Magnesian limestone has been a popular building material used for historical construction throughout Europe and North America for centuries. However, the sheer diversity of limestone available hampers the repair of damaged stone in ongoing preservation and conservation programmes. This problem is exacerbated by the differential weathering rates of limestone from geographically and geologically distinct quarries; environmental weathering represents the major decay mechanism for limestone, arising from atmospheric pollution, climate change, or complex micro-climates present across exposed or sheltered areas of historic buildings. Here we show how X-ray spectroscopy (XAS and XPS) and electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) can shed insight into the chemical composition, structure, and surface reactivity of synthetic calcium carbonate nanocrystal mimics of naturally occurring limestone, and thereby help elucidate the impact of gas-phase and soluble sulphate upon gypsum formation and associated mortar and stone decay.

Spectroscopic and microscopic studies of weathering and decay in historic magnesian limestone

240th National Meeting (2010)

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