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Assessment of chemical weathering of granite stone monuments using reflectance spectroscopy

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Abstract

Reflectance spectroscopy was applied to assess the degree of weathering of the granite sculpture of Buddha in Gyeongju, South Korea, using diagnostic absorption features of representative weathering products (iron oxides and clay minerals). The relative weathering degree map obtained using reflectance spectroscopy corresponds closely with the visual interpretation of exfoliations and cracks. Eight chemical weathering indices (Vogt ratio, weathering potential index, Ruxton ratio, Parker index, modified weathering potential index, chemical index of alteration, plagioclase index of alteration, and chemical index of weathering) determined on granite specimens from three sites in Korea were compared with the quantitative absorption depths of iron oxides and clay minerals. Relatively good correlations were found for the modified weathering potential index and Parker index and the absorption features of iron oxides and good correlations between the weathering potential index and Parker index and the absorption depth of clay minerals. The work has shown the applicability of reflectance spectroscopy as a new non-destructive technique for assessing the weathering of stone monuments.

Résumé

La spectroscopie de réflectance a été utilisée pour évaluer le degré d’altération de la sculpture de granite du Bouddha de Gyeongju en Corée du Sud, utilisant les caractéristiques d’absorption de produits d’altération représentatifs (oxydes de fer et minéraux argileux). La cartographie du degré d’altération relative obtenue par la spectroscopie de réflectance correspond étroitement à l’interprétation visuelle des exfoliations et des fissures. Huit indices d’altération chimique (rapport de Vogt, indice de potentiel d’altération météorique, rapport de Ruxton, indice de Parker, indice modifié de potentiel d’altération météorique, indice chimique d’altération, indice d’altération des plagioclases, indice chimique d’altération météorique) déterminés sur des échantillons de granite provenant de trois sites de Corée ont été comparés avec les profondeurs d’absorption d’oxydes de fer et de minéraux argileux. Des corrélations relativement bonnes ont été trouvées pour l’indice modifié de potentiel d’altération météorique, l’indice de Parker et les caractéristiques d’absorption des oxydes de fer. De bonnes corrélations ont été trouvées entre l’indice de potentiel d’altération météorique, l’indice de Parker et la profondeur d’absorption des minéraux argileux. Le travail réalisé a montré l’applicabilité de la spectroscopie de réflectance comme nouvelle technique non destructive pour l’évaluation de l’altération météorique des monuments en pierre.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (project title: Development on Evaluation Technology for Weathering Degree of Stone Cultural Properties, project no.: 09B011Y-00150-2009), the Brain Korea 21 Project in 2009 and the Research Institute of Engineering Science, Seoul National University, Korea.

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  1. Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-744, Korea

    C. U. Hyun & H. D. Park

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  1. C. U. Hyun
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  2. H. D. Park
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Correspondence to H. D. Park.

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Hyun, C.U., Park, H.D. Assessment of chemical weathering of granite stone monuments using reflectance spectroscopy. Bull Eng Geol Environ 70, 63–78 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-010-0276-0

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