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Black crusts on travertine: factors controlling development and stability

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

The travertine buildings of Budapest show extensive black crust formation, which is related to high concentration of atmospheric pollution and a continental climate. Laminar black crusts, framboidal black crusts and leached white surfaces are compared. Physical properties (Schmidt hammer rebound, Duroscope rebound), mineralogical composition and elemental composition are measured. Framboidal black crusts contain more than 50% of acicular gypsum. The crust surface displays idiomorphic rosette-like gypsum crystals with particulates, calcite and gypsum crystal aggregates. The sulphur isotopic composition of the black crusts pinpoints the involvement of rain and dust in crust formation. Thick framboidal black crust has the lowest strength while thin laminar black crust and white dissolved surfaces show minor decrease in surface strength compared to unaltered travertine. The crusts adhere to the travertine surface and rarely show mechanical decay forms that are typical features of porous limestone ashlars in Budapest.

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Acknowledgments

I am grateful to two anonymous reviewers whose comments and suggestions helped in improving the quality of this paper. Selected laboratory analyses (XRF, S isotopes) were made within the framework of German—Hungarian Scientific co-operation (DAAD-MÖB project). The help of S. Siegesmund, W. Klemm, L.Z. Forgó and A. Hüpers is appreciated. Kocsányi K. helped in identification of mineral phases during XRD, DTA-DTG analyses. During the field campaign G. Hajnal, Gy. Emszt and E. L Árpás provided assistance. This work was financed by the Hungarian Science Found (OTKA, grant no. K63399).

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  1. Department of Construction Materials and Engineering Geology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Sztoczek u. 2, 1111, Budapest, Hungary

    Ákos Török

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Török, Á. Black crusts on travertine: factors controlling development and stability. Environ Geol 56, 583–594 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1297-x

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