Abstract
The Nossa Senhora das Mercês cathedral is located in the city of Porto Nacional, Tocantins state. This rustic and impressive church was built on the Tocantins River right margin between the years of 1894 and 1903, by the French Dominican friars, supported by local population efforts. This cathedral exhibits a romanesque architectural style being constructed using local raw materials, mainly lateritic fragments (ferruginized sandstones), ceramic bricks and mortar prepared with soil, wood stove ashes and grasses. Despite of the well-known high chemical stability of these rocks due to iron oxides and hydroxides minerals composition, some deterioration features were observed, as for example, the vegetation and micro-organisms communities growing on the surface of cathedral external walls, among other findings. Such biological activity promotes the weathering acceleration leading to detachment of building materials. To foment the preventive maintenance and the proper use of restoration materials and techniques, it is imperative to carry out studies about the geological provenance, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of these constructive materials.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
