A standard Black Sharpie, does not use a "pigment" in the traditional sense. It uses organic dyes. Specifically, it relies on a chemical cocktail that mimics black, rather than using a single, stable mineral.The "black" in a Sharpie is actually a subtractive mix. If you were to perform a "Forensic Chromatography" test on Sharpie ink (by placing a drop on a coffee filter with a bit of alcohol), you would see the "Invisible" truth: the black ink would separate into purple, bright blue, and sometimes even yellow or red. These are the colors the "flash" under certain lighting when determining live ink.