Читать книгу Monument Future - Siegfried Siegesmund - Страница 367

Fuente de Cibeles of Madrid (Spain) was carved in Montesclaros marble between 1777 and 1782. In order to know its modifications and anthropogenic decay throughout its history, a documentary search was carried out. Montesclaros marble and its deterioration have been evaluated with optical microscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetry and colourimetry. In addition, the linear microcrack density from the surface to the interior of an altered sample was calculated. This dolomitic marble has coarse equigranular blasts and granoblastic texture. Dolomite crystals are surrounded by smaller calite crystals that dissolve more easily. This dissolution produces pores, a slight colour change and finally granular disintegration. Rhombohedral exfoliation microcracks are more numerous in the first superficial millimeters of altered stones.

Keywords: Fuente de Cibeles, marble decay, weathering processes, maintenance