Weathering of serpentinite stone due to in situ generation of calcium and magnesium sulfates
[EN]This paper presents a thorough study of the main features and the decay causes and mechanisms of serpentinites both freshly quarried and after centuries exposure at the main façade of the sixteenth century Royal Chancery (Granada, Spain). In particular, the process of in situ formation of calciu...
| Autores: | , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | libro |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2021 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad de Salamanca (USAL) |
| Repositorio: | GREDOS. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Salamanca |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:gredos.usal.es:10366/154701 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10366/154701 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Weathering Serpentinites Natural stone Geoheritage Calcium and magnesium sulfates 2506 Geología 25 Ciencias de la Tierra y del Espacio |
| Sumario: | [EN]This paper presents a thorough study of the main features and the decay causes and mechanisms of serpentinites both freshly quarried and after centuries exposure at the main façade of the sixteenth century Royal Chancery (Granada, Spain). In particular, the process of in situ formation of calcium and magnesium sulfates has been studied. Several decay factors are identified, all of them acting synergistically in the deterioration of slabs made of serpentinite. Among them, chemical weathering of sulfides such as pyrite present in the original serpentinite induces the formation of sulfate salts such as gypsum or epsomite, salts which are considered the main cause of decay. In addition, unsuitable restoration treatments involving the use of Portland cement to fill up cracks and surface lacunae, the polluted environment of the surrounding area, and the location of the slabs close to the ground, favoring capillary rise of water, all contributed to their deterioration. This work helps to gain knowledge on the deterioration process of ornaments made of serpentinite, allowing us to propose the most appropriate measures to guarantee their conservation. |
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