Basic methods for measuring the reflectance color of iron oxides

The main contribution of the present article consists in coherent description and interpretation of the principles of basic measuring methods and colorimeters for color classification and evaluation of light reflecting samples containing iron oxides. The chosen relevant theoretical background is based on the CIE tristimulus colorimetric system (X, Y, Z), the CIE colorimetric system (L*,a*,b*) and the Munsell colorimetric system (H, V, C). As an example of color identification and evaluation, some specific mathematical and graphical relationships between the soil redness rate and the corresponding hematite content are shown. (c) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.