Mineralogical study of the deterioration of granite stones of two Portugueses churches and characterization of the salt solutions in the porous network by the presence of diatoms

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

Arlindo Begonha (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Materials Characterization

Pages: 621-635

ISSN: 1044-5803

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 9 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 11 Citations

INSPEC

COMPENDEX

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Other engineering and technologies

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering > Civil engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-HYZ

DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2008.12.019

Abstract (EN): Two Portuguese churches were built with stones of different types of two-mica fine to coarse grained granites. The stones in both monuments were previously submitted to a natural weathering process in the quarries leading to a homogeneous and very well interconnected porous network composed of very thin fissures, allowing a fast capillary transfer of rain water and salt solutions. Therefore, the stones presently exhibit several types of stone decay. A mineralogical study of the deteriorations was carried out in the two churches that permitted the identification of several minerals of soluble salts responsible for stone decay. Some forms of diatoms have been identified in samples of deteriorated stones in both monuments. Several ions in the salt solutions present in the porous networks of the granites, which are in conformity with the minerals of soluble salts associated with the deterioration of the granite, permit the development of several forms of diatoms.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific