Salt damage and microclimate in the Postumius Tomb, Roman Necropolis of Carmona, Spain
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- Authors:
- BENAVENTE, D
SANCHEZ-MORAL, S
FERNANDEZ-CORTES, A
CANAVERAS, J. C
ELEZ, J
SAIZ-JIMENEZ, C - Author Affiliations:
- Laboratorio de Petrología Aplicada, Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Alicante, Ap. 99, 03080 Alicante, Spain
Departamento de Geología, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Geomnia Natural Resources SLNE, C/ Anastasio Nieto 11, oficina 25, 28440 Collado Villalba, Madrid, Spain
Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (CSIC), Avenida Reina Mercedes 10, 41012 Sevilla, Spain - Source:
- Monuments under Threat: Environmental Impact, Preservation Strategies and Natural Stone RecoursesEnvironmental earth sciences (Print). 63(7-8):1529-1543
- Publication Date:
- 2011-01-01
- Language:
- English
- Abstract:
- The necropolis of Carmona (Seville, Spain) is one of the most significant Roman burial sites in southern Spain used during the first and second centuries AD. Of its more than 600 tombs, the Postumius Tomb is one of the best examples of a tomb affected by severe salt damage. To define safe microclimatic conditions for its conservation, environmental parameters were recorded from June 2007 to April 2009, both inside and outside the tomb, and mineralogical, textural, petrophysical, and durability characterization studies of the host-rock were made. Experimental tests revealed a high susceptibility to salt deterioration of a host-rock (calcarenite) with low mechanical properties and a complex porous medium that favors salt weathering, water condensation, and capillary rise. The analysis of the weathered material showed the presence chiefly of gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O), thenardite (Na2SO4) and halite (NaCl) in the tomb of Postumius, with alteration that was more intensive in spring and autumn, and less so during summer months. Salt damage activity was calculated by quantifying the number of transitions of crystallization-dissolution of saline phases. The calculated seasonality for water condensation and salt damage is coeval. The host-rock alteration is in accord with the estimated salt decay, and was more intensive in spring and autumn and less so during summer. The seasonality of halite transitions is similar to that of the sodium sulfate system, which suggests that salt weathering is produced by the two types of salts. By combining different methodological approaches (pore structure, water condensation, salt and environmental conditions), it is possible to explain why salt crystallization occurs in a tomb with hygrometric conditions that are not suitable for this process to occur. These methodological approaches are also used to other rock-decaying processes, such as the development of microorganisms, clay swelling and calcite dissolution by NaCl- and CO2-rich pore waters, and can be used to predict safe threshold microclimatic conditions that minimize all rock-decaying processes.
- Notes:
- Earth sciences
- Subjects:
- Environment
Environnement
Geology
Géologie
Pollution
Sciences exactes et technologie
Exact sciences and technology
Terre, ocean, espace
Earth, ocean, space
Sciences de la terre
Earth sciences
Géologie de l'ingénieur et de l'environnement. Géothermie
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Géotechnique
Engineering geology
Formations superficielles
Surficial geology
Quaternaire marin et continental
Marine and continental quaternary
Calcaire
limestone
Calcáreo
Carbonate
carbonates
Carbonato
Chlorure
chlorides
Cloruro
Cénozoïque
Cenozoic
Cenozoico
Evaporite
evaporites
Evaporito
Halogénure
halides
Haluro
Phanérozoïque
Phanerozoic
Fanerozoico
Quaternaire sup
upper Quaternary
Cuaternario sup
Quaternaire
Quaternary
Cuaternario
Roche carbonatée
carbonate rocks
Roca carbonatada
Roche chimique
chemically precipitated rocks
Roca química
Roche clastique
clastic rocks
Roca clástica
Roche sédimentaire
sedimentary rocks
Roca sedimentaria
Sulfate
sulfates
Sulfato
Altération météorique
weathering
Alteración meteórica
Argile
clay
Arcilla
Calcarénite
calcarenite
Calcarenita
Calcite
calcite
Calcita
Condensation
condensation
Condensación
Conservation
conservation
Conservación
Cristallisation
crystallization
Cristalización
Dissolution
dissolution
Disolución
Durabilité
durability
Durabilidad
Eau interstitielle
pore water
Agua intersticial
Endommagement
damage
Enfouissement
burial
Gonflement
swelling
Inflamiento
Gypse
gypsum
Yeso
Halite
halite
Halita
Holocène
Holocene
Holoceno
Matériau construction
construction materials
Material construcción
Microorganisme
microorganisms
Microorganismo
Pierre construction
building stone
Propriété mécanique
mechanical properties
Propiedad mecánica
Roche hôte
host rocks
Roca huesped
Sel
salt
Sal
Sulfate sodium
sodium sulfate
Sulfato sódico
Thenardite
thenardite
Thenardita
Epoque Romaine
Environmental monitoring
Preventive conservation
Roman tombs
Salt damage - Geography:
- Andalousie
Andalusia Spain
Andalucía
Europe Sud
Southern Europe
Europa Sur
Europe
Europa
Péninsule Ibérique
Iberian Peninsula
Península ibérica
Espagne
Spain
España
Province Seville
Sevilla Spain
Provincia Sevilla - Format:
- Academic Journal
- Database:
- PASCAL Archive
- Journal:
- Monuments under Threat: Environmental Impact, Preservation Strategies and Natural Stone Recourses
- Volume:
- 63
- Issue:
- 7-8
- Page Start:
- 1529
- Page Count:
- 15
- ISSN:
- 18666280
- Publisher:
- Heidelberg: Springer, 2011.
- Document Type:
- Article
- Physical Description:
- print, 1 p.1/4
