Umber
a well-known pigment of an olive-brown color in its raw state, but much redder when burnt. It consists of an ocherous earth containing manganese, is durable, has a good body, and is useful in oil and water-color painting. It occurs either naturally in veins or beds, or is prepared artificially from various admixtures. That which is brought from Cyprus, under the name of Turkish umber, is the best. It is of a brown citrine color, semi-opaque, has all the properties of good ocher, is perfectly durable both in water and oil, and one of the best drying colors we possess. It injures no other good pigment with which it may be mixed. Also, a variety of peat or brown coal occurring near Cologne, used as a pigment and for the adulteration of snuff. In mineralogy, a clay-like substance of varying shades of a brown color, consisting essentially of a hydrated silicate of alumina mixed with varying proportions of iron and manganese oxides. Used as a pigment.