• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.20
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• pp.89-103
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• 2007

The bedrock beneath the Chokseongnu pavilion consists of sandstone with alternate dark-gray to light-brown siltstone and dark-gray shale of the Jinju Formation, where bedding is well developed toward the Chokseongmun gate. Large to small joints and overbreak from the erosion weathering have been developed in the bedrock. Besides, water leakage from development of discontinuity planes, fragmentation of shale, crack and joint by tree roots are observed on the bedrock. While shale and siltstone showed high sensitivity in physical and chemical weathering, respectively, sandstone indicated the highest weathering sensitivity in both. As the results of structural stability analysis, the whole bedrock has high instability in wedge failures, and especially section No. II slope is more instable than section No. I. Therefore, it is necessary for the bedrock to be strengthened by improvement method for soft foundations and the surface reinforcement. The trees causing mechanical collapse of the bedrock should be also removed and a water flow prevention measure or a water exhaust are required.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.277-294
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• 2010

The Seosanmaaesamjonbulsang (National Treasure No. 84) consists of light gray and coarse to mediumgrained biotite granite with partly developed pegmatite and quartz vein. The host rock is divided into dozens of rock blocks with various shape along irregular discontinuity plane. The evaluation results of discontinuity systems reveal that the host rock were exposed to instable sloping environments. Results of deterioration diagnosis show that the degree of damage has been made worse by physical weathering and surface discoloration laying stress on part that vertical and horizontal joints are massed. Generally, deterioration rate of the triad Buddha surface cover with 42.7%, however, the rate of physical weathering and surface discoloration are subdivided to 9.6% and 33.1%, respectively. Ultrasonic measurements indicate that the triad Buddha was reached highly weathered grade in general. And the rock material was weaken to show low velocity zone of 1,000m/s along irregular joint systems. Indoor and outdoor mean relative humidity of the shelter was recorded more than 70% during every season, and high frequency appears in high relative humidity range over 95%. Such environments seem to have produced dew condensation on the rock surface with rainfall and supply water, promoted physical, chemical and biological weathering along crack and joint, resulting in high permeation of water and percentage of water content. Therefore, it is judged that for scientific conservation of the triad Buddha it needs environment control through persistent preservation environment monitoring including water problem.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.349-360
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• 2010

The Yeongsheon Sinwoldong three-storied stone pagoda (Treasure No. 465) composed mainly of drusy alkali-granite. The major rock-forming minerals are biotite, quartz, amphiboles, orthoclase and plagioclase. Yellowish brown and black discoloration are formed at the eight sculpture Buddha of the stylobate. A broken rock fragments in the roof material were repaired using epoxy resin and cement mortar in the past. As a result of the infrared thermography analysis from the pagoda, cracks and exfoliation were not serious. Also, P-XRF analysis showed that concentration of Fe (mean 5,599ppm) and S (mean 3,270ppm) were so high in yellowish discoloration parts. Black discoloration area was detected highly Mn (mean 2,155ppm) concentration around the eight sculpture Buddha of the stylobate. The main reason for these are inorganic contaminants from disengaged rock ingredient and organic contaminants from withered plant body. Degree of physical weathering is relatively high in the southern and northern side. The eastern and western side had similar with weathering condition. The northern and eastern side were serious discoloration and biological weathering relatively. Therefore, we suggest that the pagoda need to do cleaning of biological contaminant and conservation treatment to weakened materials of rock and long term monitoring.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.86-101
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• 2012

The constituting rocks of Multi-storied Round shape stone Pagoda of Unjusa Temple are lithic tuff and rhyolite tuff breaccia which show green or grey and also rock fragment with poor roundness are present in the structure. lithic tuff is composed of feldspar and quartz which are glassy texture and cryptocrystalline and also micro crystalline are scattered. phenocryst quartz and feldspar in the substrate composed of feldspar and opaque minerals are found in rhyolite tuff breaccia. dust, exfoliation, cavity, fracture and crack are observed in all the stone of the pagoda and the result of Infrared Thermography shows partial inter cavities have developed severely which may cause further exfoliation. In addition, a great deal of various grey, green, and yellow brown lichen as well as bryophyte are present at the upper part of eastern and western roof stone located above the third floor. Discolors remarkably shown at stereobate and roof stone are identified as inorganic pollutants such as manganese oxide, iron oxide and iron hydroxide. The stone of the pagoda of the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) and the Weathering Potential Index (WPI) are 55.69 and 1.12 respectively and this corresponds to a highly weathered stage. The measured values, average ultrasonic velocity 2,892m/s, coefficient of weathering 0.4k and compressive strength $1,096kg/cm^3$, suggest that the rock strength and durability are weakened.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.186-197
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• 2022

The Daejanggakgibi Stele of Silleuksa Temple in Yeoju is a stone stele from the Goryeo Dynasty that is inscribed with various stories about the construction of Daejanggak, a place where Buddhist scriptures were kept. This stele has been maintained for a long time in a state in which discoloration of the body has occurred, and the inscription has been partially damaged due to dozens of cracks. Using non-destructive analysis methods for stone artifacts, material investigation, portable X-ray fluorescence analysis, and ultrasonic velocity analysis for the stele were performed. It was confirmed that the stele body was composed of light gray crystalline limestone, and the base stone, support stone, and cover stone were medium-grained biotite granite. Portable X-ray fluorescence analysis confirmed that iron(Fe) was an original coloring element of the stele surface. From the distribution pattern of the coloration, it can be inferred that iron-containing materials flew down from between the stele body and the cover stone. Thereafter, living organisms or organic contaminants attached to it so that yellow and black contaminants were formed. Ultrasonic diagnosis revealed that the physical property of both the front and back surfaces ranged from fresh rocks(FR) to completely weathered rocks(CW), and the average weathering index was grade 3(intermediate). However, the point where cracks developed intensively was judged to be the completely weathered stage(CW), and some cracks located in the upper and lower parts of the stele bear potentially very high risk. It is necessary to monitor the movement of these cracks and establish reinforcement measures for conservation in the future.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated the stone materials used in the Woldae of Kwanghwamun gate to estimate their provenances. The Woldae was partly reconstructed in 2010 using red-colored original stone and greyish new stone. We carried out geological survey in Mt. Bukhan (Bukhansan) and Mt. Surak (Suraksan) to estimate the source of stone, where red-colored granitic rocks are widely distributed. Though the petrographical features of the granitic rocks from the surveyed area are quite similar, there exists a slight variation of magnetic susceptibility and color index of the rocks: the granitic rocks from Mt. Surak have higher value of magnetic susceptibility and clearer reddish feature. A series of evidence, such as historical records, stone cutting traces and petrographical features, for the source of stone materials used in the Woldae tells that Mt. Surak would have been the provenance for the stone materials used in the Woldae. We also conducted a nondestructive test to examine the physical property of the rocks. The original stone shows low compressive strength (147 MPa) due to the weathering, whereas the rock in Mt. Surak has higher compressive strength (244 MPa) capable of being used as building materials. If there were any difficulties to use the granitic rocks in Mt. Surak, some granitic rocks that have similar petrological characteristics, such as Changsu stone and Yeongjung stone from the Pocheon area, could be used as building material instead.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2010

The crucibles of Baekje Kingdom from the Ssangbukri Site which were used for glass and metal melting had light brown, grayish blue and grayish brown colored bodies. In thin section, the crucibles contained numerous quartz grains and pottery fragments. The surface was covered with fine grained quartz for thermal resistance. Based on decomposition of mica group minerals and formation of mullite detected by X-ray diffraction analysis, it was inferred that all crucibles have been fired over $1,000^{\circ}C$. It was also found that firing temperature has exceeded $1,100^{\circ}C$ in some crucibles because feldspar was not detected. The maximum temperature was assumed at $1,200^{\circ}C$. The magnetic susceptibility values and geochemical characteristics sorted out the crucibles into two groups that differed from the characteristics of the local soils. This reflected geological setting of the site where the alluvium was formed from two kinds of surrounding rock masses, granite gneiss and biotite granite. However, the local soils had similarities with the crucibles in weathering degree and geochemical behavior of major elements. In consequence, it was considered that the raw clay of the crucibles was supplied from the local area of the site.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.241-254
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• 2017

The Stone Guardian and Memorial Tablets from the Muryeong Royal Tomb are composed of the same kind of plutonic igneous rocks, the so-called hornblendite. Color of the rocks show greenish gray, and both of them occurred with medium-grained granular texture. The rock-forming minerals composed mainly of amphibole and plagioclase. Magnetic susceptibility of the Stone Guardian is 0.15 to 0.63 (mean $0.42{\times}10^{-3}SI\;unit$), the King's Stone Memorial Tablet is 0.11 to 0.38 (mean $0.24{\times}10^{-3}SI\;unit$) and the Queen's Stone Memorial Tablet ranges from 0.10 to 0.33 (mean $0.18{\times}10^{-3}SI\;unit$). The rocks of the artifacts are hard to find in the Gongju area. Large scaled out crop of hornblendite is not distributed, but found in many places that the form of dike. The lithology and occurrences indicate that the artifacts are made of plutonic rock rather than dike. Reddish brown and pale brown contaminants, are also distributed on the surface of the Stone Guardian and Memorial Tablets. The reddish brown color is due to Fe oxide, and the pale brown color occurs due to the elution of Ca. The reddish brown contaminants are influenced by the internal components of the rock and oxidation of burial iron accessories. In contrast, the pale brown contaminants are considered to have flown from the carbonate materials used in the Royal Tomb, with a little added Fe oxide. Physical and chemical deterioration operate intricately in the Stone Guardian and Memorial Tablets. Physical deterioration is extremely rare and chemical deterioration is stable except for a part of the Stone Guardian and the front of the Queen Stone Memorial Tablet.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.19
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• pp.1-18
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• 2018

The Stele for National Preceptor Hongbeop from the Jeongtosa Temple site in Chungju is one of the most important stone cultural heritage items for exemplifying the style of the Goryeo era. Despite its obvious value, this relic has been stored in a weathered condition at the National Museum of Korea. It had suffered various dismantling and displacements during the Japanese colonial period and had long been exposed in the open air. The stele was selected as a subject for the Stone Monuments Restoration Project launched by the National Museum of Korea in 2015. In preparation for its outdoor exhibition as part of the restoration project, this study investigated the characteristics of its materials, produced a map of its deterioration from weathering, and carried out ultrasonic analysis of the materials to provide findings useful for conservation treatment. The materials analysis revealed that the turtle-shaped pedestal of the stele was made from two-mica granite consisting of medium-grained quartz, plagioclase, alkali feldspar, biotite, and muscovite. Its body stone is crystalline marble, the rock-forming mineral in which is medium-grained calcite in a rose-pink color with dark grey spots. The dragon top of the stele is made of crystalline marble, the major component of which is medium-grained calcite of a light-grey color. The deterioration consists of 21.5% abrasion on the stone body, with its south face most damaged, and 18.6% granular disintegration, with the north face most damaged. The ultrasonic material characterization conducted for mapping the general condition of weathering shows low values on the parts-assembly area of the turtle-shaped pedestal and on the upper portion of the stone body. It is considered that there is dislocation due to partial blistering and fracturing as well as to the differences in surface treatment. Prior to the outdoor exhibition of the stele, the surface was cleaned of contaminants and was consolidated based on the scientific investigation in order to prevent weathering from the external environment.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.180-193
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• 2022

The East Nine Royal Tombs is a representative place in the Royal Tombs of Joseon (a World Heritage Site). It consists of 1,289 stone artifacts including 979 related stone structures, 310 stone statues, and objects. Most of the stone structures in the East Nine Royal Tombs are composed of biotite granite, but some tombs are composed of light red granite. As a result of magnetic susceptibility measurement, the average data from Geonwolleung to Mongneung, excluding Hyeolleung, were similar, so it is estimated that stones were obtained from the same quarry. In the case of Sungneung, Sureung, and Gyeongneung, the range of susceptibility measurement is widely distributed. It assumed that the newly produced stones were mixed in the moving and construction process. Also, stones might be gathered from different quarries. As a result of a conservation status investigation, both the mound member and the ridge stone had the highest damage rate due to peeling and granular decomposition according to surface weathering. In the case of surface discoloration, yellowing and soils were found in the burial mound members. Yellowing, blackening, and soil were identified in the ridge stone structures. Bio-degradation is the major factor of deterioration of the East Nine Royal Tombs and the conservation status of the tombs were detected as grades 4 to 5. It seems that it is easy for the environment of the royal tombs to form soil for the microorganisms and fine conditions for continuous moisture. In the case of structures, they are in relatively good condition. As a result of a comprehensive damage rating for each tomb, the overall condition is good, but the Geonwolleung Royal Tomb and Hyeolleung Tomb, which were created in the early period, had relatively high weathering ratings. Stone objects in East Nine Royal Tombs have lost many pieces and gateway members due to surface deterioration. Also, secondary damage is ongoing. Each damage factor of the stone artifacts of the East Nine Royal Tombs combines to cause various and continuous damages. Therefore, it is necessary to establish regular conservation status data of the stone artifacts for efficient management after processing as well as conservation treatment of the royal tombs, and specific management manuals and systems. This study investigated the conservation status of stone structures in the East Nine Royal Tombs, a World Heritage Site, and systematically classified them to provide priority and necessity for conservation processing. We look forward to establishing a plan for the conservation and management of the East Nine Royal Tombs with this database in the future.