Finding Minerals to Make Pottery Paint in an Arizona Ghost Town

[@donnabloom9061]

This is the most underrated channel ever! THANK YOU for sharing your wealth of knowledge!!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks so much Donna. You are welcome.

[@jaih12]

Recently got into clay processing, I love the videos that you're doing. It's such an interesting and rich topic... an entire lifetime spent perfecting this ancient way, would not be a life wasted. Thank you my new friend.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks!

[@maryswann7623]

Impressive Andy! Thank you. I believe you have more knowledge than anyone else on Utube. Thank you for sharing….

[@rutilopata8294]

Got my answer about the paint! You are so kind and generous with your knowledge🙏🏻🤗

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you, I’m glad this helped you.

[@TheRealRahau]

I used to work for abandoned mineland surveys, and the most common serious danger around abandoned mines is the "antlion" effect around shafts. (shafts are vertical openings you can fall down, adits are horizontal openings you can walk into). The ground around the shaft opening can get unstable and can collapse out from under you if youre getting close when you think youre still safe.

[@AncientPottery]

Depends on the earth around the mines. This area is very rocky and bedrock is not far below the surface so not much of that, but seriously, stay well back. People that walk right up to the edge of shafts are taking a chance.

[@libbylandscape3560]

Good information to know, thanks!

[@colinjveitch]

We went to Mowery mine yesterday. I brought back some rock but not sure if it's the right type. If it's not, we live in Sierra Vista so we can go back, plus there are some good camp sites out there. Thank you for your videos, they are fun to watch. --Kim

[@AncientPottery]

Mowry and that whole areas is so much fun to explore.

[@anndriggers6660]

I absolutely love your channel!

[@Javaman92]

Such a wealth of knowledge! I can't wait for the snow to melt so I can get out there and see what I can find.

[@AncientPottery]

Can't wait!

[@parsaledm]

Lots of great info passed on in these vids, very well put together too! Thank you! Also, thank you for teaching the aspect of safety around the materials used in these processes. I can't fret it enough, I've seen way too many videos over the years where I'm left borderline yelling at my screen all concerned like: "Its in the air!" or " do they not know!?". I do a lot of primitive survival stuff, and have been experimenting with various natural materials over the years and noticed something about how to videos on a lot of these crafts. There have been a few too many times i'm left worried for my health because of this: I go and watch a video and learn how to do something, do it, end up getting comfortable doing it that way for a few months, only to go back to youtube a few months later to watch some more videos on such category to end up finding out that the process itself or a few steps in the process involve materials that you NEED to handle with care so you don't poison yourself or give yourself an occupational disease (from stuff that goes airborne, skin absorption, radiation, etc.). All the while, I'd already been using such materials or doing such crafts without those safety measures due to how it was originally taught to me: a vid of a person who didn't put much care into expressing the dangers of the craft. I don't know if its not in mind because they have done it for so long and put little thought into it, or if it is them not being aware of the dangers. A lot of stuff inside and outside the workshop can do harm to you, even if it may seem harmless. Like you said and I strongly agree, be smart when you are out there! ^-^

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks a lot! I was just talking to some students about this subject last night. I am thinking about making a video all about primitive pottery safety just to cover all the points and there are a few.

[@libbylandscape3560]

@@AncientPottery I’d love to see it….maybe you have since it’s been a year & I haven’t checked your video list in a while.

[@AncientPottery]

@@libbylandscape3560 The Most Dangerous Aspects of Pottery - Let's Talk Pottery Safety LIVE kzbin.infom6G72gbCE8A?feature=share

[@TalRohan]

There is a mountain near me that is missing its middle from copper iron and gold mining, the colours of the rockks there suggest ochres and iron oxides being available Thanks for the paint tips too.

[@theresazelazny7445]

Andy could you talk about food safety in the slips you are making to paint your pieces that come in contact with food? I am intrigued with pieces that are meant to be used for cooking and serving food. By the way, your lighting is terrific(in your studio)in this video. I like your music choices as well in your videos, they are good, soft background.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks. Avoid toxic minerals such as lead and manganese. Clay and iron are generally pretty safe.

[@TheBrighamTeaCo]

Love your videos after seeing how you grind clay with a Mexico stile corn grinder I order one off eBay and tried it today it works awesome thank you for that tip

[@AncientPottery]

Glad to be of help.

[@diggingarizona8592]

@@AncientPottery I suppose the Antient used a Mono and Metate

[@AncientPottery]

Yes or a mortar and pestle.

[@diggingarizona8592]

@@AncientPottery So maybe all those permanent grind spots are a clue from where they got there clay!!??

[@AncientPottery]

Could be, but since they also ground food and other things, not necessarily.

[@marciacunningham5877]

You are one cool dude!!!

[@AncientPottery]

😜

[@JuanBosco]

Great Videos Andy!!!

[@AncientPottery]

Glad you like them!

[@gillianbc]

I am not even a potter, but I’m finding this whole channel fascinating. I wonder if cavemen used these same minerals for their paintings.

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you, I have no doubt that people have been using mineral pigments since the dawn of time for all sorts of things.

[@ahveganpizzabella]

The Stone age artists used clays and minerals like red ochra, sienna, umbra and charred wood and plants too🪨

[@clintswink5759]

Good job Andy.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Clint!

[@rm-redactor]

Thank you very much!

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome!

[@kgm4349]

Well done~ nice lecture.

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you!

[@baidarkaguy]

Can the black sand (hematite?) Found during gold panning process be used for pottery? I have no idea if it will grind into finer material. It's pretty fine already.

[@AncientPottery]

It can be used for temper. It is actually magnetite I have been told.

[@darylbaker8911]

if these heavy metals are toxic , are you sure we should use them on pottery we may be using?

[@AncientPottery]

Well don't eat them. Paint them on parts of pottery that won't come into contact with food.

[@donaldsanders5124]

Andy if you crushed the Manganese and passed a magnet over the powder would you remove some/most of the iron?

[@AncientPottery]

I doubt it, most natural iron oxides are not magnetic and the materials are all together, not in little chunks of iron and little chunks of manganese

[@cactusbaboon321]

What does the term "walnut black on white" refer to? Are walnuts involved in making the black pigment for the paint?

[@AncientPottery]

It's "Walnut Canyon Black on White" it has nothing to do with walnut trees or nuts. It was named after the Walnut Canyon ruins near Flagstaff by archaeologists.

[@CatKattington]

Great video 😃

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you!

[@renewedrewilder830]

Thank you. I always find your videos helpful and full of great information. Question: Do you know if powdered black slate or shale would work as a paint?

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome. It might work, try painting it on a pot and firing it to see how it does. Black shale that I have seen used in the past does not stay black in the fire, so don't be surprised if it comes out some completely different color.

[@FoxDrinksTea]

if you tried it, did using slate or shale work?

[@shexdensmore]

Could you use the corn grinder with a water dripper to safely process it too?

[@AncientPottery]

I definitely use my corn grinder for processing minerals. Not sure what a "water dripper" is though.

[@baidarkaguy]

I would think so for the dripper. Lapidary polishing machine use drippers to keep the beyond fine dust from becoming airborne. Grits like 500 - 3000 (even finer) produce baby powder type dust. Once the water dries from the slurry produced during polishing, the powder crust is still subject to becoming airborne if stirred up much. Its usually a dry crust but needs handled carefully to keep it lumped together

[@jsweevil]

Can you use coal as a pigment or would it just burn off in the firing process?

[@AncientPottery]

My guess would be that it would completely burn away.

[@aysendeveci7757]

If I buy mineral paint from shop , then fallow ur way for paint . Still is it work?

[@felixpfeiffer9863]

If all those Paints are so dangerous and toxic, is it save to have pottery painted with it? this reminds me of this Story that romans used to drink out of led cups, slowly intoxicating themselves without knowing. could it be that until recently people used this stuff just because they didnt know about the health hazards associated with it and you really would just be best to skip those kinds of paint? Thank you for your videos. They explain so many questions i have. very informative

[@AncientPottery]

In some cases yes. Although I generally do not eat or drink out of decorated pottery so there’s not much danger in just having it around. Some of these minerals are most dangerous when in the air as dust, so once it is firmly on the pot it is far less concerning.

[@felixpfeiffer9863]

@@AncientPottery That is really good to know. thank you very much.

[@143meansily]

I'm in Maryland, do you know of a good substitute for mesquite?

[@AncientPottery]

Whatever people out there use for barbecue should work. You want something that burns clean and makes good coals.

[@Fulcrum205]

Use white oak or hickory anywhere on the eastern seaboard.

[@spitrock33]

Safe mineral paints?

[@AncientPottery]

Well some are more toxic than others but I wouldn't recommend ingesting any of them. Clay paints are fairly safe as are organic paints.

[@sunnysunnyw5030]

You did not mention measuring by weight or volume.

[@AncientPottery]

either will work

[@dbsartworks418]

Watch out for danger noodles ( snakes)!

[@AncientPottery]

Great advice, it is that time of year. I am always super cautious having been snake bit once when I was a teenager.

[@dbsartworks418]

Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery I like these videos a lot! How do you make yellow?

[@AncientPottery]

@@dbsartworks418 Yellow is very difficult to achieve. Most yellow minerals are iron rich and will come out of the fire red or orange. Some light colored clays such as those use by the Hopi will fire yellow.

[@eqlzr2]

You know, I'm interested in your info. But I am one of the many "idiots" that explores abandoned mines. Been doing it for 71 years. I sure am stupid. I wonder if it would be better for you not to offend your potential viewers/subscribers like that? Bye.

[@AncientPottery]

We live in a world that enjoys taking offense these days so I'm glad I could help you find something to be outraged about today. The truth is that I have explored mines myself when I was younger and dumber. But I also spent 10 years working for the US Forest Service and know of several cases of people getting seriously hurt or needing rescuing after exploring old and unstable mines. So I stand by my comments. You may not have been hurt in a mine yet, but it only takes one time. I try to make my videos educational, and I hope that along with helping people to make primitive pottery, I can also discourage them from getting hurt in an abandoned mine. Have a great day and stay healthy!

[@eqlzr2]

@@AncientPottery Unfortunately, we also live in a world where many people think it's perfectly OK for them to do certain things, but everyone else can't be trusted.

[@AncientPottery]

eqlzr2 you can trust me.