• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.123-135
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• 2018

This study tried to find the clue to Seokrok province by comparing Seokrok used in painting culture properties with Seokrok ore from domestic occurrence and imported Seokrok ore. To this end, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of painting cultural properties were identified with portable X-ray Florescence (p-XRF), micro X-ray diffraction (micro XRD) and SEM/EDS Analysis. To obtain Pb isotopic ratio, the Pb contained in Seokrok has been analyzed with Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer. Atacamite (or botallackite) and small quantity of brochantite were identified from Seokrok in Dancheong, and malachite was also identified from Buddhist painting besides those two ingredients. Without distinction of type, most Seokrok used in painting cultural properties is atacamite composed of Cu and Cl. From Pb isotope analysis, it was found that Seokrok in painting cultural properties was closer to that of north Korea, north China and Japan than south Korea as in regional division for East North Asia suggested by Mabuchi. The Pb isotopic ratio of domestic green mineral belongs to the distribution of Seokrok inside the painting cultural properties but imported malachite showed considerably difference. Considering the fact that atacamite, the main mineral of Seokrok in painting cultural properties is rarely produced from southern mine of the Korean Peninsula and the result of Pb isotope analysis.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.429-441
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to analyse the properties of Seokrok and Noerok that are used for restoration of heritage and arts. Malachite is main constituent mineral for Seokrok and Celadonite is Main component of Noerok. To evaluate the physical properties of pigment, A,B-class Seokrok and heated Seokrok that are sold in market were selected. To compare this results, Noerok sold in Japan were studied. In addition, we studied the pigments of Noerok. The heat treatment had no significant effect on the physical properties, except for the color-difference. The color-difference of Seokrok is larger than that of the Noerok sold in Japan. The $a^*$ values of Seokrok specimens are horizontal distribution, so it will expand the coloring ranges. The properties that are chromaticity, specific gravity and oil-absorption of Noerok are different from Seokrok. Noerok is suggested that achromatic color because the values of $a^*$ located near zero. Specific gravity of Noerok is smaller than Seokrok, but oil-absorption is larger twice. Noerok and Amnok, although ingredients are different, it is possible to use alternative because of similar physical characteristics. The result from this study expects to be used as useful referencing data for conservation and restoration of cultural heritage and understanding phenomena of the properties.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.403-416
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• 2016

Mineral composition and content of 22 Korean Dancheong pigment products were obtained by Rietveld quantitative analysis. Jubosa, Hwang, Seokrok, Seokcheong and Hobun consist of pure cinnabar, orpiment, malachite, azurite and calcite (or aragonite), respectively. Whereas Seokganju, Hwangto, Noerok, Lapis lazuli, Baekto and Cockie hobun mainly consist of hematite, goethite, celadonite, lazurite, kaolin mineral and portlandite, respectively. And they all consist of soil minerals (quartz, feldspar, sericite and vermiculite) and filler minerals in the industry field (calcite, gypsum and anhydrite) at a different content. Quantitative XRD proved more useful method to determined exact mineral composition and content than chemical or microscopical data. If this method utilize for specification of natural pigment product, it is considered to be applicable in restoration technology and conservation science field.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.64-87
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• 2020

Copper trihydroxychloride (atacamite, botallackite, paratacamite, etc.), the first green pigment used in Mogao Grotto's mural paintings of China, has been known as "copper green", "green salt", and "salt green", etc. and has been used as an important green pigment with malachite. At first, the natural mineral atacamite was employed, but after the Five Dynasties (907~960 CE), synthetic copper trihydroxychloride was primarily used. In Chinese literature, copper green, green salt, and salt green are recorded as being made via reaction with copper powder, Gwangmyeongyeom (natural sodium chloride), and Yosa (natural ammonium chloride), and the prepared material was analyzed to be copper trihydroxychloride. Copper trihydroxychloride pigment was not found in paintings prior to the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910 CE) in Korea. In analysis of the green pigments used in paintings and the architectural paintworks in the Joseon Dynasty, copper trihydroxychloride was also shown to have been used as an important green pigment with malachite (Seokrok). In particular, the proportion of copper trihydroxychloride use was high in Buddhist paintings, shamanic paintings, and dancheongs (decorative coloring on wooden buildings). Some of these turned out to be synthetic copper trihydroxychloride, but it is unclear whether the rest of them are synthetic or natural pigments due to a lack of analyzed data. From literature and painting analyses, the pigment name of copper trihydroxychloride in the Joseon Dynasty turns out to be Hayeob, a dark green pigment. It is believed to have first been prepared by learning from China in the early Joseon period (early 15^th century) and its use continued until the late 19^th century with imported Chinese pigment. Round or oval particles with a dark core of copper trihydroxychloride which were used in Chinese literature were similar to the synthetic copper trihydroxychloride pigments used in the Joseon Dynasty and Chinese paintings. Therefore, the synthetic copper trihydroxychloride pigments of Korea and China are believed to have been prepared in a similar way.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.549-561
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• 2020

This study aimed to assess the performance and life of nine natural mineral dancheong pigments: Seokganju, Jinsa, Hwangto, Jahwang, Wunghwang, Seokrok, Noerok, Seokcheong, and Baekto. The design of the accelerated weathering test considered the domestic climate characteristics and the location of Dancheong. Outdoor weathering tests were conducted at the Research Institute in Daejeon and the Sungnyemun Gate in Seoul to confirm the field reproducibility of the accelerated weathering test. Monitoring of the physical changes in pigments through accelerated and outdoor weathering tests are based on ultraviolet exposure dose. Despite small cracks at the beginning of the tests, the monitoring showed that Seokganju and Baekto had no marked physical changes, but the surface cracks of Jinsa and Seorok continue to expand. Hwangto and Noerok were marked with water or were resin stained, and the particles of Jahwang, Wunghwang, and Seokcheong had lost their luster. Despite the absolute difference in color change in each test, the final chromaticity change patterns of pigments were similar in that the color difference between Baekto and Noerok was below five, and Jina was above 28. The physical and surface color pigment changes were more concentrated in outdoor weathering tests than in accelerated tests, and the Seoul site was more intense than the Daejeon site. This is because outdoor weathering tests are exposed to severe variations of temperature and moisture or deposition of dust particles and, in the case of Seoul, the site is more exposed to the external environment than the Daejeon site.