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Weathering of Monuments at Jethawanaramaya Complex in North‐Central, Sri Lanka
Author(s) -
RATNAYAKE Amila Sandaruwan,
PITAWALA Amarasooriya
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
acta geologica sinica ‐ english edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1755-6724
pISSN - 1000-9515
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-6724.2009.00109.x
Subject(s) - weathering , sri lanka , geology , lichen , gneiss , geochemistry , earth science , archaeology , geography , south asia , ancient history , history , metamorphic rock , ecology , biology
Sri Lanka has the richest archaeological sites in Asia. Jethawanarama Complex, one of the valuable sites in the country, is suffering from deterioration due to weathering. Monuments were built mainly from stones (granitic gneiss and marble) and clay bricks. The present study aimed to categorize weathering forms and interpret the recently‐developing weathering processes. The growing of lichens on surfaces and the development of saline conditions are the major threats on the survival of monuments other than the typical weathering processes of tropical climates Morinite (NaCa 2 Al 2 [PO 4 )] 2 [F,OH] 5 ·2H 2 O) is identified as a weathering product of monuments and is generated from lichens.