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Slate as Dimension Stone pp 135–158Cite as

Weathering of Slate

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Abstract

A good slate can be considered as a very durable stone and resistant to weathering. The chapter explains the different weathering processes and related damages of slate as a building stone. At the beginning of this chapter, a short illustrated glossary of deterioration patterns for slate in accordance to ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites 2008) is introduced. This chapter presents the most important deterioration processes and their effect on slate for roofing as well as for dimension stone. It explains the causing factors for and during mechanical and chemical weathering and the associated environmental conditions. The different forms and processes of oxidation affect the appearance and technical functionality of a slate roof. Among all weathering processes, there is little knowledge only about the role of salt in respect to the deterioration of slate. This is most likely due to the fact that most slates contain no or almost no carbonate so that there seems to be no urgent demand for detailed investigations. However, the chapter identifies different aspects for further research of the mechanism and various factors of salt-related deterioration processes.

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  • DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-35667-5_5
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Fig. 5.1
Fig. 5.2

(Data: Meteorological Department Czech Republic)

Fig. 5.3

Photograph Smog during summer in the area around Osek (Czech Republic), caused by the chemical industry and household coal combustion within the so called black triangle

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Fig. 5.6

(after Gómez-Heras 2006)

Fig. 5.7

(after Steiger 2006)

Fig. 5.8
Fig. 5.9

(upper photograph: courtesy of Mr. H. Stein, 2019)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geotechnical Institute, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany

    Jörn Wichert

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  1. Jörn Wichert
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Wichert, J. (2020). Weathering of Slate. In: Slate as Dimension Stone. Springer Mineralogy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35667-5_5

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