• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.136-149
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• 2013

We studied the characteristics and the growth mechanism of surface cracks from the Naksansa seven-storied stone pagoda(Treasure No. 499). The pagoda is composed of both medium-grained, porphyritic biotite granite and hornblende-biotite granite. Alkali feldspar megacrysts are easily found as phenocrysts in the rocks. Surface cracks intensely developed at the lower part of the stone pagoda, and their directions are of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal. The rocks of the pagoda have intrinsic microcracks which can be defined as rift and grain rock cleavages. Both rock cleavages seems likely to have led to the crack growth and consequently to the mechanical deterioration of the pagoda. The vertical cracks developed parallel to the vertical compressive stress, whereas horizontal ones formed by tensile strength normal to the vertical compression. In addition mineral cleavages and twin planes of alkali feldspar phenocrysts seems to have been closely related to the mechanical breakdown of the rocks in the NE part of the pagoda.