Abstract
The millenary use of Lower Globigerina Limestone (LGL) as the main building stone of the Maltese Islands is testimony to the importance of this resource to the local building industry. Today, the pressing need to conserve Malta’s rich patrimony of archaeological/historical masonry buildings and structures drives research in this field, particularly in view of the observed variable durability of this stone type. LGL has been described as a moderately weak calcarenite characterised by a predominance of calcite (86–99 %) and high porosity. In theory, these physical properties should make this type of stone particularly susceptible to deterioration involving (a) mechanisms of capillary salt-laden moisture accumulation and movement together with (b) thermodynamic changes in soluble salts during dissolution and crystallisation cycles. The study reported here forms part of a wider research programme aimed at characterising this resource. In this work, we assessed the durability of the LGL in a temperate Mediterranean climate characterised by two main factors, namely (i) a salt-laden marine environment and (ii) relatively short spans of heavy precipitation alternated with longer periods of virtual drought. The main aim of the study was to analyse macro/microporosity variations and minute, yet quantifiable, fluctuations in minor geochemical constituents of the stone with respect to observed weathering characteristics and accelerated crystallisation damage test results. This was achieved through systematic sampling and testing of retrieved core samples extracted from dimension-stone quarrying areas in Malta.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Franka is a colloquial Maltese term which translates to “freestone” and refers to building stone quarried from the Lower Globigerina Limestone Formation (Aquilina 1987a).
Soll is a colloquial Maltese term which translates to “stone of inferior quality” (Aquilina 1987b).
The acid-insoluble residue test is an experimental technique which determines the insoluble percentage of the original mass of stone which is exposed to digestion in hydrochloric acid solution (ASTM C 25-06) (ASTM International 2006).
References
Anon (2007) Discussion of ‘Methodology to identify badly weathering limestone using geochemistry: case study on the Lower Globigerina Limestone of the Maltese Islands’ by J. Cassar & A.J. Vella. In: Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrology 36:85–96
Aquilina J (1987a) Maltese–English dictionary, vol 1 A–L. Midsea Books Ltd, Santa Venera
Aquilina J (1987b) Maltese–English dictionary, vol 2 M–Z. Midsea Books Ltd, Santa Venera
ASTM International (2006) Standard test methods for chemical analysis of limestone, quicklime, and hydrated lime. Designation C 25-06. American Society for Testing Materials, Philadelphia
Camilleri AJ, Tabone Adami JP (1992) Geochemical study of “soll” facies in Lower Globigerina Limestone, Malta. B.Sc. dissertation. University of Malta, Msida
Cassar J (1999) Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of the Lower Globigerina Limestone of the Maltese Islands with special reference to the “soll” facies. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Malta, Msida
Cassar J (2002) Deterioration of Globigerina Limestone of the Maltese Island. In: Siegesmund S, Weiss T, Vollbrecht A (eds) Natural stone, weathering phenomena, conservation strategies and case studies, vol 205. Geological Society, London, pp 33–49
Cassar J (2003) Classifying Maltese prehistoric limestone megaliths by means of geochemical data. In: Book of abstracts for the ASMOSIA 7th International Conference of the Association for the Study of Marble and Other Stones Used in Antiquity, Thassos, Greece, 15–20 Sept 2003. http://www.ims.demokritos.gr/archae/Abstracts.html
Cassar J (2004a) Comparing visual and geochemical classification of limestone types: the Maltese Globigerina Limestone. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Congress on Deterioration and Conservation of Stone. ICOMOS Sweden, Stockholm, pp 569–577
Cassar J (2004b) Composition and properties of Malta’s building stone: creating a database. In: Proc Lux et Lapis 2002 (Light and Stone) Int Conf, Valtice, Czech Republic, 12–14 Oct 2002, pp 11–28
Cassar J, Vannucci S (2001) Petrographical and chemical research on the stone of the megalithic temples. Malta Archaeol Rev 5:40–45
Cassar J, Vella AJ (2003) Methodology to identify badly weathering limestone using geochemistry: case study on the Lower Globigerina Limestone of the Maltese Islands. Q J Eng Geol Hydroge 36:85–96
Charola EA (2000) Salts in the deterioration of porous materials: an overview. J Am Inst Conserv 39(3). http://cool.conservation-us.org/jaic/articles/jaic39-03-002.html
Charola EA (2003) Salt deterioration: open questions. In: Leitner H, Laue S, Siedel H (eds) Mauersalze und Architektberflächen. Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Hamburg
Christaras B (1996) Particularities in studying the physical and mechanical properties of stone in monuments. Examples from the Mediterranean Basin. (From 8th Int Congr on the Deterioration and Conservation of Stone, Berlin, Germany, 30 Sept–4 Oct 1996.) http://users.auth.gr/christar/assets/pdf/papers/43-1996%20Christaras%20monum-8o%20ICDCS-Berlin.pdf, pp 819–829
CNR–ICR (1980) Normal 4/80. Distribuzione del volume dei pori in funzione del loro diametro. CNR–ICR, Rome
Cnudde V, Cwirzen A, Masschaele B, Jacobs PJS (2009) Porosity and microstructure characterization of building stones and concretes. Eng Geol 103:76–83. http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enggeio
Doehne E (2003) Salt weathering: a selective review. Natural stone, weathering phenomenon, conservation strategies and case studies, vol 205. Geological Society, London, pp 51–64
Espinoza-Marzal RM, Scherer GW (2010) Mechanisms of damage by salt. Limestone in the built environment: present-day challenges for the preservation of the past. Geological Society, London, pp 61–77
Fitzner B, Heinrichs K, Volker M (1995) Stone deterioration of monuments in Malta. Preservation and restoration of cultural heritage. Proceedings of the 1995 LCP Congress September 24th–29th 1995. Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Montreux, pp 89–100
Fitzner B, Heinrichs K, Volker M (1996) Model for salt weathering at Maltese Globigerina Limestones. In: Zezza F (ed) Origin, mechanisms and effects of salts on degradation of monuments in marine and continental environments. Protection and conservation of the European cultural heritage, research report 4. European Commission, Brussels, pp 333–344
Gatt PA (2006) Model of limestone weathering and damage in masonry: sedimentological and geothechnical controls in Globigerina Limestone Formation (Miocene) of Malta. Xjenza 11:30–39
Gauci DA, Sapiano M (1993) Geochemical anomalies in Globigerina Limestone and the “soll” facies. B.Sc. dissertation. University of Malta, Msida
Giesche H (2006) Mercury porosimetry: a general (practical) overview. Part Part Syst Char 23:9–19
Lubelli BA (2006) Sodium chloride damage to porous building materials. Ph.D. dissertation. TU Delft, Delft
Muscat M (2006) The behaviour of “Franka” and “Soll” with respect to salt weathering and possible solutions. B.E. & A (Hons.) dissertation. University of Malta, Msida
Ordóñez S, Fort R, Garcia del Cura MA (1997) Pore size distribution and the durability of a porous limestone. Q J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 30:221–230. http://www.lyellcollection.org
Přikryl R (2013) Durability assessment of natural stone. Q J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 46:377–390
Přikryl R, Svobodová J, Žák K, Hradil D (2004) Anthropogenic origin of salt crusts on sandstone sculptures of Prague’s Charles Bridge (Czech Republic): evidence of mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry. Eur J Mineral 16(4):609–617
Přikryl R, Novotná M, Přikrylová J, Weishauptová Z, Šťastná A (2011) Physical and mechanical properties of the repaired sandstone ashlars in the facing masonry of the Charles Bridge in Prague (Czech Republic) and analytical study for the causes of its rapid decay. Environ Earth Sci 63(7–8):1623–1639
Quantachrome Instruments (2009) Poremaster® and Poremaster® GT user guide (operating manual). Quantachrome Instruments, Boynton Beach
Rizzo C, Serracino Inglott K (1994) Geochemical study of the Globigerina Limestone formation. B.Sc. dissertation. University of Malta, Msida
Rodriguez-Navarro C, Doehne E (1999) Salt weathering: influence of evaporation rate, supersaturation and crystallization pattern. In: Earth surface processes and landforms 24. Wiley [online], pp 191–209. http://www.academia.edu
Rothert E, Eggers T, Cassar J, Ruedrich J, Fitzner B, Siegesmund S (2007) Stone properties and weathering induced by salt crystallization of Maltese Globigerina Limestone. Building stone decay: from diagnosis to conservation. Geological Society, London, pp 189–198
Ruiz-Agudo E, Rodriguez-Navarro C (2006) Salt weathering by sulfates: influence of saline solution properties. Macla 6:431–434. http://www.ehu.eus/sem/macla_pdf/macla6/Macla6_431.pdf
Ruiz-Agudo E, Mees F, Jacobs P, Rodriguez-Navarro C (2007) The role of saline solution properties on porous limestone salt weathering by magnesium and sodium sulfates. Environ Geol 52:269–281
Steiger M, Charola AE, Sterflinger K (2011) Chapter 4: Weathering and deterioration. In: Siegesmund S, Snethlage R (eds) Stone in architecture: properties, durability, 4th edn. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 227–316
Testa SJ (1989) A down-column geo-chemical study of Lower Globigerina Limestone with special reference to the “soll” layers. B.Ed. (Hons.) dissertation. University of Malta, Msida
Vella AJ, Testa S, Zammit C (1997) Geochemistry of the soll facies of the Lower Globigerina Limestone Formation, Malta. Xjenza 2(1):27–33
Wardell Armstrong (1996) Mineral resource assessment for the planning authority of Malta (an unpublished, limited-circulation document comprising 5 volumes). Wardell Armstrong, Cardiff
Zammit CV (1991) The analysis of Lower Globigerina Limestone for silicon, iron and aluminium. B.Sc. dissertation, University of Malta, Msida
Zammit G, Cassar J, Vella AJ, Torpiano A (2007) Identifying facies with different weathering properties in Malta’s Lower Globigerina Limestone. Stone Newslett Stone Decay 2:32
Acknowledgments
The research work disclosed in this paper was partly funded by the Malta Government Scholarship Scheme 2013. The authors would also like to acknowledge the help and scientific/technical assistance given by Prof. Milos. Drdádký and his team at the CET Telc, Czech Republic, in carrying out the 3D CT X-ray tomography analyses.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zammit, T., Cassar, J. Investigating possible correlations between the porosimetry and insoluble residue content of Malta’s Lower Globigerina Limestone. Bull Eng Geol Environ 76, 59–70 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-015-0817-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-015-0817-7