Characterization of limestones for building in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Abstract

The environmental degradation of red and white limestone exposed to a rural tropical atmosphere of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico was characterized during seven years using gravimetric measurements, SEM, EDX and X-ray diffraction techniques. The results showed that the red limestone dissolves faster than the white. However, they do not change significantly their bulk chemical composition, suggesting that the degradation occurs mainly by disaggregation of the calcite grains and alveolarization. Minor traces of crystalline phases of several iron oxides in the limestone might promote the decay process. Mathematical relationships are proposed to describe the kinetics of degradation, giving insight in the rate of degradation in future time.