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Minerals
Special Issues
Mineral Pigments: Properties Analysis and Applications
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Mineral Pigments: Properties Analysis and Applications

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Crystallography and Physical Chemistry of Minerals & Nanominerals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 4858

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Santiago Pozo-Antonio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Environment, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
Interests: conservation science of architectural stone (e.g., granite, limestone) and mineral-based painted cultural heritage; laser cleaning of stones and painting murals belonging to cultural heritage; characterization and restoration of deterioration in mineral components of cultural heritage; portable and non-invasive analysis of heritage stone materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue invites researchers, scientists, and industry experts to contribute original studies and reviews focused on mineral pigments—natural or synthetic inorganic materials widely used across fields such as materials science, conservation, geology, and industry. We aim to explore their composition, structure, stability, and behavior under different environmental and processing conditions, as well as their innovative uses in cultural heritage, art restoration, eco-friendly technologies, and advanced material applications.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Characterization techniques for mineral pigments.
  • Historical and archeological pigment studies.
  • The stability, degradation, and conservation of pigments.
  • The environmental impact and sustainability of pigment use.
  • Industrial and technological applications.
  • Novel synthesis methods or pigment modifications.

This Special Issue serves as a platform to bridge traditional knowledge with cutting-edge research, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and highlighting the relevance of mineral pigments in modern science and technology.

Join us in advancing the understanding and application of these fascinating materials.

Dr. Santiago Pozo-Antonio
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mineral pigments
  • characterization techniques
  • pigment stability
  • cultural heritage conservation
  • inorganic materials
  • sustainable applications

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 8441 KB  
Article
Influence of Pigment Composition and Painting Technique on Soiling Removal from Wall Painting Mock-Ups Using an UV Nanosecond Nd:YAG Laser
by Daniel Jiménez-Desmond, Kateryna D’Ayala, Laura Andrés-Herguedas, Pablo Barreiro, Amélia Dionísio and José Santiago Pozo-Antonio
Minerals 2026, 16(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16010010 - 22 Dec 2025
Viewed by 731
Abstract
Urban pollution—especially SO2 and particulate matter—rapidly darkens and degrades outdoor-exposed wall paintings due to soiling. Laser cleaning has emerged as a cutting-edge solution, offering selective removal of contaminant layers while preserving the integrity of the underlying materials. This study explores the performance [...] Read more.
Urban pollution—especially SO2 and particulate matter—rapidly darkens and degrades outdoor-exposed wall paintings due to soiling. Laser cleaning has emerged as a cutting-edge solution, offering selective removal of contaminant layers while preserving the integrity of the underlying materials. This study explores the performance of a 355 nm Nd:YAG laser in cleaning artificially aged paint mock-ups coated with real diesel soot and exposed to an accelerated aging test with SO2 exposure. Traditional mineral pigments—silicates (Egyptian blue, ultramarine blue, and green earth), oxides (chromium green, mars red), and a sulphide (cinnabar)—were applied following fresco and secco (egg yolk) techniques, allowing researchers to uncover how pigment chemistry and binders affect laser sensitivity. Damage thresholds were first determined for each pigment and painting technique via digital photography, stereomicroscopy, and colour spectrophotometry. Cleaning efficacy was then assessed by stereomicroscopy, colour spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed clear patterns: silicate pigments exhibit stability under laser irradiation, enabling safe cleaning, whereas mars red and cinnabar remain highly sensitive regardless of the technique. Generally, secco paintings were more susceptible to laser radiation than fresco. These finding provide practical guidance for optimising laser-cleaning protocols while safeguarding the delicate surfaces of historic wall paintings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineral Pigments: Properties Analysis and Applications)
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33 pages, 1690 KB  
Article
Revisiting Albarracín Rock Art Through Multivariate pXRF Analysis of White, Black, and Red Pigments
by Pablo Martín-Ramos, José Antonio Cuchí-Oterino and Manuel Bea-Martínez
Minerals 2025, 15(12), 1328; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15121328 - 18 Dec 2025
Viewed by 604
Abstract
Rock art in the Albarracín Cultural Park represents one of Spain’s most significant concentrations of post-Paleolithic paintings, yet comprehensive chemical characterization across multiple shelters remained lacking. This study analyzes 102 pigment samples (54 white, 31 black, 17 red) from 12 shelters using portable [...] Read more.
Rock art in the Albarracín Cultural Park represents one of Spain’s most significant concentrations of post-Paleolithic paintings, yet comprehensive chemical characterization across multiple shelters remained lacking. This study analyzes 102 pigment samples (54 white, 31 black, 17 red) from 12 shelters using portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Centered log-ratio transformation addressed compositional data constraints, enabling multivariate analyses (PCA, LDA, MANOVA) that properly account for the constant-sum constraint inherent in geochemical data. Linear discriminant analysis achieved 92.6%–100% classification accuracy for site attribution, with barium emerging as the universal discriminating element across all pigment types (Cohen’s d = 4.91–9.19). Iron concentrations confirmed hematite/goethite use in red pigments, with inter-shelter variations suggesting different ochre sources. Black pigments revealed dual technologies: manganese oxides (pyrolusite) and carbon-based materials, with phosphorus enrichment in some samples consistent with possible bone-derived materials, though alternative phosphorus sources cannot be definitively excluded. This technological duality occurred within individual shelters, documenting greater complexity than previously recognized. White pigments combined substrate-derived materials with gypsum and aluminosilicate clay minerals (likely of the kaolinite group), occasionally incorporating phosphate-rich phases. The documented coexistence of compositionally distinct pigments within single shelters (whether from different raw material sources or varied preparation techniques) confirms the technical heterogeneity of Albarracín rock art and challenges assumptions about technological homogeneity in Levantine art production. This interplay between natural geological constraints and cultural technological choices underscores the need for complementary surface-sensitive techniques to fully resolve the technological repertoire of Levantine artists. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineral Pigments: Properties Analysis and Applications)
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24 pages, 5555 KB  
Article
Non-Invasive Investigation of a 16th-Century Illuminated Scroll: Pigments, Fillers, and Metal-Based Decorations
by Lucilla Pronti, Martina Romani, Luca Lanteri, Francesco Bizzarri, Claudia Colantonio, Claudia Pelosi, Chiara Ruberto, Lisa Castelli, Anna Mazzinghi, Valeria Spizzichino and Mariangela Cestelli Guidi
Minerals 2025, 15(12), 1252; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15121252 - 26 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1243
Abstract
The study and preservation of illuminated manuscripts, particularly miniatures on parchment, are crucial for understanding the artistic, cultural, and technological history of the past. This research investigates the materials used in a 16th-century illuminated scroll, analyzing both the miniatures and the written text [...] Read more.
The study and preservation of illuminated manuscripts, particularly miniatures on parchment, are crucial for understanding the artistic, cultural, and technological history of the past. This research investigates the materials used in a 16th-century illuminated scroll, analyzing both the miniatures and the written text through non-invasive techniques. A multi-analytical approach was applied, including optical microscopy, Hypercolorimetric Multispectral Imaging (HMI), infrared reflectography in the 950–1700 nm range, Fiber Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS), macro X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and External Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ER-FTIR) spectroscopy. These methods provided a comprehensive characterization of the painting materials’ chemical composition and the artistic techniques utilized, revealing new information on Renaissance materials and practices. The detected mineral pigments primarily include smalt, vermilion, lead white, and minium, which are consistent with materials commonly found in illuminated manuscripts. Aluminosilicate and calcite were identified as fillers or substrates utilized for organic dyes, particularly those generating pink hues. An uncommon finding was the green pigment, which was identified as copper hydroxynitrate. Furthermore, gold and silver were extensively employed in the decorative elements, both as metal foils and in shell pigment form. Finally, the capital letters were executed using smalt and vermilion, while the black text ink was characterized as iron gall ink, a composition typically employed on parchment supports. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineral Pigments: Properties Analysis and Applications)
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19 pages, 4176 KB  
Article
Identification of Mineral Pigments on Red- and Dark-Decorated Prehistoric Pottery from Bulgaria
by Vani Tankova, Victoria Atanassova, Valentin Mihailov and Angelina Pirovska
Minerals 2025, 15(8), 877; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080877 - 20 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1538
Abstract
Identifying the mineral pigments used in the decoration of prehistoric pottery is a significant step for understanding the evolution of the technological practices over time. On the Balkan Peninsula during late prehistory, the techniques used for red and dark-colored decorations underwent a significant [...] Read more.
Identifying the mineral pigments used in the decoration of prehistoric pottery is a significant step for understanding the evolution of the technological practices over time. On the Balkan Peninsula during late prehistory, the techniques used for red and dark-colored decorations underwent a significant transformation. In the Early Neolithic period, pottery was often decorated with dark-toned paints, ranging from deep red to brown. However, this approach declined noticeably during the Chalcolithic period, when red pigment pseudo-incrustation became the predominant decorative method. This study aims to identify the mineral pigments used in red and dark decorations on Neolithic and Chalcolithic pottery from Bulgaria and to trace possible technological, regional, or chronological variations in their composition. A total of 34 ceramic sherds, decorated in shades from red to brown and black, were analyzed using two complementary spectroscopic techniques: laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). LIBS data were further evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA) to classify materials based on elemental composition. The results indicate that red decorations are consistently composed of hematite and remain compositionally stable regardless of the region, time period, or application technique. In contrast, dark decorations contain various combinations of iron oxides (magnetite and hematite) and manganese oxides, often including barium-rich manganese compounds—potentially indicating pigment provenance. Additionally, the dark decorations display regional differences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineral Pigments: Properties Analysis and Applications)
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