Real time measurements of sandstone deterioration: a microcatchment study

Sandstone weathering: a century of research and innovation

“…This contrasts with the popularity of sandstone samples in simulations of salt weathering, and the case studies reporting on decay of sandstone buildings and monuments. Studies of sandstone response to pollution include examples of black crusts on buildings (e.g., Nord and Tronner, 1995;Thomachot and Jeanette, 2002), deterioration of exposed sandstone tablets (e.g., Halsey et al, 1995;Turkington et al, 2003), and salt-induced material loss from building facades (e.g., Turkington and Smith, 2000;Warke and Smith, 2000;McKinley et al, 2001). Smith et al (1994) stated that the mechanical breakdown of quartz sandstones in polluted urban areas is overwhelmingly associated with salt concentration, primarily gypsum.…”

Micro-destructive mapping of the salt crystallization front in limestone

“…Some of the primary sources of salt contamination include capillary uptake of ground and surface water, or absorption of salt-laden precipitation or moisture from the surrounding atmosphere. Salts may also appear as a result of the interaction of aerosol pollutants with certain minerals, as in the case of gypsum (Espinoza-Marzal and Scherer, 2010;Halsey et al, 1995), or may originate from mortar in contact with stone, or even from the stone itself (e.g. Lopez-Arce et al, 2009;McKinley et al, 2001).…”

Surface modification of a granite building stone in central Rio de Janeiro

“…The occurrence of gypsum crystals is widespread on non-calcareous surfaces in urban environments and this has led researchers to postulate on intrinsic and extrinsic sources of calcium (Cooper 1989, Sabbioni and Zappia 1992, Whalley et al 1992, Halsey et al 1995, O'Brien et al 1995, McKinley et al 2001. These authors have attributed the formation of gypsum to the sulpha- tion of calcium derived from external sources, such as the mortar surrounding the stone, adjacent carbonate stone or an atmospheric source.…”