor mediums, obtained from oxides of iron. This pigment blend is from the last remaining European companies operating the ocher deposits in the French quarries of Gargas and Rustrel nestled in a 12 mile long enclave in the heart of the Luberon Mountains.
Please note that for many years this pigment was sold by the French ochre company as a natural pigment. Recently, the company disclosed that it is a blend of two synthetic iron oxides. We have kept the information below regarding the natural mineral associated with brown ocher, goethite, but we have provided the pigment’s actual composition in the pigment table below. For more information on pigment substitutes, please read the article, When Ocher isn’t Ocher.
Pigment Names | |
Common Names: | English: brown ocher French: ocre brun German: Ocker Braun Italian: ocra marrone Japanese: 茶色の黄土色 Spanish: ocre marrón |
Alternate Names: | English: Goethite French: Goethite German: Götheit Italian: Goetite Japanese: 針鉄鉱 Spanish: Goethita |
Nomenclature: | Brown hematite, brown ochre, goethite, yellow ochre (also spelled, ocher, American English) Mars Yellow and Mars Brown are names given to the artificial substitutes for goethite. |
Origin and History
Brown ocher is usually derived from the mineral goethite. Goethite was named for Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), a German philosopher and poet who also was a mineralogist. Goethite has been in continuous use as a pigment since prehistoric times. Evidence of goethite was found in paint pigment samples taken from the caves of Lascaux, France. In ancient Greece the term “ochre” was used for natural earth pigments of different yellow hues (ocher light, golden, dark, greenish, etc.).
Source
The widespread mineral, goethite, consists of hydrated iron oxide, which is encountered practically everywhere on the earth's surface in the form of concretions, oolites (a form consisting of small round grains cemented together), reniform (kidney shapes) or botryoidal (form of bunches of grapes) accumulations. It is frequently encountered in swampy areas at the head of spring waters, and on the bottom of lakes and small creeks. Iron oxides, or earth pigments, as they often are called, are an important group of inorganic pigments derived from minerals. Iron oxide pigments are yellow, red, brown and green, but artists know them as ocher, sienna, red oxide, umber and terra verte. Unlike pigments made in a laboratory, the color of natural iron oxide pigments varies with the composition of the particular segment of earth from which they come. The color of these pigments is derived from three constituents: the principal coloring ingredient, secondary coloring ingredients and a base. The combination of these ingredients produces the particular color of the earth. The innumerable forms and variations in which these ingredients can combine result in the wide range of possible yellows, reds, browns and greens.
Principal coloring ingredient: Iron oxide is the principal color producing ingredient in the earth. The properties of the particular iron oxide present in the earth determines its color. The nature of the iron oxide found in the deposit, rather than its percentage, is critical to the resulting earth color. Most rock contains some iron oxide. Those bearing the least amounts are limestones. white clays and colorless kaolins. Those containing the highest amounts are the rocks from which metallic iron is extracted.
Secondary coloring ingredients: Calcium, manganese oxide, carbonic materials, silica and limestone are some common modifiers that affect the specific color of natural iron oxides. Manganese oxide, for example, enriches the brown in umbers.
Base: Nearly all iron oxides have a clay base. Clay is the weathered product of silicate rocks and is extremely varied in composition. As a result, it has numerous effects on the earth's color.
French brown ocher is a blended pigment consisting of yellow iron oxide and black iron oxide from an ocher company in southern France. Although both synthetic iron oxide pigments, it is similar in properties to brown ocher or goethite. It is finely ground and has a reddish-brown masstone. It has excellent tinting strength and good covering power.
Tinting Strength
Relatively large crystals of goethite give the yellow color of this mineral, whereas smaller crystals produce shades of brown. As demonstrated in experiments conducted by K.I. Tolstikhinoy, the chromacity of natural iron oxide and clay pigments are closely related to the content of iron oxide, and from a mineralogical point of view—the content of goethite. Thus, with the content of iron oxide less than 23%, luminosities of the tone of pigment compose 40-50%, the purity of tone 60–70%. With the content of the iron oxide from 22 to 74%, luminosities of tone varies in interval of 25–40%, the purity of tone from 70 to 85%, and with the content of the iron oxide more than 75%, luminosity is located in interval of 18–25%, the purity of tone 83-90%.
Pigment Characteristics
A characteristic of pigments containing goethite is their ability to change color when heated. Heating ocher, sienna and umber causes the hydrated iron oxide to give up water, and with the resulting dehydration darken in shade while its tone intensifies. At temperatures exceeding 300°C yellow pigments acquire red-brown tones. The most intensive red tones are obtained as a result of calcining goethite at a temperature between 500–600°C. The change in color is directly related to the dehydration of goethite and its transformation into hematite. Prolonged heating at high temperatures causes another change into a mineral of dark gray color—magnetite.
Permanence and Compatibility
Goethite or brown ocher does not react with other pigments and is effectively used in fresco, oil, tempera and watercolors. It is considered to be permanent with medium to good tinting strength and opacity. It does not react with solvents, and is indifferent to alkalis, but is partially soluble in acids.
Oil Absorption and Grinding
Brown ocher moderately absorbs oil when dispersing the dry pigment it in this medium. The oil absorption ratio is 23–35 parts by weight of raw linseed oil to 100 parts by weight of pigment. If the measurement were grams, it would require 23 to 35 grams of linseed oil to grind 100 grams of pigment to form a stiff paste.
Toxicity
Brown ocher is not considered to be toxic.
Pigment: Brown Ocher
Pigment Information | |
Color: | Brown |
Type: | Pigment Blend |
Pigment 1 | |
Pigment: | Yellow Iron Oxide |
Colour Index: | Pigment Yellow 42 |
Chemical Name: | Iron oxide hydrated |
Chemical Formula: | FeO(OH) |
Pigment 2 | |
Pigment: | Black Iron Oxide |
Colour Index: | Pigment Black 11 |
Chemical Name: | Iron(II, III) oxide |
Chemical Formula: | Fe3O4 |
ASTM Lightfastness Rating | |
Acrylic: | I |
Oil: | I |
Watercolor: | I |
Properties | |
Density: | 3.3–4.3 |
Hardness: | 5.0–5.5 |
Refractive Index: | nα=2.260 nβ=2.393 nγ=2.398 |
SKU | 461-51 |
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Brand | Rublev Colours |
Vendor | Rublev Colours |
Processing Time | Usually ships the next business day. |
Color | Brown |
Pigment Type | Inorganic, Earth, Natural |
Health & Safety: There are no acute or known chronic health hazards with the anticipated use of this product (most chemicals are not thoroughly tested for chronic toxicity). Protect yourself against potentially unknown chronic hazards of this and other chemical products by avoiding ingestion, excessive skin contact, and inhaling spraying mists, sanding dust, and concentrated vapors from heating. Contact us for further information or consult the SDS for more information. Conforms to ASTM D-4236.
Order Processing
If the Processing Time for items in your order is "Usually ships within 24-48 hours", your order will usually be processed within 48 hours of receipt Monday through Friday. Orders received during weekends and holidays will be processed on the next business (working) day. Orders with longer processing times will be shipped when all items become available.
Shipping Rates
Please add your desired items and the delivery address to your basket to determine the exact shipping costs and options. The table below provides shipping rates for different weights to the countries we ship to.
Carriers
We use the following carriers to deliver orders:
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Below is an approximate guide to shipping costs for locations in Europe. Rates may change without notice.
COUNTRY | ALPHA-2 | RATES PER PARCELS | CARRIER | |
0–10 kg | >10 kg–30 kg | |||
Austria | AT | 11,50 € | 11,50 € | DPD |
Belgium | BE | 10,95 € | 10,95 € | DPD |
Bulgaria | BG | 20,25 € | 30,25 € | FedEx |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | BA | 49,25 € | 49,25 € | DPD |
Cyprus | CY | 21,80 € | 29,30 € | FedEx |
Switzerland | CH | 25,85 € | 42,98 € | FedEx |
Czech Republic | CZ | 12,00 € | 12,00 € | DPD |
Germany | DE | 5,50 € | 5,50 € | DPD |
Denmark | DK | 12,00 € | 12,00 € | DPD |
Spain | ES | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
Estonia | EE | 21,70 € | 21,70 € | DPD |
Finland | FI | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
France | FR | 14,60 € | 14,60 € | DPD |
United Kingdom | GB | – € | – € | – |
Greece | GR | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
Croatia | HR | 29,25 € | 29,25 € | DPD |
Hungary | HU | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
Ireland | IE | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
Iceland | IS | 30,70 € | 62,40 € | DHL |
Italy | IT | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
Liechtenstein | LI | 25,85 € | 43,00 € | FedEx |
Lithuania | LT | 21,70 € | 21,70 € | DPD |
Luxembourg | LU | 10,95 € | 10,95 € | DPD |
Latvia | LV | 21,70 € | 21,70 € | DPD |
Malta | MT | 21,80 € | 30,25 € | FedEx |
Monaco | MC | 15,95 € | 24,30 € | FedEx |
Netherlands | NL | 10,95 € | 10,95 € | DPD |
Norway | NO | 25,85 € | 43,00 € | FedEx |
Poland | PL | 14,90 € | 14,90 € | DPD |
Portugal | PT | 15,50 € | 15,50 € | DPD |
Romania | RO | 21,80 € | 30,25 € | FedEx |
Serbia | RS | 49,25 € | 49,25 € | DPD |
Slovakia | SK | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
Slovenia | SI | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
Sweden | SE | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
Turkey | TR | 27,30 € | 46,20 € | FedEx |
Note: Countries in RED type are not members of the European Union.
Postal Service
Shipping (EU and non-EU countries):
Up to 500 grams Tracked: 6,85 €
Up to 1000 grams Tracked: 10,45 €
Up to 2000 grams Tracked: 20,50 €
Tracking
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We track all orders where a tracked delivery service has been selected.
We will update your order with the tracking information if the shipping carrier provides a tracking number. You can locate the tracking number for your order in the shipping confirmation email you receive when your order is shipped. (Look for the email with the subject line "Natural Pigments: Shipment # xxxxxxxxx for Order # xxxxxxxxx.") You can also find the tracking number by signing into your account and visiting My Account Dashboard under Recent Orders.
VAT for Orders within the European Union
VAT is not included in prices unless specified on the website as VAT INCLUSIVE. VAT is calculated for Germany at 19% on both order subtotal and shipping cost and is added to the order grand total.
VAT, Duties, and Tariffs for Orders Outside of the European Union
VAT is not included in prices and totals unless specified on the website as VAT INCLUSIVE. Duties, tariffs, and customs broker fees are not included in the prices and totals on the website. These charges are in addition to what you will pay when ordering. These charges originate in the delivery country, so please contact your local customs for more information.
Shipping Rates
The rate charged for the shipping of your order is based on the weight of your products and your location. Before the final checkout page, you will be shown what the shipping cost will be, and you will have a chance to abandon your order if you decide not to place it.
Shipping Damage
For shipping damage, customers should file a claim with the carrier immediately. Any discrepancy, including wrong or missing items, should be reported to Natural Pigments within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt.
Back Orders
We do not accept backorders for out-of-stock items. If you order an out-of-stock item, we will email you when we expect that product to be available. You will be among the first to receive the item when it becomes available. Natural Pigments will not charge your credit card for out-of-stock items.