Mineral Umber

Mineral

In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid substance with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.

Umber

Umber is a natural earth pigment consisting of iron oxide and manganese oxide; it has a brownish color that can vary among shades of yellow, red, and green. Umber is considered one of the oldest pigments known to humans. Umber's advantages are its highly versatile color, warm tone, and quick drying abilities. While some sources indicate that umber's name comes from its geographic origin in Umbria, other scholars suggest that it derives from the Latin word umbra, which means "shadow". The belief that its name derives from the word for shadow is fitting, as the color helps create shadows. The color is primarily produced in Cyprus. Umber is typically mined from open pits or underground mines and ground into a fine powder that is washed to remove impurities. In the 20th century, the rise of synthetic dyes decreased the demand for natural pigments such as umber.

mineral

Noun

1. Any naturally occurring solid material that has a (more or less) definite chemical composition and characteristic physical properties; especially, an inorganic and crystalline one.
2. Any inorganic material (as distinguished from animal or vegetable).

Adjective

1. of, related to, or containing minerals

umber

Noun

1. A brown clay, somewhat darker than ochre, which contains iron and manganese oxides.
2. Alternative form of umbrere.

Adjective

1. Of a reddish brown colour, like that of the pigment.