Marble weathering in an industrial environment, eastern Australia

Abstract

Qualitative evidence from monuments and buildings in industrialized countries indicates that rates of stone deterioration rise in the presence of urban and industrial pollutants. Measurements presented here on surface reduction of marble tombstones show that mean weathering rates have increased over the period 1885 to 1955. Weathering rates were lower before the establishment of sulfur dioxide-emitting plants. Marble weathering involved solution etching along grain boundaries and within individual grains, and proceeded by surface roughening and dislodgement of grains with little apparent accumulation of gypsum. Absolute surface reduction of marble was less than that recorded in industrial environments in Europe and North America.