• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2018

Noerok ia a green pigment used in Joseon dynasty, and its main usage was for forming foundation layers of Dancheong, the ornamental paintings on the surface of traditional buildings in Korea, such as the Daeung-jeon(main hall) of Bulguk-sa temple. In this research, we investigated the mineralogical characteristic changes of Noerok, a traditional Korean pigment, depending on its firing temperature. The Noerok that we experimented on was mined from Noeseong Mountain, Pohang where it is locally reserved. The major composition mineral is Celadonite, and the main constituent elements are Fe, Si, K and Mg, that refers to the existence of Fe-rich mica. As a result of phased firing experiment from $105^{\circ}C$ to $1000^{\circ}C$, the color was changed from green to pale green, then to brown, and finally to red in order. In the thermal analysis, endothermic reaction induced by the dehydration of crystalline water was confirmed at around $616^{\circ}C$. In the mineralogical change, the crystal surface [($11{\bar{1}}$) and ($02{\bar{1}}$)] of the mineral collapsed at temperatures above $600^{\circ}C$, and iron oxide was formed at $1000^{\circ}C$ or higher. Therefore, it is estimated that the crystallization temperature of Noerok is below $600^{\circ}C$, and it is also considered that it has undergone the alteration phase up to stage I, based on the presence of only a celadonite.