Ancient Iron Ore Mines
Moderators: MichelleH, Minimalist, JPeters
I guess alot of things have adhesive properties (am I the only person that ever painted the windows shut?), but I also read that red ochre was a brittle enough adhesive to break off after impact and spare the spear while imbedding the point in the prey.
It sounds reasonable anyway. It'll never replace Elmer's though.
It sounds reasonable anyway. It'll never replace Elmer's though.
Iron in any of its forms Beag can never be an adhesive. From what I have learned it was used as a stabiliser/hardener. Here in the UK Pine resin was the adhesive of choice for spears and arrows. On its own resin is either sticky or will, with age, become brittle. Charcoal was often used as a stabiliser when added to the resin.
Apparently hematite will perform the same function.
Apparently hematite will perform the same function.
In this case, though, we are talking about red ochre. Hematite is pure iron oxide. The ochre is a naturally tinted clay, so it is already a mixture.
All I can do is present the studies that have been done, I'm not a scientist. There are some others similar to the one I posted earlier. I may try to find them again.
All I can do is present the studies that have been done, I'm not a scientist. There are some others similar to the one I posted earlier. I may try to find them again.
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Rokcet Scientist