Multi-analytical approach for chemical-mineralogical characterization of reaction rims in the lime mortars from Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain)

Publication date: Available online 19 October 2019Source: Microchemical JournalAuthor(s): Graciela Ponce-Antón, Maria Cruz Zuluaga, Luis Angel Ortega, Juantxo Agirre MauleonAbstractThis work presents a chemical-mineralogical study of archaeological lime mortars from Amaiur Castle (Navarre, Spain) dated between the 14th and 17th centuries. The study focuses on the analysis of the reaction zone observed around the dolomitic aggregates of lime mortars by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis, micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Multi-analytical analysis show that the reaction zone is composed of two reaction rims and a halo formed as result of the dedolomitization of dolomitic mortar aggregates in a strongly alkaline medium. The mineralogical results suggest mortars cured at around 60°C, pointing to a traditional hot-mixing manufacture method.
Source: Microchemical Journal - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research