Provenance Interpretation and Petrological Characteristics of the Four Lion Three-story Stone Pagoda and Stone Lantern in Hwaeomsa Temple, Korea

Abstract

In this study, the lithological characteristics of the Four Lion Three-story Stone Pagoda and Stone Lantern in Hwaeomsa temple were analyzed, and the origin was interpreted. The stone properties composing the stone pagoda and the lantern are dark gray medium to coarse grained granodiorite with small to large mafic microgranular enclaves (MME), and show a fairly heterogeneous lithology. The stone properties constituting the main stone cultural heritages in the precincts of the temple use the same granodiorite as the stone pagoda and lantern. Magnetic susceptibilities of the stones ranged from 2.03 to 19.40 (mean 11.59)×10-3 SI unit, and the stones showed an almost identical distribution. The same granodiorites as the stone properties are exposed as a small intrusive rocks in the valley of Hwaeomsa temple, Toji-myeon and Gwangui-myeon area. As a result of comparing the lithological characteristics, magnetic susceptibility and geochemical behavior, it was confirmed that the rocks are identical to very similar rocks used in the stone cultural heritages of the temple. Also, many ancient quarrying traces are found in the outcrops of granodiorite, indicating that this was a place where stone quarried. Therefore, the grandiorite can be used as a substitution stones that may be needed in the repa ir process of the stone pa goda a nd stone la ntern.