Vermilion adulteration

Cinnabar and vermilion usually contain only small proportions of impurities from the prime materials vermilion may also contain impurities due to the method of preparation, namely, small quantities of metallic mercury, mercuric nitrate and free sulphur. These products are, however, often adulterated with ferric oxide, minium, chrome red, brickdust, gypsum, heavy spar, clay, ammonium chloride, dragon s blood, carmine and artificial organic dyes. Sometimes also arsenic and antimony sulphides are added to modify the colour. 

Salter mentions that red lead was frequently adulterated with earthy substances, such as brickdust, red ochre, and colcothar . Various additives are also mentioned by Toch, including silica, lampblack, graphite qq.v.) and silicate of alumina. Conversely, this compound has not infrequently been used to adulterate vermilion q.v. Gettens et al., 1993b). 

Carlyle (2001) lists a number of nineteenth century British terms indicating shade and/or soiuce variants of vermilion including Chinese v., carmine v., European v., pale v. deep v. and (Field s) orange v. as well as scarlet v. and extract of v. Typical adulterants of the period are given by Salter (1869) and Standage (1887) these include brickdust and orpiment as well as iron oxide, Persian red and iodine scarlet (qq.vl). Toch (1916) describes permanent v. as well as American quicksilver v. and Trieste v., the latter so called because it was foimd and made in the region. 

In the preparation of sugar plums, comfits, and other kinds of confectionery, especially those sweetmeats of inferior quality, frequently exposed to sale in the open streets, for the allurement of children, the grossest abuses are committed... the red sugar drops are usually coloured with the inferior kind of vermilion. The pigment is generally adulterated with red lead. Other kinds of sweetmeats are sometimes rendered poisonous by being coloured with preparations of copper. 

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