Caliche From Archaeological Zone of Guanajuato Mexico and Nearby Deposits: Geochemical and Mechanical Characterizations

Abstract

ABSTRACT Currently, several archaeological sites are being studied in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Among these sites is the Cerro de Los Remedios, located in the municipality of Comonfort, in the state of Guanajuato. The archaeological site shows that among the main materials used for construction was a carbonate-based stone called caliche. Caliche is the result of carbonate sedimentation in sandstone; therefore, its physical and geochemical characteristics are specific to each archaeological zone around the world. Therefore, it was necessary to conduct a study of the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of the material found. Samples were removed from the CZA archaeological site and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, XRD, X-ray fluorescence and SEM. The results showed that more than 93% of the caliche is composed of CaCO3 as a matrix of micrite and calcite granules. In addition, the physical and mechanical properties were determined, including density, porosity, and uniaxial compression stress. With the results obtained from the samples from the archaeological site, it was possible to identify material banks close to the caliche properties that were most like those used at the site, which can be proposed to be used in the conservation work required at the archaeological site.