#Tag · bonfire.cafe

Happy birthday to #mathematician & geodesist Gladys West (née Brown 1930)! Shown with 3 satellites important to her career + tracks: Seasat, GEOS-3 & a GPS satellite. Her work, using math to precisely model the shape of Earth, laid the groundwork for GPS! Born to sharecropper parents in Virginia, she graduated with a Math BSc in ‘52 then MSc at VSU in ‘55. She started her career at 🧵

#spacetober_challenge Earth
#linocut #printmaking #womenInSTEM #BlackInSTEM #histsci #EarthSci #Math #mastoArt

My linocut portrait of Gladys West with 3 satellites important to her career in indigo in from of world map with satellites tracks in blue.

Ele Willoughby, PhD

@minouette@spore.social · 3 months ago

#spacetober_challenge Earth
#linocut #printmaking #womenInSTEM #BlackInSTEM #histsci #EarthSci #Math #mastoArt

Greg Lloyd boosted

Ele Willoughby, PhD

@minouette@spore.social · 4 months ago

While blue kyanite is used in jewelry, porcelain & pottery glazes, plus gets physics points as an index mineral, it’s the extraordinary ‘reindeer blood’ tenebrescent, & phosphorescent tugtupite “King of Fluorescent Minerals” which is also a gem, gaining both art and physics points for me. #MinCup25

Vote tugtupite in the Mineral Cup 2025 finale here:

https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r5m01

#scicomm #EarthSci #minerals #tugtupite

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Tugtupite 6.00 ct Oval Cut 15.10 x 9.50 x 6.50 mm The same oval cabuchon is shown under regular light as white and blood red and under UV as scarlet and burgundy, against a black background. Via https://gemologicalcollections.com/product/tugtupite-6-00-ct-oval-cut-15-10-x-9-50-x-6-50-mm-greenland-w399/

Kyanite is a naturally occurring aluminum silicate mineral that typically forms as bladed crystals, and occasionally it occurs as radiating masses of crystals. The name kyanite is derived from the Greek word kyanos which means “blue.” Gem quality kyanite has a royal blue color similar to fine sapphire. This material is highly prized by those who cut gemstones. Kyanite can be cut en cabochon, faceted, or fashioned into beads, however its variability in hardness and color zoning can make it difficult to fashion and facet. Transparent intense blue kyanite is beautiful and is considered to be an exotic gemstone because it is not often seen in jewelry. Kyanite is predominately found in shades of blue and green, but it can also be yellow, white and orange. This 5.87ct gem is an intense deep blue color and the largest and finest kyanite from Nepal in the National Gem Collection. Smithsonian Museum"

The Smithsonian acquired two “ulu” silver pendants with tugtupite cabochons (ulu is an all-purpose knife traditionally used by Inuit, Yupik, and Aleut women), designed and created by Mike Møller. These are the first tugtupite gems acquired for the National Gem Collection. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/object/nmnhmineralsciences_14272125?geogallery=Tugtupite&node=14624I’m

Gorgeous cut red blood tugpite gem from Greenland in the Smithsonian mineral collection

Ele Willoughby, PhD

@minouette@spore.social · 4 months ago

Vote tugtupite in the Mineral Cup 2025 finale here:

https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r5m01

#scicomm #EarthSci #minerals #tugtupite

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Greg Lloyd boosted

Ele Willoughby, PhD

@minouette@spore.social · 4 months ago

Kosmochlor is named for its occurrence in meteorites and is a component of jadeite (used in jewelry and carving) but azurite has been known and used as a pigment since antiquity so for its ubiquity and beauty I am giving it my art vote. It played an important role in the history of blue! #MinCup25

Vote here: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r1m09

#scicomm #EarthSci #arthist

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Raphael, Saint Catherine of Alexandria
ca 1507

“Medium: Oil
Support: Poplar
Size: 72.2 x 55.7 cm
Art period: High Renaissance
National Gallery London
NG168

Saint Catherine of Alexandria was also known as Saint Catherine of the Wheel and The Great Martyr. She was a Christian saint and virgin, who was martyred on the spiked wheel in the early 4th century at the hands of the pagan emperor Maxentius (in later versions Maximinus or Maximianus).”

This Renaissance painting shows shows the blond saint in blue dress, green shirt and gold and red cape looking skywards, in a natural setting with trees, lake, mountains and cloudy sky. Pigment analysis shows azurite in mixed colours in several places.

Via https://colourlex.com/project/raphael-saint-catherine-alexandria/ — Raphael, Saint Catherine of Alexandria ca 1507 “Medium: Oil Support: Poplar Size: 72.2 x 55.7 cm Art period: High Renaissance National Gallery London NG168 Saint Catherine of Alexandria was also known as Saint Catherine of the Wheel and The Great Martyr. She was a Christian saint and virgin, who was martyred on the spiked wheel in the early 4th century at the hands of the pagan emperor Maxentius (in later versions Maximinus or Maximianus).” This Renaissance painting shows shows the blond saint in blue dress, green shirt and gold and red cape looking skywards, in a natural setting with trees, lake, mountains and cloudy sky. Pigment analysis shows azurite in mixed colours in several places. Via https://colourlex.com/project/raphael-saint-catherine-alexandria/

Anthony van Dyck, Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart
ca 1638

“Medium: Oil
Support: Canvas
Size: 237.5 x 146.1 cm
Art period: Baroque
National Gallery London
NG6518
A late portrait of the two sons of the 3rd Duke of Lennox. The two figures are prominently placed and worked out in considerable detail, while the background is left sketchy and gives an unfinished impression.
The pigment analysis casts light on the elaborate handling of painting materials in the costumes of both young men. Lord Bernard’s blue satin dress is painted in several layers of indigo, lead white and azurite to achieve the rich sheen of the fabric.”

Via https://colourlex.com/project/van-dyck-lord-john-stuart-brother-lord-bernard-stuart/ — Anthony van Dyck, Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart ca 1638 “Medium: Oil Support: Canvas Size: 237.5 x 146.1 cm Art period: Baroque National Gallery London NG6518 A late portrait of the two sons of the 3rd Duke of Lennox. The two figures are prominently placed and worked out in considerable detail, while the background is left sketchy and gives an unfinished impression. The pigment analysis casts light on the elaborate handling of painting materials in the costumes of both young men. Lord Bernard’s blue satin dress is painted in several layers of indigo, lead white and azurite to achieve the rich sheen of the fabric.” Via https://colourlex.com/project/van-dyck-lord-john-stuart-brother-lord-bernard-stuart/

Hieronymus Bosch, The Haywain Triptych
ca 1510-16

“Hieronymus Bosch, The Haywain Triptych consists of four parts: the left panel named ‘Paradise’ shows the origin of sin on Earth with Adam and Eve being expulsed from Paradise by Archangel Michael. The center panel depicts mankind in sin trying to avail themselves of the earthly possessions symbolized by the hay. The right panel depicts the fires of Hell, while the back sides of both side panels show an old pilgrim trying to find his way in a dangerous world.
The triptych was thoroughly investigated by The Bosch Research and Conservation Project. The results of this investigation … reveals a limited palette consisting of the cheaper pigments employed in the Renaissance period, such as azurite, lead-tin yellow, vermilion, carmine kermes, and ochres.”

Via https://colourlex.com/project/hieronymus-bosch-haywain-triptych/ — Hieronymus Bosch, The Haywain Triptych ca 1510-16 “Hieronymus Bosch, The Haywain Triptych consists of four parts: the left panel named ‘Paradise’ shows the origin of sin on Earth with Adam and Eve being expulsed from Paradise by Archangel Michael. The center panel depicts mankind in sin trying to avail themselves of the earthly possessions symbolized by the hay. The right panel depicts the fires of Hell, while the back sides of both side panels show an old pilgrim trying to find his way in a dangerous world. The triptych was thoroughly investigated by The Bosch Research and Conservation Project. The results of this investigation … reveals a limited palette consisting of the cheaper pigments employed in the Renaissance period, such as azurite, lead-tin yellow, vermilion, carmine kermes, and ochres.” Via https://colourlex.com/project/hieronymus-bosch-haywain-triptych/

Title: Elephant and two boys

Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

Date: 19th century

Culture: China

Medium: Kosmochlor jadeitite

Dimensions: H. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); W. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)

Classification: Jade

Credit Line: Bequest of Edmund C. Converse, 1921

Object Number: 21.175.113

This sculpture of two boys seated on a crouching elephant is from the Met.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/43285 — Title: Elephant and two boys Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911) Date: 19th century Culture: China Medium: Kosmochlor jadeitite Dimensions: H. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); W. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm) Classification: Jade Credit Line: Bequest of Edmund C. Converse, 1921 Object Number: 21.175.113 This sculpture of two boys seated on a crouching elephant is from the Met. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/43285

Ele Willoughby, PhD

@minouette@spore.social · 4 months ago

Vote here: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r1m09

#scicomm #EarthSci #arthist

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