Abstract
In the natural environment, temperature and moisture are very important parameters in stone degradation. Therefore, on 28 samples from different lithologies (magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks) thermal and hygric expansion measurements were performed in order to constrain their behaviour related to environmental changes. It was shown that marbles, even those that are dolomitic, are sensitive to temperature impacts. For rocks with clay minerals the effect of temperature may be responsible for shrinking. Finally the amount of residual strain, i.e. the formation of microcracks due to temperature action controls the rate of stone degradation. For most sedimentary rocks no residual strain after heating was observed. In contrast to most magmatic and metamorphic low-porosity rocks, sedimentary rocks contain swelling minerals (like smectite and even phyllosilicates), which are very sensitive to hygric attacks. The cycles of wetting and drying, i.e. the natural environmental effects, may significantly control the deterioration velocity caused by hygric expansion.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aires-Barros L, Graca RC, Velez A (1975) Dry and wet laboratory tests and the thermal fatigue of rocks. Eng Geol 9:249–265
Battaglia S, Franzini M, Mango F (1993) High sensitivity apparatus for measuring linear thermal expansion: preliminary results on the response of marbles. Il Nuovo Cimento 16:453–461 Bologna
Bland W, Rolls D (1998) Weathering. Arnold, London, 271 pp
Blöchl B, Kirchner D, Stadlbauer E (1998) Die hygrische Dehnung von Baumberger Kalksandstein – tonmineralogische und gesteinsphysikalische Aspekte. Arbeitshefte zur Denkmalpflege in Niedersachsen 15:46–53
Bunge HJ, Siegesmund S, Skrotzki W, Weber K (eds) (1994) Textures of Geological Materials. DGM Informationsgesellschaft, Oberursel, 400 pp
Correns CW (1968) Einführung in die Mineralogie (Kristallographie und Petrologie), 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Fei Y (1995) Thermal Expansion. In: Ahrens TJ (ed) Mineral Physics and Crystallography – A Handbook of Physical Constants. American Geophysical Union
Fredrich JT, Wong TF (1986) Micromechanics of thermally induced cracking in three crustal rocks. J Geophys Res 91(B12):12743–12764
Goudie AS (1974) Further experimental investigations of rock weathering by salt and other mechanical processes. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie 21:1–12
Griggs DT (1936) The factor of fatigue in rocks exfoliation. J Geol 44:781–796
Kessler DW (1919) Physical and chemical tests of the commercial marbles of the United States. Technologic Papers of the Bureau of Standards. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 123 pp
Logan JM, Harstedt M, Lehnert D, Denton M (1993) A case study of the properties of marble as building veneer. Int J Rock Mech Min 30:1531–1537
Ollier C (1984) Weathering. Longman, New York, 270 pp
Ondrasina J, Kirchner D, Siegesmund S (2002) Freeze-thaw cycles and their influence on marble deterioration: a long-term experiment. In: Siegesmund S, Weiss T, Vollbrecht A (eds) Natural stone, Weathering phenomena, Conservation Strategies and Case Studies. Geological Society, Special Publications 205, pp 9–18
Peel RF (1974) Insolation weathering: some measurements of diurnal temperature changes in exposed rocks in the Tibesti region, central Sahara. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie 21:19–28
Pimentel E (2003) Swelling behaviour of sedimentary rocks under consideration of micromechanical aspects and its consequences on structure design. In: Natua, Fecker, Pimentel (eds) Geotechnical Measurements and Modelling, pp 367–374
Roth ES (1955) Temperature and water content as factors in desert weathering. J Geol 73:454–468
Royer-Carfagni G (1999) On the thermal degradation of marble. Int J Rock Mech Min 36:119–126
Ruedrich J, Weiss T, Siegesmund S (2001) Deterioration characteristics of marbles from the Marmorpalais, Potsdam (Germany): A compilation. Z dt geol Ges 152 (2–3):637–663
Ruedrich J, Weiss T, Siegesmund S (2002) Thermal behaviour of weathered and consolidated marbles. In: Siegesmund S, Weiss T, Vollbrecht A (eds) Natural stone, Weathering Phenomena, Conservation Strategies and Case Studies. Geological Society, Special Publications 205, pp 255–272
Siegesmund S, Snehtlage R, Vollbrecht A, Weiss T (1999) Themenheft Marmorkonservierung. Z dt geol Ges 150(2):406
Siegesmund S, Ullemeyer K, Weiss T, Tschegg E (2000) Physical weathering of marbles caused by thermal anisotropic expansion. Int J Earth Sci Vol 89:170–182
Snethlage R, Wendler W (1996) Moisture cycles and sandstone degradation. In: Baer H, Snethlage R (Hrsg) Dahlem Workshop on Saving Our Architectural Heritage: The Conservation of Historic Stone Structures (1996: Berlin, Germany). Wiley, New York
Strohmeyer D (2003) Gesteinstechnische Eigenschaften und Gefüge. PhD Univ. Goettingen, 245 pp
Tschegg E, Widhalm C, Eppensteiner W (1999) Ursachen mangelnder Formbeständigkeit von Marmorplatten. Z dt geol Ges 150(2):283–298
Weiss G (1992) Die Eis- und Salzkristallisation im Porenraum von Sandsteinen und ihre Auswirkungen auf das Gefüge unter besonderer Berücksichtigung gesteinsspezifischer Parameter. Münchner Geowiss Abh 9:1–118
Weiss T, Leiss B, Oppermann H, Siegesmund S (1999) Microfabric of fresh and weathered marbles: Implications and consequences for the reconstruction of the Marmorpalais Potsdam. Z dt geol Ges 150(2):313–332
Weiss T, Rasolofosaon P, Siegesmund S (2001) Thermal microcracking in Carrara marble. Z dt geol Ges 152(2–4):621–636
Weiss T, Fuller ER Jr, Siegesmund S (2002a) Thermal stresses in calcite and dolomite marbles quantified by finite element modelling. Geological Society, London, Geological Society Special Publications 205, pp 84–94
Weiss T, Rasolofosaon PNJ, Siegesmund S (2002b) Ultrasonic wave velocities as a diagnostic tool for the quality assessment of marble: In: Siegesmund S, Weiss T, Vollbrecht A (eds) Natural stone, Weathering Phenomena, Conservation Strategies and Case Studies. Geological Society, London, Geological Society Special Publications 205, pp 149–164
Weiss T, Fuller ER Jr, Siegesmund S (2003) Thermal stresses in calcite and dolomite marbles quantified by finite element modelling. Geological Society, London, Geological Society Special Publications 205, pp 84–94
Weiss T, Saylor DM, Fuller ER Jr, Siegesmund S (2004) Prediction of the degradation behavior of calcareous rocks via finite-element modelling. Proc 10th International Congress on Deterioration and Conservation of Stone, Stockholm, Sweden, pp 30–38
Widhalm C, Tschegg E, Eppensteiner W (1996) Anisotropic thermal expansion causes deformation of marble cladding. J Perform Construct Fac 10:5–10
Winkler EM (1996) Technical Note: Properties of Marble as building veneer. Int J Rock Mech Min 33(2):215–218
Zeisig A, Weiss T, Siegesmund S (2002) Thermal expansion and its control on the durability of marbles. Geological Society, London, Geological Society Special Publications 205, pp 57–72
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge financial support in the DFG Project Si 438–13–1,2. Improving comments from the two reviewers are kindly appreciated.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Weiss, T., Siegesmund, S., Kirchner, D. et al. Insolation weathering and hygric dilatation: two competitive factors in stone degradation. Env Geol 46, 402–413 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1041-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1041-0