Lixiviation or leaching is an ancient process alchemy still used today in making tea, extracting dyes and ores. Lixivium is a general...

The mortar and pestle as a unit is about 35,000 years old. With many varieties available today it's important to choose the best mortar...

Rust, the reddish-brown coating that forms on iron or steel due to exposure to oxygen and moisture is a fascinating display of chemistry....

Silicon dioxide (SiO₂), or silica, holds fascinating secrets within its molecular structure. It's one of the most abundant minerals found...

Carbuncle has many meanings. Today it most often describes a deep red almandine garnet gemstone cut with a smooth, convex face or...

Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂) is one of the most versatile chemicals today due to powerful oxidizing properties and a wide range of...

Magnetite is an iron ore formed below the earth's surface. As one of the primary iron ores it keeps the wheels of progress turning....

Iron oxides create beautiful pigments in colors from warm yellow and orange to deep reds, brown, black and even green. Besides industry...

Precious stones are made by economic supply and demand. First, however, they're formed by fire and pressure for millions of years. Prized...

Litharge (PbO) is a lead oxide mineral with an alpha and beta structure. It's among the most prominent of the lead oxides known due to...

In the Renaissance new healing treatments come to light, many based on ancient medicine. In the 17th and 18th century these include...

The Angel of Violet Light appears in the tomes of alchemy from the European medieval period onward. For many centuries the Angel drifts...

Corundum is a mineral composed of aluminum oxide. Living deep within the Earth in an environment of intense heat and pressure, the...

Synthetic sapphires and lab-grown gemstones mimic the brilliance and allure of natural gems while often surpassing them in quality and...

Exquisite gems, sapphires are beautiful stones known for stunning colors and unique properties. Greeks wear sapphire for guidance when...

Indigo, deep blue dye from the Indigofera tinctoria plant, often associated with blue denim, is one of humanity's oldest dyes. The...

Alchemy of the ancients includes skills such as preparation of dyes, pigments and mordants for fabric and stone. Purple dyes are...

Antimony (Sb) from the ore stibnite, is one of the elements known by the ancients, a primary source of black powder kajal or kohl. With...

Mordants are part of the dyeing process and help achieve vibrant colors. Dyeing fabrics goes back to the Stone Age. Mordants are also...

Artists and craftspeople have used plant pigments as a source of color for millennia. Works of art and textile dyes using vegetable...