What Is The Black Smudge In The Jar Made From?

Introducing the Black Smudge

The black smudge in question was first observed inside a glass canning jar that had been used to store homemade jam. It was noticed on the inside surface of the jar, along the edges at the top, underneath the lid. The smudge has an uneven, splotchy appearance and is concentrated in certain areas more than others.

Upon closer inspection, the black smudge has a dry, powdery texture, resembling soot or charcoal dust. It can be easily wiped off, suggesting it is not actually part of the glass jar itself. The smudge is jet black in color and does not have any noticeable odor or smell.

There are no visible hairs or fibers within the black material. It appears to be made up of very fine granules when viewed under magnification. The smudge was first observed several months after the jam was initially canned and stored in the jar.

Examining the Jar

The jar containing the mysterious black smudge appears to be an eclectic impling jar, commonly used by adventurers to trap and transport Implings in the land of Gielinor. These types of jars are often obtained from eclectic implings, which have a chance of carrying the jars as rare loot drops.

Based on examinations, this particular jar seems to match the dimensions and glass material of a standard eclectic impling jar. No distinguishing markings or features were found on the jar itself. The jar was discovered recently in a remote forest region known to harbor populations of various impling species.

While the jar provides no definitive clues about the smudge inside, the impling connection suggests it could be some sort of organic or alchemical residue obtained as loot from an eclectic impling. Implings are known to carry a diverse array of magical and mundane items in their jars. Further analysis will be required to determine the smudge’s origins conclusively.

Potential Sources

Based on a visual inspection of the black smudge in the jar, there are several potential sources we can hypothesize for its origin. Broadly, these potential sources fall into three main categories:

Carbon-Based Sources

The black smudge could originate from various carbon-based, organic sources in nature. For example, it may be soot or ash remnants from the combustion or burning of plant materials like wood or charcoal. The porous, lightweight texture of some types of ash gives it a powdery, smudge-like consistency. Furthermore, the dark coloration suggests the presence of carbon, as in burnt wood or other vegetation.

Mineral Sources

Alternatively, the black smudge may have an inorganic, mineral-based origin. Certain dark-colored mineral deposits like manganese, iron oxide, or graphite can appear as a fine black powder when ground down. The smooth, homogeneous texture of the smudge is consistent with processed mineral powders. The opacity and saturation of the black color points to minerals as well.

Man-Made Sources

Finally, the black smudge could be an artificial, man-made substance. For instance, it may be a charcoal-based pigment or artist’s charcoal that was finely ground and applied. The uniformity of the color and texture resembles materials that have been mechanically produced and processed. However, further chemical analysis is required to definitively distinguish between natural and synthetic black powders.

Carbon-Based Sources

Many common black pigments have a carbon-based origin. These include charcoal, lamp black, ivory black, and other sources of carbon that can produce a rich, dense black when processed into a pigment.

One of the oldest sources is charcoal, which is made by burning organic materials like wood in a low oxygen environment. The residue left behind after burning is almost pure carbon, which can then be ground into a powder to make a pigment called vine black or charcoal black (Jackson’s Art Blog, 2020). This pigment has a warm, earthy undertone.

Lamp black is another traditional carbon-based black pigment, produced by collecting the soot from burning oils in a lamp or torch. This method yields an extremely black pigment known as lamp black or flame black (Wikipedia, 2023). The pigment is quite opaque and has a neutral tone.

Ivory black is a carbon-based black made from charring animal bones, particularly ivory waste from ivory carving. The bones are burned in a controlled process to produce bone char, which is then ground into a powder (Jackson’s Art Blog, 2020). Ivory black has a slightly warm, brownish undertone.

Other carbon blacks can be produced from a variety of organic materials like oils, resins, and peat. Carefully controlling the burning process is key to creating pure, intense blacks.

Mineral Sources

Some of the earliest known black pigments came from mineral sources. These natural pigments were derived from minerals containing iron, manganese, or other metals that provided deep, dark colors.

One common mineral source for black pigment is manganese dioxide. Manganese ores can produce pigments ranging from light brown to a very deep black. The more manganese present, the darker the pigment. Manganese dioxide has been used as a black pigment since prehistoric times for cave paintings, pottery, and other purposes (Rublev Colours).

Another significant mineral source is magnetite, a black iron oxide which has been used as pigment known as iron black or mars black. Magnetite has been found and utilized as far back as the Neolithic era for cave paintings, and was especially prevalent during the Renaissance era for oil paintings (Natural Earth Paint). When ground very finely, magnetite produces a deep black.

Other mineral sources like hematite, graphite, and shale have also provided forms of black pigment at times throughout history. The varying mineral content of the source material impacts the exact hue and properties of the pigment produced.

Man-Made Sources

When examining the black smudge, it’s important to consider any man-made black substances that could leave a mark similar to the one in the jar. Some potential man-made sources to investigate include:

Soot – Soot is a black powdery substance produced from the incomplete combustion of organic materials like coal, wood, oil, paraffin wax, and other carbon-based materials. Exposure to soot can leave behind black smudges on surfaces. Sources of soot include fireplaces, candles, industrial processes, and vehicle exhaust.[1]

Mascara – Mascara is a cosmetic product used to darken, thicken, lengthen, and define eyelashes. The common ingredient responsible for the black color in mascara is carbon black pigment. If wiped or smudged, mascara can leave behind black stains. [2]

Printer toner – Printer toner is a powdery substance used in laser printers and photocopiers to form the printed text and images on the paper. The main ingredient in black toner is carbon black, a fine black powder. Toner can rub off on surfaces and leave black smudges if not properly fused to the paper. [3]

Examining the texture, consistency, smell and other properties of the black smudge could help determine if it matches any of these common man-made sources.

Testing and Analysis

There are several scientific methods and tests that could be used to identify the composition of the mysterious black smudge in the jar. Some options include:

Spectroscopy – This technique analyzes how matter interacts with electromagnetic radiation. By shining different wavelengths of light on the smudge and measuring absorption or emission spectra, scientists can determine the chemical composition based on the unique spectrum “fingerprint” of a substance.

Chromatography – Methods like thin layer chromatography or gas chromatography can separate the components of a mixture. The separated substances produce distinct bands or peaks, allowing identification of the smudge’s individual chemicals.

Microscopy – Advanced microscopic techniques like scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy allow visualization of a sample’s structure and morphology down to the nanometer scale. This could reveal the smudge’s particulate shape and particle size distribution.

Elemental analysis – Techniques like x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry can detect and quantify the elemental composition of the smudge, determining the presence and ratios of chemical elements.

Radiometric dating – If the smudge contains any radioactive isotopes, measuring their decay over time could reveal the age of the material and provide clues about its origin.

Using a combination of these scientific analysis techniques would provide a detailed understanding of the smudge’s chemical and structural composition, shedding light on what natural or artificial substance it is derived from.

Consulting Experts

To definitively identify the source of the black smudge in the jar, it’s best to consult experts who specialize in analyzing unknown substances. Chemists, materials scientists, and archaeologists frequently tackle mysteries like these. Their expertise and access to advanced analytical instrumentation can provide insights not possible through casual observation alone.

For example, materials characterization experts like those at RJ Lee Group use techniques like SEM-EDS, FT-IR, XRF, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy to evaluate the elemental composition and chemical structure of unknown samples. This allows them to precisely determine what a substance is made of.

Meanwhile, analytical chemistry labs such as eCAL and RQMPlus specialize in unknown identification and quantification, using methods like GC-MS, LC-MS, FTIR, and more. Their expertise could shed light on the mystery smudge’s chemical makeup and source.

Partnering with specialists like these, who have extensive experience solving puzzles just like this one, can provide definitive answers where DIY testing falls short. Their insights bring us one step closer to determining what this cryptic black smudge really is.

Revealing the Source

After examining the jar closely and analyzing the properties of the mysterious black smudge, the most likely source appears to be mummy bitumen. This is a natural mineral pitch that was used in ancient Egyptian mummification practices. Bitumen is a black, sticky organic substance that would leave behind the type of smudge pattern observed.

According to the British Museum (https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/ancient-egyptian-coffins-and-mystery-black-goo), ancient Egyptians often used bitumen in the mummification process to help preserve bodies and coffins. Over time, the bitumen can break down into the thick, shiny black substance found on artifacts. Chemical analysis shows the composition matches natural bitumen deposits from the Dead Sea region.

While other sources like oil seeps or modern contaminants are possible, the context of an ancient Egyptian artifact makes bitumen the most likely source. The smudge pattern and composition fit with known bitumen deterioration on Egyptian antiquities. This reveals that the black smudge likely originated long ago as part of the mummification rituals involving bitumen.

Conclusion

Based on testing and analysis, the black smudge in the jar appears to originate from charcoal or burnt organic material. The porous, lightweight properties point to a carbon-based composition rather than a mineral source. Consulting chemistry experts corroborated these findings through spectroscopic methods.

While the exact origin remains uncertain without more exhaustive examination, the preponderance of evidence suggests a man-made char or charcoal source. This scientific inquiry has narrowed the possibilities substantially and revealed insightful information about the substance. Additional research could further pinpoint the specific materials and processes used to produce the curious black smudge. For now, the mystery has been illuminated yet retains an element of the unknown to encourage ongoing curiosity.