Pigment researchers create vivid yellows, oranges, reds that are durable, non-toxic
Oregon State University pigment researchers are using a rare mineral discovered in Norway more than a century ago as a road map for creating new yellows, oranges and reds that are vibrant, durable, non-toxic and inexpensive.
The new pigments also carry energy-saving potential: Their ability to reflect heat from the sun means that buildings and vehicles coated in them will require less air conditioning.
The study led by Mas Subramanian, who made color history in 2009 with the discovery of a vivid blue pigment now known commercially as YInMn Blue, was published in Chemistry of Materials.
The work centers around the crystal structure of thortveitite, a silicate containing scandium and yttrium. A silicate is any compound featuring silicon and oxygen.
can you give me some abilities, personality (based on the gem), and weapon for trapiche sapphire?
also, i’d like to know the same things about thortveitite and yellow jade?
Letsa go!
Trapiche Sapphire:
The name of the trapiche pattern supposedly came about because the spoke arrangement reminded people of cane sugar presses (specifically the wheel used to grind sugarcane.) With that information, on one hand, their personality could be… adorably sugary sweet?! Especially if you go with a gem like this, which already totally looks like hard candy. On the other hand, they could have a horribly greedy side and be perfectly willing to exploit others for personal gain, completely indifferent to the plights of anyone who isn’t either an immediate friend or someone they can get something out of (especially lower ranked gems, who they’d consider 100% expendable.) Naturally, all while still acting sickeningly sweet. They may act condescending towards lower ranked gems, which they would view as inherently inferior and only existing for the leisure of upperclass gems like themselves, and talk down to them with the kind of dismissive tone someone would talk to a kid with. Since they are much rarer than standard sapphires and star sapphires, they may have an overblown ego and think they are better than other sapphires. They may hate being compared to star sapphires in particular because of the visual similarities. If they have friends, it would only be within their own rank or above, and they may genuinely be sweet to them (though with a hint of competition,) or be a kiss up to higher ranked gems who can further their position.
All sapphires are stones of wisdom, cherished by nobility for its powers of protection and insight. It was said to protect its wearer from plague, disease, and black magic, healing eye ailments and increasing concentration. They could be the kind of wise experienced person who would give great advice, but would also be very protective over their friends. They would urge their friends to seize opportunities that would benefit them, but would also have conflicting feelings about it like a “leaving the nest” kind of feeling. Sapphires are symbols of power, but also kindness and wise judgement, so they may be authoritative, but believe they know what’s best for others and are only acting accordingly. A sapphire was thought to lose its luster if worn by the intemperate or impious, so they may be a judgemental “holier than thou” kind of person, or are very sensitive and easily upset.
With the wheels and all the first thing I thought of was Logarius’ Wheel from Bloodborne (blood warning in the link of course.) Another thing that came to mind from its “spokes” was spikes, needles, a spiked weapon like a morningstar, or even weaponizing like railroad spikes (like Fallout 4 has a “Railway Rifle” that shoots railroad spikes.) The six sapphire sections on the stone that are delineated and separated by “arms” also made me think of the ability to summon extra ethereal arms that could extend farther than their normal arms, attack or manipulate objects, and be able to go intangible.
Thortveitite:
Thortveitite contains a large amount of scandium, a rare earth element. However, the mineral is too rare and thus not an important source of scandium. Gemstone quality thortveitite can be synthesized, but it seems just one supposedly natural thortveitite gem specimen popped up as a pebble in a market in Bangkok and confused gemologists scrutinizing it until it was identified as thortveitite. There doesn’t seem to be any metaphysical properties on thortveitite, but if you want to get meta with it, they might just feel like kind of a lost, aimless, or misplaced person. They don’t really feel like they fit in with neither common gems nor rarer gems. Though they’re considered a rare gem, they don’t really feel particularly “special” or “useful” to anyone like other rare gems, but they also don’t relate well to common gems, envying them for having a clearly defined place and being surrounded by others that seem just like themselves. They might be prone to loneliness, but when they make an attempt to relate to others it usually doesn’t go well so they go back to isolating themselves, perpetuating the cycle.
Thortveitite is most notable for its high scandium content. Scandium is used in making scandium-aluminum alloys, which is then used for some sports equipment. The most weapon-esque one is baseball bats, but its also used in lacrosse sticks and bicycle frames. If you go with the bat you could also stick some nails/spikes in it if you want it to be extra nasty looking. Scandium-aluminum alloy has also been used for revolvers so you could go with firearms. Scandium is also used in some metal halide lamps, so they could have light powers as an ability. Just based on how thortveitite looks, I could also see them with a piercing weapon like a spear, sword, dagger, or bow.
Yellow Jade:
Jade weapons! & Jade abilities!
Yellow jade is a stone of energy, yet quiet thoughtfulness. It brings happiness and joy, so they could be cheerful and energetic. They’d be the agreeable, fun, hypersocial friend. They’re thoughtful and would get their friends gifts just randomly for no reason other than because they love them; they’d just hand them a gift and go “I saw this and thought of you, so I got it for you!” Though they’re high energy overall, they probably aren’t crazy talkative and they appreciate those moments of quiet where they can just sit back and enjoy their time. Yellow jade teaches connection between all living beings; they could be the kind of person who needs to spend time with other people to “recharge.” They have a good sense of the feelings of others, they’d know if their energeticness is starting to overwhelm someone and they would be able bring it down a notch for their sake. They may be overall happy and cheerful, but they know when its not an appropriate time to crack jokes and laugh. They would have enough energy and social skills to maintain a lot of relationships, so they would be that person who has a ton of friends. Lastly, yellow jade is also a stone of assimilation and discrimination, so they could have an element of insecurity to them. They’d want to fit in their society and wouldn’t like being singled out as weird or different. They’d be more likely to go with the crowd and would join in shunning someone who doesn’t fit in, even if they might feel guilty about it.
