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A multianalytical approach to investigate stone biodeterioration at a UNESCO world heritage site: the volcanic rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Northern Ethiopia

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Abstract

A multianalytical approach combining Optical Microscopy (OM), Backscattered Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscopy + Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (VP-BSEM + EDS), Powder X-ray Diffractometry (PXRD), Raman Spectroscopy, and Microbiological techniques has been applied to characterize decay products and processes occurring at the surface of two rock-hewn churches (Bete Gyorgis and Bete Amanuel) at the UNESCO’s World Heritage site of Lalibela, Northern Ethiopia. The two churches were carved into volcanic scoria deposits of basaltic composition. In their geological history, the Lalibela volcanic rocks underwent late to post-magmatic hydrothermal alteration together with partial laterization and are therefore characterized by a decay-prone highly vesicular microtexture with late stage to post-magmatic precipitation of secondary mineral phases (calcite–zeolite–smectite). The main objective of the study was to gain a better insight into the weathering products and mechanisms affecting the surface of the stone monuments and to assess the relative contribution of natural “geological” weathering processes versus biological/salt attack in stone decay at this unique heritage site. Results indicate that while the main cause of bulk rock deterioration and structural failure could be related to the stone inherited “geological” features, biological attack by micro- (bacteria) and/or macro- (lichens) organisms is currently responsible for severe stone surface physical and chemical weathering leading to significant weakening of the stone texture and to material loss at the surface of the churches walls. A prompt and careful removal of the biological patinas with the correct biocidal treatment is therefore recommended.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Ethiopian government for granting permission to one of the authors (A.K.) to collect samples from the Lalibela monuments for the analytical campaign. N.S. would like to gratefully acknowledge the financial support to the HERCULES Laboratory (where the BSEM + EDS analysis were made) from the EEA Grants (Iceland-Lichtenstein-Norway).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. HERCULES Laboratory and Évora Geophysics Centre (CGE), University of Évora, Évora, Portugal

    Nick Schiavon

  2. CNR-ISMN, Rome, Italy

    Tilde De Caro, Isabella Erica Parisi & Cristina Riccucci

  3. Department of Physics, University of Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Alemayehu Kiros

  4. Department of Chemistry, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal

    Ana Teresa Caldeira

  5. Department SBAI, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Giovanni Ettore Gigante

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  1. Nick Schiavon
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  2. Tilde De Caro
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  3. Alemayehu Kiros
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  4. Ana Teresa Caldeira
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  5. Isabella Erica Parisi
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  6. Cristina Riccucci
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  7. Giovanni Ettore Gigante
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Correspondence to Nick Schiavon.

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Schiavon, N., De Caro, T., Kiros, A. et al. A multianalytical approach to investigate stone biodeterioration at a UNESCO world heritage site: the volcanic rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Northern Ethiopia. Appl. Phys. A 113, 843–854 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-013-7757-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-013-7757-5

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