[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c16.s14.14 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c16.s14.14 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c16.s14.14 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c16.s14.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c16.s14.14) Among the present day potters the practice of using magnetite to decorate pottery is not known. They use a suspension of finely ground red ochre in water. It is therefore possible that the PGW potter also, after wheel-throwing and sum-drying his pots, painted them with a suspension of ground red ochre in water. After painting he would bake the pots in an enclosed space under a reducing atmosphere on which red ochre turned into black magnetite on account of the following reaction taking place within the reducing atmosphere of the enclosed baking device: $3Fe₂O₃+CO-2Fe₃O₄+CO₂.Fe₃O₄$ is magnetic oxide of iron, i.e. magnetite. It is opaque, isometric and black with metallic lustre in reflected light. - [Previous: v1.c16.s14.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c16.s14.13) - [Next: v1.c16.s14.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c16.s14.15) - [Up: v1.c16.s14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c16.s14) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c16.s14.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c16.s14.14) · Pramāṇa