• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2015

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.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.215-226
• /
• 2022

Significant efforts have been devoted to developing high-performance composite materials by emulating the structure of biological creatures with superior mechanical characteristics. Nacre has been one of the most sought-after natural structures due to its exceptional fracture toughness compared with the constituent materials. However, the effect of manipulating the nacre-like geometry on the impact performance has not been fully investigated thus far. In this study, composites of randomly manipulated nacreous geometry are numerically developed and the impact performance is analyzed. We develop an algorithm by which the planar area of platelets in the nacre-like design is randomly resized. Thereafter, the numerical models of nonuniform nacre-patterned multi-layer structures are developed and the drop-weight impact simulation is performed. The impact behaviors of the model are evaluated by using the ratio of absorbed energy, the von Mises stress distribution, and the impact force-time curve. Therefore, the effect of the geometric irregularity on the nacre-patterned design is elucidated. This insight can be efficiently utilized in establishing the optimum design of the nacre-patterned structure.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.78-81
• /
• 2004

The nacre of imaged abalone pearls was obtained as a calcium carbonate of aragonite type. This result was same the nacre of natural abalone pearl. From the observation of SEM for the nacre adhered on the pearl nucleus, it was known that the layers of calcium carbonate and conchiolin were stratified. The growth rate of nacre was found to be 0.0056∼0.0074 mm/day, which is twice faster than that of traditional method used shells. The pendant and brooch were manufactured using the imaged abalone pearls.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.639-646
• /
• 2022

Occurrence of black opaque hydrocarbon (pyrobitumen) in some Cretaceous Jinju sandstones of the Sindong Group, Gyeongsang Basin in Korea is first reported in this study. The pyrobitumen is developed on chlorite pore-lining cement, or impregnated into the outer zone of chlorite cement. Therefore, it seems to have been formed after the precipitation of chlorite cement, indicating the former presence of crude oil. The liquid hydrocarbons migrated into sandstones during moderate burial and these sandstones seem to have acted as a liquid hydrocarbon reservoir. The presence of pyrobitumen in the Jinju Formation indicates that this formation underwent deep burial after liquid hydrocarbon migration. As reservoir temperatures increased further, hydrocarbons were cracked and a solid pyrobitumen residue remained in the reservoir.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.695-702
• /
• 2000

The ichnogenus Protovirgularia McCoy, 1850 is reported from nonmarine strata of the Cretaceous Jinju Formation of the Sacheon area Korea. There, the Jinju Formation is composed mainly of fine-grained sandstone, grey to brownish grey mudstone, and shale which were deposited in a freshwater lacustrine environment. This occurrence represents the fist formal recording of the ichnotaxon from Korea and the first, on a global basis, from a nonmarine depositional environment.

• 한국해양학회지
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.69-78
• /
• 1989

Cultivated pearls, composed of aragonite crystals, show two distinctive layers: nacreous and conchiolin organic layers. Each aragonite crystal is surrounded by organic matrix, which probably consists of amino acids. Nucleus, surrounded by pearl layer, also consists of nacreous crystals, suggesting that there is a close mineralogical and ultrasturctural relationship between pearl and nucleus. Carbon isotopic values of cultivated pearls are within the range of marine carbonate carbon. Oxygen isotopic composition indicates that the temperature for the growth of pearl and pearl oyster ranges from 16.4 to $21.4^{\circ}C$ and from 15.5 to $24.8^{\circ}C$, corresponding to the summer temperature range of the cultivating area. Elemental composition of pearl, pearl oyster, and nucleus shows that there is a difference in chemical composition depending upon the original mineralogy and the chemical composition of water in which shells grow. Especially, a strong relationship exists between pearl and the inner layer of pearl oyster because both are composed of nacreous aragonite and formed in a shallow marine environment.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.205-210
• /
• 2008

Pearl is the organic gemstone which does not come from mines but from the biomineralization inside mollusc. Mollusc with nacre on inner surface of the shell is inevitable to make pearl. In this paper we researched and analyzed the pearls cultured using Pen shell (Atrina pectinata) which is not used in pearl farming industry but has potential to make pearls because it has thick and beautiful nacre inside the shell. SEM analysis was conducted to reveal the pattern of nacre on the Atrina pectinata pearl. Specific characteristics as sea-water pearl are detected by further analysis with ED-XRF. Aragonite specific peaks such as $1083cm^{-1}$ and $705cm^{-1}$ were shown by Raman analysis. UV-Vis analysis of Atrina pectinata pearl showed different pattern of spectrum compared with Pinctada margaritifera pearl. The reason for this discrepancy is assumed by the metabolic difference of each species.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.89-101
• /
• 2010

To constrain the depositional ages of the Gyeongsang sedimeantary formations, SHRIMP U-Pb ages were determined from detrital zircons in three samples: (1) a pebble-bearing sandstone from the lowermost Jinju Formation of the Sindong Group and (2) two conglomerates from the Silla Conglomerate of the Hayang Group. Their concordia ages are $112.4{\pm}1.3(2{\sigma})$ Ma and $110.4{\pm}2.0(2{\sigma})$ Ma respectively. Such ages represent the maximum deposition ages for the lowermost Jinju Formation and Silla Conglomerate, indicating the deposition of the Jinju Formation started from late Aptian and lasted to early Albian, then deposition of the rather thin Chilgok Formation and Silla Conglomerate was followed during the Albian. The age distribution of the analyzed detrital zircons indicates the presence of protoliths, or zircons derived from them, regarding a wide span of igneous activities from Mesozoic to Archean. Among such ages, there are Mesoproterozoic, Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic igneous activities, which have not been known or seldom reported from Korean peninsula. These ages further suggest the possible presence of rocks with such ages during the deposition periods or their derivation through a long river system developed into the continents at the time of deposition.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.111-122
• /
• 1997

Provenance type and paleoclimate of the Jinju and Iljig formation were studied on the basis of compositions of sandstones from the western Euiseong area in the northern part of Kyong-sang basin. The average compositions of quartz, feldspar and lithic grain(Q:F:L) from the sandstones are 53:40:7 and 50:46:4 for Jinju and Iljig formations, respectively. The values fall into the arkosic arenite field. Petrographic detrital modes of the sandstones mainly suggest transitional continental block for the tectonic setting of the provenance. All sandstones from the Jinju and IIjig formations show chemical compositions close to average values of arkose(Pettijohn, 1975). $Na_2O$ contents is relatively high. $Fe_2O_3$(total iron) and MgO contents decrease with increasing $SiO_2$ contents since the framework grains of arkoses supposed to be derived from granitic rocks are poor in ferromagnesian minerals. The detrital framework grains still possess climatic signs even though the grains were more or less altered during deep burial. Bivariant plot of Suttner and Dutta(1986) suggests semi-arid to semi-humid paleoclimate during the deposition of the Jinju and Iljig sandstones.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.152-156
• /
• 2005

The cultivation of akoya pearls was carried out with bio bead nucleus prepared using the hydroxyapatite. The akoya pearls cultured with bio bead nucleus were shown the color of cream. The luster and orient effect created by an action of the light from nacre were magnificent. The result of XRD is found that the nacre is a calcium carbonate of aragonite form. From the result of SEM, it is found that layers of calcium carbonate and conchiolin are stratified. The properties of akoya pearls cultured with bio bead nucleus are same those of akoya pearl cultivated with bead nucleus made from washboard shell. Because of the bio bead nucleus developed in this study has such a high capacity in producing various sizes and shapes, it is very advantageous for the cultivation of akoya pearls.