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A study of ochres from an Australian aboriginal bark painting using thermal methods

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Abstract

The potential of thermogravimetric analysis (TG) as a tool for the characterisation of ochre paint used in indigenous Australian bark paintings has been investigated. TG has been combined with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and mass spectrometry (MS) to identify and quantify the main inorganic and organic components present in the paints. The results obtained were supported by comparison with infrared spectra and XRD data obtained for the same specimens. The potential of thermal methods for the characterisation ochres has been demonstrated, with subtle differences between small samples being able to be identified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Forensic Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia

    P. S. Thomas, B. H. Stuart & N. McGowan

  2. Faculty of Science, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia

    J. P. Guerbois & M. Berkahn

  3. Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia

    V. Daniel

Authors
  1. P. S. Thomas
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  2. B. H. Stuart
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  3. N. McGowan
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  4. J. P. Guerbois
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  5. M. Berkahn
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  6. V. Daniel
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Correspondence to B. H. Stuart.

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Thomas, P.S., Stuart, B.H., McGowan, N. et al. A study of ochres from an Australian aboriginal bark painting using thermal methods. J Therm Anal Calorim 104, 507–513 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-011-1336-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-011-1336-9

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