Ama-pigment e-iron oxide, adumile ngombala we-inorganic, anezinhlelo zokusebenza ezahlukahlukene ezimbonini eziningi. Ekwakhiweni, adlala indima ebalulekile ekufakeni imibala kukhonkrithi, izitini, kanye ne-asphalt. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kubomvu obufudumele bezitini zokuhlobisa noma imibala yomhlaba yezindlela zokuhamba ngezinyawo, la ma-pigment athuthukisa ukubukeka kahle ngenkathi futhi ehlinzeka ngesivikelo ekushiseni.

Imboni yepulasitiki iyazuza futhi kulezi zimibala, izisebenzisa ukufaka imibala kuyo yonke into kusukela ezintweni zasekhaya kuya ezingxenyeni zezimboni, okuqinisekisa ukuthi umbala awushiyi ngisho nangaphansi kwezimo ezinzima. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uyinki, izimonyo, kanye nezinto zobuciko zithembele kumbala we-iron oxide. Ukungabi nobuthi kwazo kuzenza zifanelekele izimonyo, kuyilapho kwezobuciko, zinikeza abaculi imibala eqinile necacile yemidwebo nemidwebo.