• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.25
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• pp.35-50
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• 2021

This study analyzed the basic properties of soil material gathered around Maegok-dong in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do Province (hereafter, "Maegok soil") and the physicochemical changes in the Maegok soil resulting from the addition of other clay materials in order to present scientific information about the properties of clay available for pottery production. Gravel, coarse sand, and fine sand account for 73% of the total mass of the Maegok soil. Therefore, it required refinement through sifting in order to serve in pottery clay. After sifting, the amount of silt and clay in the soil increased to 95% of the total mass. However, since it lacked plasticity and viscosity, buncheong soil was added. When it was mixed with bungcheong soil at a ratio of 7:3, Maegok soil improved as pottery clay as its viscosity increased, demonstrating compositional properties appropriate for ceramic clay even after firing. Further, its water-absorption rate was decreased to 0.40. This means that soil gathered from anywhere can be used for pottery-making by refining its original properties and through mixture with clay with specific components which help the pottery maintain its shape even after firing.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.685-696
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• 2022

Although the use of pottery-making soils has a long history, its use in the pottery industry requires that physical and geotechnical properties of the materials be established to define the suitability for various purposes. The main purpose of this study is to identify the different types of clays and mineral composition and to perform the geotechnical evaluation of the clays for making pottery products. Soils investigated in this study include raw materials used for making Baekja (white porcelains), Chungja (celadons), Buncheong, Sancheong, and Johyung. Pottery-making soils are manufactured by using different types of soils and sold by individual ceramic clay company. This study includes physical tests of soil and chemical analysis of major elements using XRF and XRD instrumentation. Grain size distributions, mineralogical composition, and a range of plasticities of soils for making different types of potteries are presented. Correlations between specific type of pottery clays and geotechnical and mineralogical characteristics are determined by comparing the test results. Since quantitative research using laboratory tests for pottery-making soils are rarely performed in Korea, further research should be done in the future to improve the Korean pottery industry.