Environmental deterioration and conservation of monumental basalt, Egypt

Abstract EN

Basalt is one of the natural stones used in both buildings and sculptures along the human being history.

It is one of the hardest stones, but also records weathering to different extents by environmental conditions.

The current study is focused on examining deterioration and conservation of Basalt used in different locations in Egypt.

The study has been carried out using field recording and laboratory analysis to asses the aim of this study.

It is indicated that Basalt is experiencing weathering and deterioration noted through thin sections and scanning electron microscopic study indicated by rock mineralogical alteration to unstable minerals.

The investigations used also x-ray powder diffraction analysis and x-ray Dispersive analysis.

Consolidation has been carried out to enhance the durability of this stone to withstand against the impact of the arid and the semi arid climate of Egypt and to evaluate possible protective treatments.