Posted on 10/17/2006 2:04:35 PM PDT by blam
GGG Ping.
I've been losing sleep over this question for years. Deep depression and anxiety have me on suicide watch.
Yeah, well perhaps.
What I really want to know is why do birds suddenly appear, everytime you are near?
One of the few (and for several centuries, the only) source of lapis lazuli was Afghanistan...One more reason to keep it out of the hands of the Taliban.
And while you're at it, find out who put the ram in the rama lama ding dong.
I do not believe this. It is more likely impurities and nonstochiometric proportions in the natural material.
Ultramarine Blue has been synthesized for years and is known for its remarkable stability. The vinyl liner in my swimming pool had been exposed to oxygen, ozone, chlorine, and of course water and its vapor for two decades and has scarcely faded at all.
Ultramarine Blue is used in so many common thermoplastics exposed to hostile conditions, such as laundry detergent and bleach bottles, that there have to be other mechanisms involved here.
So.
Where's my grant money?? :-)
Just like me, they want to be close to you?
I could think of better things to do with that study money. Like buy a party boat, a Harley, build an additon on my house....
I thought ultramarine sickness was a severe form of sea sickness.
Thought you might like a ping!
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Fascinating hypothesis. Be sure & put on your grant application that extensive field research by an assistant will also be required at San Gimignano, and additional funds to provide a villa,transportation,& full living expenses sufficient to support me there in a manner to which I have become accustomed must be included in your stipend.
art ping?
Your pool is ultramarine blue? I would have said that pools appear to be cobalt blue.
The pigment used in the vinyl liners is ultramarine blue. It is chosen for its fade resistance and resistance to oxidation.
Organic pigments such as Monastral (Phthalocyanine) Blue do not do well in that environment.
Wikipedia says
"Artificial, like natural, ultramarine has a magnificent blue colour, which is not affected by light nor by contact with oil or lime as used in painting."
However it does say it is bleached by HCl. But it has survived twenty years in my pool, which never runs below 1.5 PPM Chlorine.
A pigment manufacturer's site says:
"Ultramarine pigments are inorganic pigments. They have a low level of toxicity and are non-irritating and non-sensitizing. They are used where colorants possessing excellent heat stability, light fastness and solvent resistance are required. "
Having ground natural lapis lazuli, it gives off a sulfur odor, not usually detected in the synthetic pigment, so I suspect that the natural pigment used long ago and ground from the stone often has sulfur surpluses in its natural occurrance. Iron Pyrite often is found in natural lapis, and in jewelry produces a beautiful "Starry Night" appearance, with the golden flecks on the deep blue. But if pyrite was present when the Old Masters ground the pigment, then all bets are off regarding hydrolytic stability.
I regret those positions have been filled by a couple of pool ornaments I know..... :-)
DARN! Couldn't I nail you for discriminatory hiring practices or nepotism or something? You have made a comparative judgement on my pool ornamentation skills without any evidence!
Very interesting. Yhanks for posting
-PJ
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