Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c28.s2.6

v1.c28.s2.6

Gairola (1949) also analysed the red paints on the temples and did not find any organic matter therein. These were simple mixtures of local hematitic ochre and clay mixed to give the desired tint. The red paint from the Mukteśvara temple assayed 36.42 per cent Fe₂O₃ and 40.97 per cent sand and clay. A sample of the red ochre collected from the Bhubaneśwar market assayed 58.80 per cent Fe₂O₃ and 28. 90 per cent sand and clay. None of the two samples contained any manganese oxide which is a common impurity in hematite. Thus local red ochre, free from manganese oxide, must have been used and a thick slurry painted with a brush on the ancient temples. Ochres of different shades are available in the Bihar-Orissa region and must have been used in the works of art.