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crocus martis again

updated fri 23 jan 98

 

Paul Lewing on wed 21 jan 98

Hi, All,

After the discussion a while back about using crocus martis for iron
reds, I decided to buy some. My local clay supplier told me they
didn't have any but they did have Spanish Red Iron, which was the same
thing. Is this true? This supplier has a tendency to tell you that
whatever they have is what you want, even when it isn't. I bought
some SRI from them a year or so ago that is a dull brick red. I've
been told that this isn't SRI, either. Is that true? Thanks all.

Paul Lewing, Seattle

DONPREY on thu 22 jan 98

Paul, and other crocus martis fans,
Here is all I know about the material:
"Crocus Martis. A purple-red oxide of iron, made by heating ferrous sulfate
crystals (green vitriol) to dull redness in a current of air."
This quote is from the January 1971 issue of "Ceramic Industry"
magazine....the annual raw material processing handbook issue. (my source of
arcane data).
Don Prey in Oregon
PS, I would not expect Spanish RIO to be the equivalant.