• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.511-520
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to estimate the firing temperature of fired clay brick by applying high temperature X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis. The clay bricks, which were excavated from a Buddhist temple in Karatepa, Uzbekistan were composed of quartz, plagioclase, alkali feldspar, mica, chlorite, limestone, hornblende, etc. Some clay bricks contained gypsum, which was presumed to have been used to improve the adhesive strength of the brick. Estimating the firing temperature using a geologic thermometer, the UZ-1 sample was identified as being in the quartz, plagioclase, pyroxene series, and the firing temperature was estimated to be $900-1200^{\circ}C$. On the other hand, applying the high temperature XRD method to the UZ-5 sample, it was found that the limestone was destroyed at $1000^{\circ}C$ and the diffraction peak of chlorite was weakened at $1050^{\circ}C$. Moreover, pyroxene series minerals developed at $1050^{\circ}C$ in the reproduction experiment. These results indicate that the clay bricks used in the temple were produced in a kiln that reached a temperature of more than $1000^{\circ}C$. Thus, high temperature XRD analysis can more accurately estimate firing temperatures as compared to the firing temperature mineral identification method and it can be used to determine the creation and extinction temperature range of minerals.