Open AccessDeterioration of the black Drenov Grič limestone on historical monuments (Ljubljana, Slovenia)
Author(s) -
Sabina Kramar,
Ana Mladenovič,
Helmut Pristacz,
Breda Mirtič
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
acta carsologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.362
H-Index - 24
eISSN - 1580-2612
pISSN - 0583-6050
DOI - 10.3986/ac.v40i3.60
Subject(s) - porosimetry , mercury intrusion porosimetry , porosity , scanning electron microscope , mineralogy , petrophysics , sorption , cinnabar , geology , energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy , materials science , metallurgy , archaeology , chemistry , geotechnical engineering , composite material , porous medium , geography , adsorption , hematite , organic chemistry
The black limestone from Drenov Gric quarry (Central Slove¬nia) is considered one of the most beautiful Slovenian natural stones due to its typical color. The limestone was character¬ized from mineralogical, chemical, and petrophysical points of view. Furthermore, deterioration phenomena of the limestone from two monuments exposed to indoor and outdoor environ¬ments were studied. In situ investigation of two monuments by means of monument mapping has identified several types of deterioration phenomena, such as granular disintegration, flaking, crumbling, efflorescences, crusts, and the presence of microorganisms. Samples were characterized using Opti¬cal Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), X-Ray Powder Diffraction Analysis (XRD), porosity accessible to wa¬ter under vacuum, capillary absorption, Mercury porosimetry (MIP), and Ar-sorption. Although very low values of porosity of the fresh stone as well as slow capillary kinetics were de¬termined, both monuments showed severe deterioration as a consequence of the transport and precipitation of soluble salts within the stone