Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea (한국광물학회지)

The Mineralogical Society of Korea (한국광물학회)
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Mineralogical Studies on Luster of Seawater Cultured Pearls, Tongyeong, Korea

경남 통영 해수양식진주의 광택에 대한 광물학적 연구

  • Cho, Hyen Goo (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Research Institute of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Kim, Soon-Oh (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Research Institute of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Do, Jin Young (School of Cultural Assets, Gyeongju University)
  • 조현구 (경상대학교 지구환경과학과 및 기초과학연구소) ;
  • 김순오 (경상대학교 지구환경과학과 및 기초과학연구소) ;
  • 도진영 (경주대학교 문화재학부)
  • Received : 2015.02.04
  • Accepted : 2015.03.20
  • Published : 2015.03.31
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Abstract

A mineralogical analysis on the factors affecting the luster of pearls was carried out using gravity measurement, optical microscope observation, X-ray diffraction analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. We divided the seawater cultured pearls from Tongyeong into the following four types based on luster and shape; good luster and round (LR), lackluster and round (LLR), lackluster and baroque (LLB), and lackluster and two nucleus (LTN) pearls. Pearls with high-quality luster had slightly lower specific gravity as compared to pearls with low-quality luster, but both these types of pearls are within the specific gravity range of commercial pearls. Regarding the cross-sectional thickness of the mother-of-pearl layer, LR pearls showed a uniform thickness of about 0.3 mm in average. On the other hand, LLR pearls were characterized by relatively thinner, but uniform thickness. LTN and LLB pearls showed a tendency of significantly large variation in thickness even within a single pearl. For the surface of pearls, pearls with high-quality luster showed narrower and clearer growth lines of aragonite crystals as compared to pearls with low-quality luster. Pearls with high-quality luster were characterized by fewer aragonite crystal lattice defects as compared to pearls with low-quality luster, and the former showed parallel arrangement, thinner thickness, and less difference in thickness on the surface and inside. If a pearl has a prismatic layer, it is composed of aragonite with calcite in the prismatic and nacreous layer, and calcite content is very high in the lackluster pearl. Pearls without a prismatic layer were devoid of calcite irrespective of their quality of luster, and were composed of aragonite.

통영산 해수양식진주를 광택과 모양에 따라 광택이 좋고 둥근(LR; Luster Round) 진주, 광택이 나쁘고 둥근(LLR; LackLuster Round) 진주, 바로크(LLB; LackLuster Baroque) 진주, 이핵(LTN Lackluster Two Nucleus) 진주로 세분하여 비중 측정, 현미경관찰, X선 회절분석, 주사전자현미경관찰 등을 통해 진주의 광택에 영향을 미치는 요인에 대한 광물학적 연구를 수행하였다. 광택이 좋은 진주는 광택이 나쁜 진주에 비해 비중이 약간 낮았지만 모두 상업적인 진주의 비중 내에 포함된다. 진주층 단면의 두께는 광택이 좋고 둥근 진주는 0.3 mm 정도로 균질한 반면, 광택이 나쁘고 둥근 진주는 각각의 진주층 두께는 균일하나 광택이 좋고 둥근 진주에 비해 두께가 얇다. 이핵 진주와 바로크 진주는 한 진주 내에서도 진주층 두께 편차가 상당히 큰 경향을 보였다. 진주의 표면은 광택이 좋은 진주가 광택이 나쁜 진주에 비해 아라고나이트 결정의 성장선이 좁고 선명하다. 광택이 좋은 진주는 광택이 좋지 않은 진주보다 아라고나이트 결정층의 결함이 적으며 배열이 평행하며 두께가 더 얇고, 표면과 내부에서 두께 차이가 작다. 능주층이 있는 경우 능주층과 진주층에서 아라고나이트 이외에 방해석이 포함되며, 광택이 나쁜 경우 방해석 함량이 매우 높다. 능주층이 없는 진주에서는 광택 여부에 상관없이 방해석이 없고 모두 아라고나이트로 구성되어 있다.

Keywords

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