Measuring stone weathering in cities: Surface reduction on marble monuments

The purpose of this study was to establish whether measurements of stone weathering recorded by different observers could be aggregated into a single data base for evaluating pollution effects on calcareous building stone. Apparent differences in recorded weathering rates on marble tombstones were here found to be partly a result of lettering size measured, measuring devices used, and individual observers.     

Sequential extractions on mine tailings samples after and before bioassays: implications on the speciation of metals during microbial re-colonization

Mine tailings may be remediated using metal tolerant microorganisms as they may solve the limiting conditions for healthy development of plants (i.e., low organic mater content and poor physical conditions). The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of microbial colonization on the chemical speciation of trace metals. Surface samples from the Valenciana mine tailings (Guanajuato, Mexico) were used for long-term bioassays (BA), which consisted in the promotion of microorganisms, development on tailings material under stable laboratory conditions (humidity, temperature, and light exposure). A five-step sequential extraction method (exchangeable, carbonate/specifically adsorbed, Fe–Mn oxides, organic matter (OM)/sulfide, and residual fractions) was performed before and after BA. Extraction solutions and leachates were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. OM content, cationic exchange capacity, and pH values were also assessed before and after BA. The results indicate that trace elements are generally present in nonresidual fractions, mainly in the Fe–Mn oxides fraction. The concentration of total Zn, As, Se, Pb, and exchangeable Cu and Pb is above the recommendable limits for soils. Despite the high bioavailability of the former elements, biofilms successfully colonized the tailing samples during the BA. Cyanobacteria and green algae, heterotrophic fungi, aerobic bacteria, and anaerobic bacteria composed the developed biofilms. Chemical controls of trace elements could be attributed to absorption onto inorganic complexes (carbonates, metal oxides), while biofilm occurrence seems to enhance complexation and immobilization of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb. The biofilm developed does not increase the bioavailable forms and the leaching of the trace elements, but significantly improves the OM contents (natural fertilization). The results suggest that biofilms are useful during the first steps of the mine tailings remediation.     

The effects of strain rate and saturation on a micro-cracked marble

It is well known rock masses contain several types of weakness planes varying from micro-fissure to fault in size. The fracture frequency, degree of saturation and time are the basic rock parameters affecting its behaviour. However, in most cases, it is practically difficult to test heavily fractured rock in laboratory environment. In this study, the effects of micro cracks, strain rate and water saturation on strength are discussed using a small-scale physical experiments. It is attempted to detach the grain boundaries of coarse-grained rock specimens of the Mu?la marble by thermal treatment that would serve as a small-scale physical simulation of fractures in rock masses and enable a discussion of the variations in time dependent mechanical behaviour. An experimental study was conducted on marble specimens induced thermally by micro-cracks in different frequencies. The thermal treatment periods being 24 h in inert atmospheric condition were varied for each test specimen except categories A and G. Effective porosity increased up to 2.4% after the last thermal cycle of category F. Then conventional compression tests with different strain rates were carried out using a servo-controlled testing machine on both dry and saturated specimens. It is concluded that both lowering strain rates and increasing porosity related with thermally induced micro cracks have important effects on strength and failure path. The progressive failure entirely occurs along the grain boundaries fissured by cyclical treatment and inter-granular deformation depends upon degree of thermal influence. The small-scaled laboratory model enabled to demonstrate that parameters such as joint frequency, time and saturation have a significant effect on mechanical behaviour of rock masses.     

Microbial diversity on a marble monument: a case study

In the presented case study, ascomycete fungi and green algae on a marble monument were identified by comparisons of the 18S rRNA gene sequences, which were obtained from DNA either from environmental samples or from enrichment cultures. The organisms were found to be responsible for either black or green surface coverings on different areas of the monument surface. Most fungi were related to plant-inhabiting genera, corresponding to a heavy soiling of the marble surface with honeydew. Whereas green algae of the genera Stichococcus, Chloroidium and Apatococcus were found to be dominant in all samples, isolates of two additional genera were recovered only from enrichment cultures. A reference strain of Apatococcus lobatus and an isolate of Prasiolopsis sp. were investigated with respect to putative surface adhesive structures of the cell envelope. The Prasiolopsis cell walls were covered with a thin adhesive exopolysaccharide layer involved in biofilm formation.     

高温循环作用后大理岩裂纹扩展试验研究

利用偏光显微镜对经历不同高温循环作用后的细粒大理岩进行观测,通过统计微裂纹长度、开度、数量等参数,探讨不同加热循环次数后岩样内微裂纹的扩展规律。结果表明,（1）经历不同热循环次数作用的岩样,微裂纹的数量和长度均不同,未经热处理岩样内颗粒致密,胶结较好,内部无明显的微裂纹。经历4次热循环作用后岩样内微裂纹发育明显,以晶界裂纹为主,开度和长度均显著增加。岩样经历16次热循环作用后开度持续增大,为55 µm,是4次热循环的4倍;（2）对不同热循环处理后岩样内部发育微裂纹的方向进行了统计,发现微裂纹无明显的方向性,还表明细观切片的取样位置对微裂纹的发育影响不大;（3）线性裂纹密度随热循环次数的增加而增大,经历16次热循环作用后岩样的线性裂纹密度是没有经历热处理岩样的21倍。     

高温后大理岩动态劈裂拉伸试验研究

为了研究高温处理后的岩石材料在冲击加载速率作用下的动态劈裂拉伸性能,利用大直径分离式霍普金森压杆试验设备对经历不同高温作用冷却后的“大理岩”平台巴西圆盘试样进行不同加载速率作用下的径向冲击试验。研究了高温后大理岩的动态劈裂拉伸强度及动态劈裂破坏形式随温度和冲击加载速率的变化规律。试验结果表明,与静态劈裂拉伸强度相比,经历不同高温作用冷却后,大理岩的动态劈裂拉伸强度有明显的提高,表现出显著的冲击加载速率强化效应,同一冲击加载速率作用下,随着温度的升高,动态劈裂拉伸强度表现出先增大后减小的变化趋势;高温后大理岩的动态劈裂破坏形式受到冲击加载速率和温度的共同影响。     

Interaction of rock and atmosphere: patinas on Mediterranean monuments

 This paper analyzes – chemically, mineralogically, and petrolographically – the patinas developed on several Mediterranean monuments made with different stones (siliceous and carbonatic) in order to establish their origin and their evolution under the present environmental conditions, and to evaluate the environmental parameters controling their development. Most of the patinas show a common sequence of layers, which, from the outer to the inner zone, are: (1) present bioactivity and/or biological remains, (2) gypsum-rich patina, and (3) calcitic brown to orange patina. Each one may exhibit different fabrics (from micritic to stromatolitic) and may be more or less continuous and homogeneous. The main mineral components are calcite and gypsum, but Ca-oxalates and Ca-phosphates have also been found associated to biological structures, as well as quartz and clays. The different fabrics and textures have been interpreted as consequence of changes in the environmental conditions which seem to be related to the biological activity, facilitating the growth of different organisms and leading to the development of a deposit with distinct characteristics (fabric, texture, porosity, etc.). The gypsum-rich patina has been interpreted as a sulphation of the underlying calcitic layer by the action of atmospheric pollutants or as dry or wet deposition from the atmospheric dust. The mineralogy and texture of the patina is independent of the nature of the underlying rock and only in few cases a micritization process has been observed as interaction between patina and rock. Recently, the penetration of endolithic microflora produced drillings and the development of a fissuration system parallel to the surface, and thus the detachment of the crust from the rock and even flackening of the rock itself has been observed. Consequently, under the present climatic conditions in the Mediterranean basin, erosion is a more active process than deposition, and the crusts and patinas show a tendency to disappear from the surface of the monuments. Received: 3 November 1996 · Accepted: 10 September 1997     

Exploration of empirical relationship between surface soil temperature and surface soil moisture over two catchments of contrasting climates and land covers

Soil moisture plays a very important role in hydrological processes. It has been found in many studies that the surface soil moisture (SSM) is highly related to the diurnal change of the surface soil temperature (?SST) at the same soil depth. However, some studies contradict this common belief with findings of a much stronger correlation between the SSM and the SST. In order to investigate this further, we have carried out for the first time a comparative assessment of the in-situ measured SST and ΔSST for SSM estimations, over two catchments with contrasting climate types and land uses (i.e. one in the UK and the other in Australia). In both catchments, the time point for the highest relationship between the SST and the SSM is explored. As a result, it is found the SST is more suitable to monitor the variability of the SSM than the ΔSST in both catchments. Moreover the proposed seasonal-based classification method further improves the SSM simulation results in both catchments, with a superior performance observed in the UK catchment (NSE = 0.900 and RMSE = 0.030). In the Australian catchment, a relatively weaker correlation is observed and some potential reasons are explained. The potential applications of the findings for remote sensing soil moisture retrievals are also discussed.     

Analysis of spalling failure in marble rock slope: a case study of Neyriz marble mine,Iran

The expansion of the Neyriz marble mine into deeper levels caused an unexpected failure particularly in the toes of lower benches. This phenomenon can impact the overall stability of the quarry and results in undesirable environmental and technical consequences. To understand the failure mechanism, a comprehensive study including—laboratory testing, in situ field testing and theoretical analyses are carried out. The theory of the brittle failure which was mainly developed based on the experiences gained during excavation in granite rocks is adopted and augmented in this study to explain the governing mechanism of failure. Mechanical properties of the marble are determined using conventional rock mechanics tests, and the in situ stress field was evaluated using a modified under coring test. Analyzing the laboratory and field data with the available empirical criteria for brittle failure shows that the level of stress in the lower bench is high enough to initiate the brittle failure. Finally, constitutive models developed for this failure mode are adopted in conjunction with numerical modeling to investigate the observed failure in the quarry. Two modeling strategies, based on elastic and elastic–plastic analyses, are considered. Comparing the predicted failure surface with the observed failure profile, it can be concluded that the brittle failure criteria can very well capture the failure mechanism in this marble quarry. This shows that the criteria proposed to describe spalling failure around underground excavation in granite can be effectively employed for assessing the brittle failure in deep open cast and quarry mines in good quality rocks such as marble.     

Environmental impact on the Roman monuments of Tarragona,Spain

The extant remains of the Roman monuments of Tarragona, Spain are made of different types of Miocenic rocks from the quarries surrounding the city, which vary from calcarenite to bioclastic limestones, showing different degrees of dolomitization, depending on their diagenetic evolution. The decay of these monuments is highly dependent on the mineralogy and the fabric of the stone as well as on the environmental conditions to which the monument subjected. As a consequence, different forms of decay are observed on these monuments, namely, granular disintegration, differential erosion between sparitic and micritic areas of the rock, and development of black crust and orange patinas, some of them attributed to a sulfation process. A number of processes have been established as being responsible for the decay forms observed: sulfation on sheltered areas of the building in the urban environment; differential dilatation because of the NaCl of the marine spray that crystallizes inside the porosity; hydric and thermal expansion of the stone, both related to the amount and crystallinity of the clay minerals forming the rock matrix; and biocolonization on the stone surface. An empirical model is proposed to explain the decay forms studied in relation to these factors (rock and environment).     

大理岩弹塑性耦合特性试验研究

大量研究表明,岩石经历塑性变形时其弹性参数会发生变化,即存在弹塑性耦合现象。为了研究岩石的弹塑性耦合特性,进行了两种大理岩的循环加、卸载试验。试验结果表明:与常规试验对比,循环加、卸载试验对岩石的变形、强度及破坏形态影响较小;弹性参数随塑性变形的变化显著,考虑弹塑性耦合时,弹性参数取体积模量和剪切模量更为合适;基于Mohr-Coulomb屈服准则,计算得到了强度参数,即黏聚力和内摩擦角随塑性内变量的演化规律。所得结论将为岩石弹塑性耦合本构模型的建立提供基本的试验支持。     

Geology and the conservation of antique monuments in Turkey

This article deals with a geological investigation carried out as a fundamental part of the conservation and static restoration of several antique churches excavated in andesitic tuff in the Göreme valley and adjacent areas of Cappadocia in Central Anatolia, Turkey. Two stages have been completed already, in 1982 and 1985, respectively, and the work is still in progress. Seismicity is not regarded as a structural hazard, but the geological history includes a series of volcanic episodes since the Oligocene (about 38 million years ago), which persisted into fairly recent times and laid down a great thickness of tuff rock. Erosion sculptured this tuff preferentially because of irregular harder, basaltic layers, which later capped rock pinnacles, the so-called peribacalars, in which churches were hewn over a thousand years ago. Because the host rock is heavily fissured, precipitation has entered and has damaged many mural paintings. These are also subject to vandalism, and efforts have been made to restore them by the usual conservation intervention. However, grouting is necessary and must take into account the porosity of the tuff, which also permits capillary rise from crypts. Sometimes, during wet episodes, water flushes into these and scours the interior walls as well. The basic problem remains geological, and the contribution of the earth sciences is very important. Thus, an engineering geology study has determined that the tuff rock is suitable both for building retaining walls and acting as a constituent in cement grout. It is expected that the UNESCO/ICCROM program to save the churches will be completed successfully within the next five years or so.     

Paragenesis and petrogenesis of a corundum-bearing marble at Hunza (Kashmir)

A calcite-marble containing gem-quality ruby is exposed in the Hunza Valley, northwestern part of the Karakoram mountains, Pakistan zone of Kashmir. The marble forms concordant intercalations within sillimanite- and garnet-bearing biotite-plagioclase gneisses and mica schists. The metamorphic sequence is cut by discordant aplite and pegmatite dikes. The following mineral assemblages are recognized in the marble:1) Calcite+corundum+phlogopite±margarite±sheridanite±Al-rich pargasite±anorthite (An 96.7),2) calcite+spinel±corundum+phlogopite+sheridanite.Microprobe analyses are given for the essential minerals including corundum (ruby) and three different colour varieties of spinel. On the basis of recent experimental data, especially in the system CaO - Al₂O₃ - SiO₂ - H₂O -CO₂ (and related subsystems), we assume that, during the regional metamorphism, temperatures of about 600 – 620°C and a water vapour pressure of about 6 kb were realized in part of the Hunza area. The gas phase must have contained roughly 20 mole-% of CO₂. Thus the total fluid pressure may have reached about 7 kb. Presumably, temperatures increased in northwest direction, perhaps up to about 700°C. The estimated P-T conditions are consistent with a geothermal gradient of about 25°C/km.     

高应力卸荷条件下大理岩破裂面细微观形态特征及其与卸荷岩体强度的相关性研究

岩石的破裂性质及破裂面的起伏粗糙特征对岩石的破裂机制及破裂面的参数取值具有重要的理论和应用意义。采用高精度的三维激光扫描和扫描电镜技术,结合分形理论,揭示高应力条件下大理岩卸荷破裂性质及破裂面的细微观形态特征,阐述主破裂面粗糙度分形维与卸荷岩体强度间的相关规律。在高应力卸荷条件下,大理岩岩样随着卸荷速率的递增宏观破裂性质由剪切、拉剪复合向张拉劈裂发展。初始围压越高卸荷速率越快,主破裂面越起伏粗糙,而初始围压越高卸荷速率越慢,主破裂面越平坦光滑。随卸荷速率的增大,微观上大理岩逐渐由穿晶剪切断裂、沿晶面张裂+穿晶剪切的复合断裂、沿晶面张裂或劈裂的变化特征。卸荷岩体的内摩擦角随破裂面粗糙程度分形维D的增大而增大,而黏聚力随D的增大而减小。     

Diagnosis of weathering damage on rock-cut monuments in Petra, Jordan

Studies of many years—combining in situ investigation and laboratory analysis—have provided comprehensive information on weathering damage on the rock-cut monuments in the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. These rock-cut monuments represent outstanding world heritage. Many hundred monuments were carved by the Nabataeans from bedrock about 2000 years ago. The awareness of increasing weathering damage on the monuments has resulted in international efforts towards their preservation. The damage diagnosis has addressed the complex mutual relationships between stone types, stone properties, monument exposure regimes, environmental influences, weathering phenomena, development and extent of weathering damage and weathering progression. The rocks were classified lithostratigraphically and petrographically. Results on weathering forms, weathering profiles and weathering products obtained from monument mapping, in situ measurements and laboratory studies revealed a complex diversity of weathering phemomena with respect to type and intensity. Damage categories and damage indices were used to create a reproducible quantitative rating of weathering damage. Detailed results on weathering forms allowed the characterization and quantification of weathering progression including weathering prognoses. Stone properties and states of weathering damage were jointly considered for the rating of the rocks’ susceptibility to weathering. The systematic evaluation of weathering damage and monument exposure regimes can enhance the assessment of weathering factors and processes.     

三轴疲劳-卸围压条件下大理岩力学特性试验研究

为了揭示应力扰动和卸载围压作用下大理岩损伤破裂的物理过程和非线性力学行为,采用GCTSRTR-2000伺服加载岩石力学试验机进行了岩石疲劳卸围压试验,同时对破坏试样进行了压后裂纹形态CT扫描可视化分析。结果表明:周期性的加卸载作用对大理岩起到了主因损伤作用,卸围压的作用对大理岩起到了根本性的破坏作用。岩石疲劳循环形成滞回环,滞回环面积由疏变密,滞回环加载和卸载曲线接近重合,加卸载模量近似相等;岩石经过卸围压作用,岩石的轴向、径向和体积应变表现为不同程度增大,表明应变对围压降低具有强敏感性,敏感程度由高到低依次为体积应变、径向应变和轴向应变;由于疲劳循环的影响,卸围压作用产生的围压降幅随循环次数增多而降低,卸围压时长随循环次数增多而减少;量化宏观应变变形,求得应变损伤指数D_a、D_r、D_v,疲劳循环次数越多,应变损伤指数越大;岩石破坏后细观CT扫描揭示了疲劳循环损伤对岩石破裂形态影响的内在机制。随疲劳循环次数的增加,裂纹密度和规模显著增加。研究成果可为地下工程疲劳活动规律和开挖卸荷问题提供理论和模型支撑。     

Fabric and seismic properties of carrara marble mylonite

Shear deformation in calcite-rich rocks can produce strong lattice preferred orientations (LPO), which result in a high anisotropy of bulk seismic properties because of the high elastic anisotropy of calcite (32% Vp anisotropy). Deformed rocks often show also strong shape preferred orientations (SPO). Theories for averaging the elastic properties have not yet satisfactorily predicted the contribution to the seismic anisotropy caused by the SPO alone.A calcite mylonite from Carrara (Italy) was investigated, which is characterised by a strong SPO and a weak LPO. It was composed of about 80% calcite, then white mica, quartz and hematite. Flattening of mica and of calcite grains defined the mylonitic foliation, and elongation of calcite grains defined the lineation. On average calcite grains have aspect ratios of about 2.5:1.6:1, and grain sizes of about 10 μm. At 400 MPa confining pressure, the measured Vp (km/s) parallel to the lineation (X direction) was highest (6.63), lower in the intermediate Y direction (6.47); the Vp normal to the foliation (Z direction) was lowest (6.30). This yielded a Vp anisotropy of 5%. The LPO, determined by automated electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), was very weak (texture index 1.1), with intensities between 0.6 and 1.6 m.r.d. in the c-axis pole figure. Extrapolation of the texture index to an infinite number of orientation measurements indicated that the observed variations were mostly random noise in the orientation distributions and that the bulk rock texture was random. The Vp anisotropy of the Voigt, Reuss and Hill averages calculated from this calcite LPO is predicted to be close to zero. Adding 5% of muscovite with (001) perfectly aligned parallel to the foliation, we calculated a total anisotropy of 2.8%. The anisotropy calculated for the special directions X, Y and Z remained at 2.6% only.It was concluded that the measured seismic anisotropy cannot be explained by the LPO of calcite and by 5% of mica alone. It is also attributed to the strong SPO and to further grain boundary effects.     

Experimental and numerical evaluation of single-layer covers placed on acid-generating tailings

This study focuses on the reclamation work being performed on two former acid-generating tailings sites, located in Quebec, Canada. At both sites, the tailings were partially oxidized due to extended exposure, and the pore water is acidic. The reclamation solution applied to control acid mine drainage is a monolayer cover, made of non acid-generating tailings in one case and a till in the other. The goal of this project was to assess the response of the tailings-cover systems under various conditions. Tailings samples were collected in situ and characterized in the laboratory. Large column tests were conducted to evaluate the hydrogeological and geochemical behaviour of the covered tailings following wetting and drying cycles. The instrumented columns were designed to reproduce some of the existing site conditions and provide representative results for longer term analyses. Volumetric water content, suction, and oxygen concentrations were also monitored over time. The experimental data were used to validate different numerical models including those constructed with Vadose/W (GeoSlope Int.). Additional simulations were conducted under field conditions to evaluate the effect of various influence factors such as the depth of the water table, climatic conditions and the thickness of the cover. The combination of experimental and numerical results show how the behaviour and efficiency of a monolayer cover placed over reactive tailings depend on these factors, highlighting the importance of hydrogeological properties and water table depth. In many instances, the cover materials were prone to desaturation, especially when the water table was deeper than about 2 m below the tailings-cover interface. These results tend to indicate that relatively thin monolayer covers would not be able to prevent oxygen ingress under some of the conditions observed in the field. Desaturation of the cover and/or reactive tailings is due to a combination of drainage and evaporation. In such cases, increasing the thickness of the monolayer cover only has a limited effect. A discussion follows on the practical implications of these laboratory experiments and the numerical simulations for field design of reclamation measures at these two tailings impoundments.     

硬脆性大理岩拉剪破坏特征与屈服准则研究

岩土工程中常用的屈服准则多以压缩剪切为其破坏机制,然而硬脆性岩体的脆性破坏包括拉伸破坏、张拉剪切破坏和压缩剪切破坏3类,且随着岩体工程向深部发展,张拉剪切破坏成为了洞壁围岩的主要破坏机制。针对此问题,开展了硬脆性大理岩的室内拉剪试验,分析了大理岩拉剪破坏特征,并结合压剪试验结果,建立了考虑张拉剪切破坏机制和应力状态影响的Mohr-Coulomb准则。研究结果表明,硬脆性大理岩破裂面在拉剪应力状态和低正应力压剪应力状态下均具有张拉剪切破坏特征,高正应力压剪应力状态下则只具有压缩剪切滑移特征;拉剪应力状态下,大理岩破裂面张拉破坏特征明显,无明显剪切痕迹,剪切力固定时,剪切位移随着轴向拉力增加而增加;凝聚力和内摩擦角受应力状态影响,凝聚力随正应力增大先减小后增大,内摩擦角则随正应力的增大而减小;凝聚力、内摩擦角随正应力的变化趋势可分为4段,拉剪段、低压应力段、中压应力段和高压应力段,每段的凝聚力、内摩擦角与正应力皆可认为是线性关系,靠近抗拉强度处,内摩擦角趋近90°,凝聚力趋于无穷大;考虑张拉剪切破坏机制和应力状态影响的Mohr-Coulomb准则曲线分为两部分,可采用二次抛物线进行拟合的拉剪段和考虑凝聚力、内摩擦角随正应力演化的压剪段,由此建立的Mohr-Coulomb准则更全面、精度也更高。