Might also want to shoot this with a pXRF to see what it is. 

 
 
 
Mark Howe 

"Life is how you make it, the future is how you leave your past." 




> Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:31:10 -0600
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: bottles for gentian violet solutions
> To: [log in to unmask]
> 
> Marybeth,
>  
> There are three possible explanations for the purple color:
>  
> 1. The color might be the result of the contents of the bottle.
> 2. The bottle may have been intentionally made of purple glass.
> 3. The bottle was originally colorless and turned purple due to infrared solar radiation.
>  
> The first would be unusual, and I only mention it because you discussed stains from the bottle.  Nothing in the bottle's manufacture would account for staining of your hands.
>  
> The second is unlikely; few bottles were intentionally made of purple glass, although several types of tableware were intentionally purple.
>  
> Solar radiation creates an amethyst color in glass that was originally colorless if the formula contained manganese dioxide.  The volume of manganese in the glass mixture determines how long the solarization takes.  Manganese was used as a decolorant at least as early as 1812, although it was not common in U.S. glass until ca. 1880.  Manganese use was at its peak between ca. 1890 and ca. 1920, although some use extended until at least 1933.
>  
> Bill
> 
> 
>  
>  
>  
>  
> Bill Lockhart
> Professor of Sociology
> New Mexico State University
> Alamogordo, NM
> (575) 439-3732
> >>> Marybeth Tomka <[log in to unmask]> 6/27/2012 2:33 PM >>>
> Hey Folks,
> 
> We are working on cataloguing materials from a privy on the edge of the
> red light district in San Antonio, Texas.  We have a small purple bottle
> that stains our hands when touched.  The bottle is only missing the neck
> and lip, has turned completely purple and  there is still some dried
> material in it.  I was hoping someone out there would know what color
> bottles they would have used for this material and if the bottles would
> have discolored over time.  Also, does anyone know a test we can perform
> to find out if this is really gentian violet.  
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> Marybeth 
> 
> Marybeth S.F. Tomka, M.A. 
> Laboratory Director and Curator 
> Center for Archaeological Research 
> The University of Texas at San Antonio 
> State Certified Curatorial Repository 
> One UTSA Circle 
> San Antonio, Texas 78249 
> (210) 458-7822 
> (210) 458-4397 Fax 
> http://car.utsa.edu/ 
> . . . herding cats in a forest of catnip . . .