AGS Monthly Meeting

Title:  Red and yellow ochres used by the Himba and Nama people of Namibia: Mineralogical composition and characterization by XRD and SEM-EDS.

Abstract: Ocher is a natural iron oxide earth pigment that can vary from shades of light yellow to deep oranges to intense reds. The use of ochres as pigments is global and they have been recorded in many works of art in all periods and traditions. Ochre-derived pigments were and continue to be widely used as face and body decoration, sun protection, mosquito repellant, geophagic earths and coloring agents.

The Himba and Nama people of Namibia are among modern ethnic groups that still extensively use red and yellow ochre. Eight red ochre samples from Kunene Region, northern Namibia and two red and yellow ochre samples from Keetmanshoop area, southern Namibia used by the Himba and Nama people, respectively were studied by stereomicroscopy, XRD and SEM-EDS.

All nine red ochre samples contain hematite, the primary mineral responsible for the red shades of the ochres. Quartz and biotite are also found in nearly all samples. Carbonates, magnetite, apatite, corundum, goethite, feldspar, and kaolinite are found as accessory phases. No hematite was detected in the only yellow ochre sample, which contains only goethite.

Speaker:  Dr. Mengist Teklay, Assistant Professor of Geology in the Department of Life & Earth Sciences at Georgia State University Perimeter College.

Bio:
PhD University of Mainz, Germany with magna cum laude

Fellowship: Max Plank Institute, Germany; University of Muenster, Germany, University of Tasmania, Australia; University of New Mexico, USA

Teaching: University of Minnesota and Wisconsin Colleges, USA; University of Asmara, Eritrea; University of Namibia, Namibia; and Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

Research: Neoproterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield; Damara Orogenic Belt, Namibia; Continental Flood Basalts (Afar Volcanic Province and Parana-Etendeka Province); Laterites;