It was also used in cleaning and preserving papyri and other artifacts.Īside from its use in mummification, natron had various other practical applications throughout history.

Natron was used by the ancient Egyptians for mummification, as it has strong drying properties that could remove moisture from the body, preventing decomposition. The name 'natron' is derived from the ancient Egyptian word 'netjeri,' which means 'divine' or 'spiritual,' reflecting its importance in ancient religious and mummification practices. Its vitreous luster and transparent to translucent diaphaneity add to its charm. It is a brittle mineral that forms crystalline, granular, and columnar crusts, with distinct cleavage on and a conchoidal fracture.

It is a substance that has been a part of human civilization for thousands of years, with a history as diverse and colorful as its chemical composition.įound in saline lake beds formed in arid environments, natron is usually colorless or white, but impurities can give it a gray or yellowish hue. Natron, a naturally occurring mixture of sodium carbonate decahydrate and sodium bicarbonate, is not just any ordinary mineral.

Natron sodium bicarbonate