ultramarine

A natural inorganic pigment of a warm blue colour with a violet hue, produced by grinding a semi-precious stone called lapis lazuli. In terms of its chemical composition, it is a compound of aluminium and sodium silicate with traces of sulphur (3Na2O•3Al2O•6SiO2•Na2S). Apart from gold, this pigment is considered the most expensive painting medium. See also headword lapis lazuli.