Abstract
This paper addresses one central issue of building stone research: An origin for calcium in gypsum formation in non-calcareous sandstones. A comparative study of Scrabo sandstone from outcrops and a 120-year-old building in central Belfast shows how weathering has significantly altered the mineralogy. Preliminary results suggest that the occurrence of gypsum throughout the stone blocks is related to chemical reactions between a pore-filling mineral constituent, actinolite (Ca Mg amphibole), and sulphur oxides from urban pollution. These findings advocate an internal source of calcium for gypsum formation, and provide new evidence to explain the enhanced decay displayed in some Scrabo sandstone.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 869-875 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Earth Surface Processes and Landforms |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2001 |
Keywords
- Building stone decay
- Calcium
- Gypsum
- Sandstone
- Sulphation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geography, Planning and Development
- Earth-Surface Processes
- Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
