Massicot and minium are both pigments made by burning (oxidizing) lead. When white lead is heated while exposed to air, it gradually changes to a cream color, then pale yellow, and then a slightly reddish ocher. It seems appropriate to call the color from this cream color to the yellow ocher color Massicot. Something similar is called litharge, but the distinction between Massicot and litharge is ambiguous. Sometimes they are used to mean the same thing, and sometimes they are treated as different things. If Massicot is continued to be fired, it becomes lead red. It gradually turns orange, but the redness increases depending on the strength of oxidation. That is lead red Pb3O4, also known as Minium.
Burn the white lead in a container without a lid, while stirring with an iron rod. In the photo, I used a frying pan and gas stove.
The color changes from cream to pale yellow to a slightly brownish yellow.
If you continue heating it, it will turn orange. That is lead red Pb3O4, also known as Minium.
