3.2.2.

Opaque white and blue glasses

Albul opac si sticla albastra

Sticlele albe sunt toate opace datorita variatiei densitatii cristalelor de calciu stibiat.
Mozaicul este caracterizat de o distrubutie omogena a cristalelor de aceeasi
dimensiune si de limita distributiei de bule de gaz
White glasses are all opacified by variable crystal densities of calcium antimonate.
The white samples are TOR 5, BS 1, AQ 1a, TSU 1 and opaque blue BS 16, CDC 5,
TSU 4a, and CFG 7. The tesserae are characterized by a homogeneous distribution
of crystals of the same size and by a limited distribution of gas bubbles, suggesting
that precipitation of the calcium antimonate crystals via a well-known nucleation and
growth process (McMillan, 1979), typically occurring during melt cooling or in
supersaturated melt composition (Fig. 3). The use of Ca2Sb2O7 crystals can also be
observed in the opaque blue glasses (BS 16, CDC 5, TSU 4a, CFG 7).

Fig. 3.
A backscattered electron micrograph, showing the micro-structure of sample BS 1, an opaque
white tessera opacified by calcium antimonate (Ca2Sb2O7).
Figure options

3.2.3. Yellow and yellow-green glasses

Lead antimonate crystals were observed in all the yellow and yellow-green samples.
The absence of a reaction zone around the crystals and their non-uniform distribution
suggests that the pigment was added in the form of powder to a raw glass (Fig. 4).
 Fig. 4.
A backscattered electron micrograph of sample CFG7, a yellow tessera from Pompeii. The
white crystals distributed in the flow lines in the glass matrix are lead antimonate (Pb 2Sb2O7).
Figure options
The heterogeneous colour and the presence of several blisters and stripes, so often
found in Roman yellow glasses, can be interpreted as an indication that the glass
melt had a high viscosity during the mixing process, with a relatively low firing
temperature (Verit et al., 2013).
Sample BS 29 is an exception, because lead antimonate is accompanied by crystals
characterized by high concentrations of antimony, tin and lead and are possibly
identifiable as a lead-tin antimonate.

3.2.4. Opaque red glass

Red mosaic glasses are divided in two technological categories. The first is a bright
sealing-wax red colour with high copper and lead oxide contents, represented here
by samples CGT, FA2, CDC2, SEG N1 (150 BCE50 CE). The second is a dull red
colour with low copper and lead and high iron levels represented here by TOR 4,
CSCI 1, CFG5, MI PF1, and CDC3 (40late 4thearly 5th century CE). Both the
technologies, are characterized by a firing cycle in highly reducing atmosphere
(Hughes, 1972).
In the first group, glass is often weathered to a greenish oxidized surface.
Backscattered images of the unaltered glass reveal well developed dendrites of
cuprous oxide, evenly distributed in the glass matrix. The crystals are accompanied
by a few droplets and polygonal particles of metallic copper. All of the examples are
natron based glasses with added high lead oxide (19.2334.89%) and copper oxide
(6.9610.34%). The glass is very homogeneous and defects, like bubbles, are nearly
absent (Fig. 5).
 Fig. 5.
A backscattered electron micrograph, showing the micro-structure of sample CDC 2a, a
sealing-wax red glass tessera. The white crystals are dendrites of cuprous oxide. Particles of
metallic copper are also visible.
Figure options
The dull brownish-red glass of the second group is characterized by being more
heterogeneous, with dark stripes and frequent bubbles. Of the five samples
analysed, four are plant ash glass and one is natron glass. The opacifier, copper, is in
the form of sub-micron metallic particles or minute crystals of cuprous oxide. This is
illustrated in Fig. 6, a BSE micrograph.

Fig. 6.
A backscattered electron micrograph, showing the micro-structure of sample MI PF 1, a dullish
red tessera. The white dots are droplets of metallic copper.