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http://dx.doi.org/10.12654/JCS.2020.36.3.02

A Study of Copper Production Techniques at the Archaeological Site in Gwanbukri, Buyeo in the 6th and 7th Centuries  

Lee, Ga Young (Buyeo National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage)
Cho, Nam Chul (Kongju National University)
Publication Information
Journal of Conservation Science / v.36, no.3, 2020 , pp. 162-177 More about this Journal
Abstract
Research was conducted to characterize the copper production and smelting process with 11 copper smelting by-products (copper slag and copper crucible) excavated from the NA and LA areas at the Gwanbuk-ri archeological site in Buyeo. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy, wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and Raman microspectroscopy were employed in the analysis. The research results reveal that the copper slag from Gwanbuk-ri contained silicate oxide, magnetite, fayalite, and delafossite, which are typical characteristics of crucible slag and refined slag. The outward appearance and microstructure of the slag were grouped as follows: 1. glassy matrix + Cu prill, 2. glassy matrix + Cu prill + magnetite, 3. silicate mineral matrix + Cu prill, 4. crystalline (delafossite and magnetite) + amorphous (Cu prill), 5. magnetite + fayalite, and 6. slag from slag. The copper slags from Guanbuk-ri were found to contain residues of impurities such as SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, SO4, P2O5, Ag2O, and Sb2O3 in their microstructure, and, in some cases, it was confirmed that copper, tin and lead are alloys. These results indicate that refining of intermediate copper(including impurities) and refining of alloys of copper(including impurities) - tin and refining of copper(including impurities) - tin - lead took place during the copper production process at Gwanbuk-ri, Buyeo.
Keywords
Gwanbuk-ri; Buyeo; Copper slag; Copper production; Copper smelting; Copper refining;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
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