Ochre
Ochre (spelled Ocher in American engllsh) normally refers to a pigment associated with natural earth because it consists of a clay base which has a range of colours described as yellow ochre, red ochre, brown ochre, purple ochre, sienna ochre and umber ochre.
A yellow ochre, is yellow from the mineral goethite, an iron oxide hydroxide (limonite). Red ochre, takes its red colour from the mineral hematite, which is an anhydrous iron oxide. Brown ochre, takes its colour from goethite, a partly hydrated iron oxide. Whilst sienna and umber ochres take their colours from differing amounts of manganese oxide.
The use of red ochre pigments have been dated by archaeologists as early as 300,000 years ago, around the time of the emergence of Homo sapiens. The use
Featured articles and news
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.
NBS launches industry guide for specification writing
Available for free and as immediate download.
Peter Barber’s work revives forgotten building types.
Insights of how to attract more young people to construction
Results from CIOB survey of 16-24 year olds and parents.
Focussing on the practical implementation of electrification.
Preston flood scheme completes primary school SuDS
Three primary schools benefit from SuDS schemes.