Implications of new mineral phases in the isotopic composition of Roman lime mortars at the Kom el-Dikka archaeological site in Egypt

Fort R., Ergenc D., Aly N., de Buergo M. A., Hemeda S.

CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS, vol.268, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 268
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121085
  • Journal Name: CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, INSPEC, Metadex, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: Stable isotopes, C-13 and O-18, Recrystallisation, Salts, Petrography, Cementation, ANCIENT MORTARS, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES, CARBONATION, CONSOLIDATION, DETERIORATION, TECHNOLOGY, NANOLIME, WATER
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Over time, the carbonated components of lime-based mortars dissolve and recrystallise, inducing calcite cementation in the resulting micro-cracks and pores, favouring self-healing capacity. In such types of mortars, the binder may originally contain gypsum, or, on the other hand, dissolution and precipitation processes of compounds from different sources (soil, construction materials or airborne particles) may derive in the formation of new saline minerals. The uptake of such components may interfere with chemical and physical analysis, hindering the interpretation of the data needed to determine the identification, provenance of raw materials, formulation, and production processes of mortars, carried out in archaeometric investigations.