Relationship between Colours of Ochre from Roussillon and Content of Iron-Bearing Minerals

Nine samples of ochre originating from the Sentier des Ocres near Roussillon, France, were studied with Mossbauer spectroscopy and Spectro-photo-colorimetry. The former yielded a quantitative phase analysis of iron containing minerals (goethite, hematite and kaolin), and the latter enabled determination of the CIE-L*a*b* colorimetric coefficients. Based on the results obtained it is shown that both a* and b* coordinates are responsible for the colour of the investigated ochres.