@misc{10481/95075,
year = {2024},
month = {9},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10481/95075},
abstract = {The Alcazaba of Almería (Spain) is one of the most important Arabic fortresses of the Iberian
Peninsula archaeological record. It is located in the south of Spain, on the Mediterranean coast,
and its construction dates back to the late 10th century. It consists of three enclosures, two of
which belong to the Andalusian period, while the last one dates from the 16th century. However,
very few materials’ studies have been performed in this complex, despite the incomparable historic
relevance. In this study, we present an extensive mineralogical and physical-chemical
characterization of the construction materials of this site, divided in mortars, earthen materials
and bricks. We provide an unprecedent scientifical-technical study of the building materials of
this fortress, so as to understand the building techniques used and the causes of deterioration. All
collected samples were analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy,
optical microscopy thermogravimetric analysis and stereo-zoom microscopy. Our results reveal
that main phases used for construction materials on this site were Ca and Mg-carbonates,
accompanied by Fe-Ca-Mg silicates. Mortars showed a carbonate-binder composition with nonhydraulic
nature whereas calcination of raw materials occurred below 800 ºC due to the
permanence of dolomite. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the construction materials from the
Alcazaba suffered such relevant damages due to the precipitation of salts (i.e., gypsum and halite)
caused by coastal environment, key information for future archaeological restoration work in this
highly significant location. We show that, in mortars and earthen materials, halite nucleates in
fractures and dissolution pits exerting a crystallization pressure ~ 100 MPa to cause fracture.
Furthermore, calcium and magnesium silicate hydrates were observed confirming some pozzolanic
properties. Finally, the bricks studied here demonstrated that firing T maximum of 700 ºC
due to the presence of carbonates. This work opens new pathways to develop specific consolidation
methods of materials and structural elements, as well as to ensure adequate restoration and
conservation, of similar archaeological sites in coastal-related environments},
organization = {Spanish Government (grant BES-2016–078468), the grant. JDC2022–050127-I, funded by
MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033},
organization = {European Union "NextGenerationEU"/PRTRTR},
organization = {Research Group “RNM0179”
(Junta de Andalucia)},
organization = {University of Granada (Unidad Científica de Excelencia UCE-PP2016–05)},
organization = {Spanish Ministry of Universities (grant PRE2019–088262)},
publisher = {Elsevier},
keywords = {Earthen materials},
keywords = {Lime mortars},
keywords = {Bricks},
title = {Unveiling the hidden deterioration of the Alcazaba of Almería (Spain): A comprehensive study on arabic architectural materials},
doi = {10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e03678},
author = {Monasterio Guillot, Luis and Crespo López, Laura and González Pérez, Igor and Marin Troya, Pedro},
}