Petrographic and Chemical–Mineralogical Characterization of Mortars from the Cistern at Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain)
Mortars from the cistern in Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain) were analysed to assess the mortar manufacturing process and application techniques. To this end, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman mi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/4/311 |
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| author | Graciela Ponce-Antón Maria Cruz Zuluaga Luis Angel Ortega Juantxo Agirre Mauleon |
| author_facet | Graciela Ponce-Antón Maria Cruz Zuluaga Luis Angel Ortega Juantxo Agirre Mauleon |
| author_sort | Graciela Ponce-Antón |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mortars from the cistern in Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain) were analysed to assess the mortar manufacturing process and application techniques. To this end, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman microspectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were performed. The study of both structural and plaster mortars from Amaiur Castle cistern show patterns/rules in the mortar manufacture according to the specific construction requirements. A multilayer application technique was used for the construction of the cistern tank. Deliberate selection of the aggregate nature and grading contributed to mortar impermeability. Ceramic and silico-aluminous rock fragments were used as aggregates in the cistern tank to confer hydraulicity to the mortars, instead of carbonated aggregates as used in the vault. Aluminosilicated phases present in the aggregates led to the formation of amesite, which is a magnesium aluminosilicate hydrate (M-A-S-H) phase conferring hydraulicity to the mortar. Two types of additives were identified in the outer pigmented layer of plaster. Beeswax was the identified organic additive used to improve the impermeability of mortar, while hematite was the identified inorganic additive giving rise to the reddish colour of the layer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:17:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03af6b0732cb44fdaaa3ded7976a7f98 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:17:25Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-03af6b0732cb44fdaaa3ded7976a7f982023-12-03T11:51:31ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2020-03-0110431110.3390/min10040311Petrographic and Chemical–Mineralogical Characterization of Mortars from the Cistern at Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain)Graciela Ponce-Antón0Maria Cruz Zuluaga1Luis Angel Ortega2Juantxo Agirre Mauleon3Department of Mineralogy and Petrology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, SpainDepartment of Mineralogy and Petrology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, SpainDepartment of Mineralogy and Petrology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, SpainAranzadi Society of Sciences, Zorroagagaina 11, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, SpainMortars from the cistern in Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain) were analysed to assess the mortar manufacturing process and application techniques. To this end, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman microspectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were performed. The study of both structural and plaster mortars from Amaiur Castle cistern show patterns/rules in the mortar manufacture according to the specific construction requirements. A multilayer application technique was used for the construction of the cistern tank. Deliberate selection of the aggregate nature and grading contributed to mortar impermeability. Ceramic and silico-aluminous rock fragments were used as aggregates in the cistern tank to confer hydraulicity to the mortars, instead of carbonated aggregates as used in the vault. Aluminosilicated phases present in the aggregates led to the formation of amesite, which is a magnesium aluminosilicate hydrate (M-A-S-H) phase conferring hydraulicity to the mortar. Two types of additives were identified in the outer pigmented layer of plaster. Beeswax was the identified organic additive used to improve the impermeability of mortar, while hematite was the identified inorganic additive giving rise to the reddish colour of the layer.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/4/311lime mortarplasterhydraulicityreaction rimhydrotalciteamesite |
| spellingShingle | Graciela Ponce-Antón Maria Cruz Zuluaga Luis Angel Ortega Juantxo Agirre Mauleon Petrographic and Chemical–Mineralogical Characterization of Mortars from the Cistern at Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain) Minerals lime mortar plaster hydraulicity reaction rim hydrotalcite amesite |
| title | Petrographic and Chemical–Mineralogical Characterization of Mortars from the Cistern at Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain) |
| title_full | Petrographic and Chemical–Mineralogical Characterization of Mortars from the Cistern at Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain) |
| title_fullStr | Petrographic and Chemical–Mineralogical Characterization of Mortars from the Cistern at Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Petrographic and Chemical–Mineralogical Characterization of Mortars from the Cistern at Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain) |
| title_short | Petrographic and Chemical–Mineralogical Characterization of Mortars from the Cistern at Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain) |
| title_sort | petrographic and chemical mineralogical characterization of mortars from the cistern at amaiur castle navarre spain |
| topic | lime mortar plaster hydraulicity reaction rim hydrotalcite amesite |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/4/311 |
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