Experiments on thermal fatigue of non-igneous rocks

This paper is a logical sequence to a previous study on thermal fatigue and the weather-ability of some igneous rocks by means of laboratory tests.Now the techniques are applied to several non-igneous rocks, such as limestones (seve al types), sandstones, graywackes and slates. Some conclusions are also derived from the Vickers microhardness numbers and the reflectance measurements obtained on polished surfaces of the samples tested in the “climatizing apparatus”.From a great number of quantitative determinations (weight loss, chemical leaching of the main cations of the rock-minerals, Vickers microhardness and reflectance) some conclusions are obtained, regarding (1) the use of an alterability index for classification of rocks for geotechnical purposes and (2) the ageing effects of weathering on polished surfaces of ornamental stones.