[M-ZZ45_29PO1] Geoscience Studies: historical, philosophical and STS studies

[MZZ45-P01] History of marble mining in Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, and its use in historic buildings

*Mutsuko INUI¹ (1.School of Science and Engineering, Kokushikan University)

Keywords:marble, Mine district, Japan, stone industry, quarry, historic building

Mine District, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, had been the largest marble mine in Japan for several decades until around 1970. Marble of Mine have been used in many buildings built during those period, also in Tokyo. However, import of inexpensive marble started to increase and soon overwhelmed the domestic marble. Most of the domestic marble mines have closed. It is important to remember the role of Japan's marble, one of our precious natural resources, in the developing industry of Japan during those times. The knowledge is also important to assess the building properly. The assessment may determine if the historic buildings should be conserved, renovated, or conversed. The aim of this study is to describe as many Mine marbles as possible for record, concerning e.g. its color, texture, how it was called, the locality of the quarry, during what period it was mined, or in what historic building it was used.