Abstract
Mada’in Saleh, northwest of Saudi Arabia, has attractive tombs carved in the outcrop cliffs of sandstone. The present study aims to evaluate the geoenvironmental hazards and to determine the main decay factors in the Mada’in Saleh tombs, using different analytical methods to support appropriate decisions. Besides field observations, meteorological data, optical, polarizing, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction analysis were used to examine the stone samples. Mada’in Saleh outcrop cliffs are formed of Quweria sandstone (Cambrian). Petrographical analysis reveals that the sandstone detrital grains are composed of monocrystalline and polycrystalline quartz in addition to minor amounts of mica and clay minerals. According to SEM observations, the disintegration of clay minerals and salt crystallization are the major factors in the decay of Qasr Al-Farid’s tomb. The daily high temperature sometimes exceeds 44 °C; wind erosion and relative humidity can cause continuous wetting-drying cycles on the stone surfaces.
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