Carrara Marble Research Articles

Semi‐Brittle Deformation of Carrara Marble: Hardening and Twinning Induced Plasticity

AbstractSemi‐brittle flow occurs when crystal plasticity and cataclastic mechanisms operate concurrently and may be common at mid‐levels of the Earth's crust. Using a Paterson gas‐deformation apparatus, we performed 67 conventional triaxial deformation experiments on dry samples of Carrara marble in the temperature range of T = 20–800°C; confining pressures (PC) were 30, 50,100, 200, and 300 MPa, and strain rates () were 10−3, 10−4, 10−5, and 10−6 s−1. Axial strains (ε) were ≲0.12. The measured (differential) stress, , changes with strain at most applied conditions. At ε = 0.05, both stress and the hardening coefficient (h), that is, the rate of increase of stress with strain, increase as T decreases and PC increases. At T ≲ 400°C, h is quite large and the sensitivity of on is low, while both are sensitive to increasing pressure. In this temperature range, the mechanical behavior of the marble is very similar to that exhibited by high‐strength, high‐ductility, hexagonal metals that deform by processes called twinning induced plasticity (TWIP). Twinning and dislocation motion are abundant in the samples, as are inter‐ and intracrystalline microfractures. The concurrent activation of these deformation mechanisms leads to complex relationships of and h with the applied T ‐ PC ‐ conditions. This behavior suggests that peak stresses for calcite rocks deforming by semi‐brittle processes will occur at PC ‐ T conditions of the middle crust, and that they might be more strongly influenced by total strain rather than by strain rate.

Assessment of Stone Protective Coatings with a Novel Eco-Friendly Encapsulated Biocide

The conservation of stone monuments is a constant concern due to their continuous weathering, in which biofouling plays a relevant role. To enhance the effectiveness of biocidal treatments and to avoid environmental issues related to their possible toxicity, this research aims at formulating and characterizing a coating charged with an eco-friendly biocide and showing hydrophobic properties. For this purpose, zosteric sodium salt—a natural biocide product—has been encapsulated into two silica nanocontainers and dispersed into a tetraethoxysilane-based (TEOS) coating also containing TiO2 nanoparticles. The coatings were applied on four different types of stone: brick, mortar, travertine, and Carrara marble. The effectiveness of the coating formulations and their compatibility concerning the properties of coated stones were assessed. The results showed that all coatings conferred a hydrophobic character to the substrate, as demonstrated by the increase of the static contact angle and the reduction in the capillary water absorption coefficient. The transmission of water vapor of the natural stones was preserved as well as their natural aspect. Furthermore, the coatings were homogeneously distributed on the surface and crack-free. Therefore, the protective capability of the coatings was successfully demonstrated.

The Carrara Marble: geology, geomechanics and quarrying

The industrial exploitation of the Carrara Marble dates back to I century B.C. with the Romans. After a black out in the Early Mediaeval age due to barbarian invasions, since XIII century the Carrara Marble has becoming more and more used for ornamental purposes and appreciated and requested worldwide. Geologically the Carrara Marble derives from a Tertiary polyphasic tectono-metamorphic deformation of an Early Jurassic epicontinental carbonate platform. That got rise to the diverse merceological types of the Carrara Marble, this and two neo-tectonic sub-vertical fracture systems, NNE-SSW and NW-SE trending respectively and grouped into bands irregularly spaced, control the geo-mining setting of the Carrara Marble. For centuries the Carrara Marble has been excavated only following the feeling the quarrymen had with the rock-mass, but the new cultivation technologies with diamond-wire cutting machines and saw-cutting chains, with big frontal-loaders and excavators, have greatly increased the production and require for a robust design based on reliable geomechanical data. Underground quarrying is increasing because technical and environmental concerns and asks for robust design and in situ stress determinations.

The Bust of Ottavio Farnese at the J. Paul Getty Museum: An Addition to the Corpus of Giovanni Battista della Porta

The various sculpted busts of Ottavio Farnese (1524–86), duke of Parma and Piacenza, are still at the center of debates of attribution. Focusing on the bust in Carrara marble in the collection of t...

‘New Carrara’: Lasa marble in the service of artistic ideas and economic interests during the long nineteenth century

This article discusses Lasa marble, a bright, white and weather-resistant stone quarried in South Tyrol, which in the course of the nineteenth century came to be considered equal, and even superior, to Carrara marble. Because of its quality, Lasa marble has been and continues to be exported worldwide. The article considers the ‘new Carrara’ in light of three art-historical topics: its rediscovery against the background of the intertwining of the young disciplines of geology and art history in the nineteenth century; its use and semantic quality in the context of the new buildings along the Ringstrasse in Vienna; and finally, the various projects for the establishment of artists’ colonies at the quarries of Laas, the declared objectives of which were rooted between monastic harmony and tourism-oriented calculation.

Effectiveness and Compatibility of Nanoparticle Based Multifunctional Coatings on Natural and Man-Made Stones

The interaction of microorganisms with stone materials leads to biodeterioration processes, which may cause aesthetic damages and the loss of durability and strength of the substrates. Innovative solutions against this process are represented by nanotechnologies. In our previous works, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole was successfully encapsulated within two silica-based nanodevices: nanocapsules and mesoporous nanoparticles. Such loaded nanodevices have been dispersed in TEOS based coatings, characterized as far as their chemical–physical properties and in vitro biocide efficacy. Here, we adopt a multi-technic approach, to assess the coatings efficacy and compatibility with four types of stones of cultural heritage interest, namely, mortar, brick, travertine, and Carrara marble. In particular, we determine the protective function of the coatings, based on water transport properties (reduction up to a factor 10 of the water absorption for brick and mortar, without significantly influencing water vapor transmission rate), morphology of the surface (absence of coating cracks and color changes), and TiO2 photocatalytic activity. Consequently, these coatings can be considered suitable for application on stone artifacts, without interfering with their artistic appearance.

Time Dependent Mechanical Crack Closure as a Potential Rapid Source of Post‐Seismic Wave Speed Recovery: Insights From Experiments in Carrara Marble

AbstractSeismological observations indicate strong variations in wave velocities around faults both co‐seismically during earthquakes, and post‐seismically. Recovery is commonly associated with a reduction in crack damage. Here, we explore the recovery associated with time‐dependent mechanical closure of cracks. We report results from laboratory experiments conducted on dry cores of Carrara marble at room temperature. We deformed cylindrical samples in the semi‐brittle regime to induce crack damage before subjecting them to hydrostatic and triaxial stress conditions for extended periods of time while recording dilatancy and wave speeds repeatedly. We report wave speed increases of up to 40% of the damage‐induced wave speed drop in samples subject to hydrostatic loading. Moreover, we report the occurrence of significant wave speed increases contemporaneously with time‐dependent creep in triaxially loaded samples. Wave speed recovery during creep is only observed below a threshold creep strain rate, a result we interpret as a transition from brittle to plastic creep with decreasing strain rate. We interpret the wave speed increase in terms of reduced crack density and increased contact area within the crack array, and show that around 40% of the total crack surface has to be closed to justify the observed wave speed recoveries. We propose that mechanical crack closure is driven by the viscous relaxation of the bulk rock under the influence of locked‐in stresses at low confining pressure, and of the external stresses at higher confining pressure. Our study shows that mechanical crack closure is a significant source of time‐dependent wave speed recovery.

Effect of cyclic heating on subcritical crack growth of rock beams under four-point bending test

This study considers the effects of cyclic differential heating on the velocity of the subcritical crack growth (SCG) from a central notch in rock beams under four-point bending test. Beams of both Carrara marble and Fujian granite are subjected to non-uniform heating, with heating from the top surface containing the notch (at about 60° Celsius) and with cooling to the bottom side with no notch (at about 25° Celsius). Beams are heated for 7–188 days before they are subject to constant load creeping test under four-point bending configuration, and the compliance method is used to interpret crack growth from the crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD). The compliance method is verified by using acoustic emissions from cracking events together with simultaneous microscopic observations. It was discovered that a microcrack processing zone (PZ) was observed in the form of white patches ahead of the notch tip during the creeping test, followed by sudden jumps of macrocrack growth. Linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) is used to calculate the local stress intensity factor, which is then further related to crack growth velocity, through the commonly adopted power law. After the application of non-uniform cyclic heating, the P-wave velocity of Fujian granite increases (due to microcrack closure) whilst that of Carrara marble decreases (due to parallel crack formation). The SCG parameters in the power law (power index n and threshold velocity v0) are obtained. There is no clear trend in the variation of the SCG parameters with the number of heating cycles. However, these parameters are used to simulate subcritical crack growth velocity for both heated and unheated specimens. In the light of fracture mechanics analysis, we conclude that Fujian granite is clearly preferable to Carrara marble in making rock panels on cladding of buildings.

3D FEM and DEM Analyses of Underground Openings in Competent Rock Masses

The paper is aimed at comparing the results of numerical analyses of underground openings in competent rock masses like the Carrara Marble (Italy) by considering a real and well documented case study. More specifically, 3D FEM and DEM analyses were carried out on a rock-mass model interested by two faults and three sets of discontinuities. The geometrical model is representative of deep underground openings where spalling-cracks and rock bursts can occur. PLAXIS 3D and 3DEC were used for the analyses. Intact rock and rock mass characterization of Carrara Marble was inferred from available technical literature. The analysis results were compared in terms of principal stresses and displacements in a number of monitoring points around the opening. The main practical interest is to find out a reliable approach for evaluating the stability of very large openings in a competent rock mass like Carrara marble. For such a purpose, a number of available in-situ stress measurements were used.

Mechanical properties of 4 rocks at different temperatures and fracture assessment using the strain energy density criterion

This work aims to analyse the fracture behaviour of rocks with U-shaped notches subjected to mode I loading and to different temperature conditions. To this end, an energy-based approach is used called the Strain Energy Density (SED) criterion. This study attempts to extend a previous work of the authors where the SED criterion was successfully applied to U-notched components subjected to mode I loading conditions at room temperature. In this case, the effect of temperature is considered as a new variable.The research analyses four different types of isotropic rocks with different lithologies, namely a Floresta sandstone, a Moleano limestone, a Macael marble and a Carrara marble. An exhaustive laboratory campaign was performed to define the main mechanical properties of the selected rocks at different temperatures. In total, 144 tensile splitting (Brazilian) tests, 120 uniaxial compression tests, 410 thermal expansion measurements and more than 790 four-point bending tests have been executed under different thermal conditions. On the other hand, the range of temperatures analysed varies from room temperature up to 250 ºC, which is a common band in geothermal applications.Temperature has proven to be a significant parameter when analysing the fracture behaviour of the four selected rocks. Its influence on the main mechanical properties of the rocks (tensile strength, fracture toughness, compressive strength, Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio) has been studied and similar trends have been observed for the marbles, but different or even opposite ones for the sandstone and limestone. Overall, the application of the SED criterion has led to relatively accurate fracture predictions under different temperature conditions. This methodology assumes a linear-elastic behaviour of the rocks at the studied range of temperatures. For this reason, the failure load predictions become less accurate when non-linearities are not negligible, as in the case of the Carrara marble.

Simulation of mixed-mode fracture using the combined finite–discrete element method

It has been shown experimentally that under mixed tensile and compressive stress states, a corresponding mixed-mode fracture will occur. In this paper, the formation of mixed-mode fractures is investigated using the combined finite–discrete element method. A series of simulations with confining pressures ranging from 7.5 to 150 MPa generate a spectrum of mixed-mode failure conditions. These stress states at failure span the transition from the tensile to compressive failure. The models reproduce previous experiments on Carrara marble using a dog-bone geometry, and a comparison shows good qualitative agreement with the experimental observations. This paper demonstrates that mixed-mode fracture can be captured via numerical simulations and identifies areas where further research is required to better understand mixed-mode fracture processes.

Constraining Internal States in Progressive Rock Failure of Carrara Marble by Measuring Residual Strains With Neutron Diffraction

AbstractKnowledge of the internal state of rock is key to anticipate its rheological response and susceptibility to external factors. Time‐dependent failure in rock is controlled by internal state changes, like damage accumulation or strength degradation. But assessing internal states and changes thereof, nondestructively and independent of external forcing is not straightforward. Residual strains, measured with neutron diffraction techniques are used as a proxy for the internal state in material sciences. We investigated its potential for progressive rock failure by measuring residual strain states of an untested and three mechanically and chemomechanically pretested Carrara marble samples. We collected neutron diffraction data for three crystal lattice planes {10̅14}, {0006}, and {11̅20}. Measurements showed an initial overall contractional spatially homogeneous residual unit cell volume strain state of about −400 μstrain, though magnitudes were strongly partitioned among measured crystal lattice planes. However, they are equal within the spatial orientations of the intact sample. For the pretested samples, the induction and relaxation of strains varied spatially with the pretesting stress field and environmental conditions. The vertical extent of superposition of the initial residual strain state was greatest in wet samples, the magnitude of induced extensional strain highest in the dry sample. This indicates chemomechanically enhanced subcritical crack growth with concomitant residual strain relaxation as well as the mitigation of extensional strain built up by the presence of water during pretesting. Our experiments show that residual strain has a significant potential to provide insights into past and actual internal states to anticipate progressive rock failure.

Effects of organic removal techniques prior to carbonate stable isotope analysis of lacustrine marls: A case study from palaeo-lake Fucino (central Italy).

The suitability of organic matter (OM) removal pre-treatments in isotopic studies of lacustrine carbonates is currently under debate. Naturally occurring OM seems to have a negligible effect on the bulk isotopic composition of carbonates compared with changes induced by pre-treatments. This study provides further insights into the possible effects induced by commonly used pre-treatments on natural lacustrine carbonates. Sixteen samples from the Fucino F1-F3 lacustrine succession (Abruzzo, central Italy) were characterised for their mineralogical and geochemical composition and each was split into three identical aliquots. One aliquot was left untreated while the remaining two were treated with NaOCl and H2 O2 dilutions. The same treatment was applied to an internal standard consisting of pure Carrara marble. The treated and untreated samples were analysed for their carbon (δ13 C values) and oxygen (δ18 O values) isotope compositions using an Analytical Precision AP2003 isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The samples had variable proportions of endogenic and detrital components, the detrital portion being more (less) abundant during colder (warmer) climate phases. We observed that neither the NaOCl nor the H2 O2 treatment was able to completely remove OM and therefore there was selective removal of compounds within the OM pool. A possible effect of pre-treatment is the loss of carbonates intimately interspersed within the OM, as suggested by the evolution of isotopic ratios towards the local detrital array. Our study highlights sample-specific changes in geochemistry associated with sample pre-treatments; however, such changes do not seem to lead to either systematic and/or predictable isotopic shifts. We suggest that the suitability of NaOCl or H2 O2 pre-treatments for OM removal should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In the specific case of lacustrine marls from palaeo-lake Fucino containing relatively low amounts of OM and in which both detrital and endogenic carbonates occur, both pre-treatments should be avoided.

High resolution 3D mapping of grain kinematics during high temperature sequestration of SO2 from flue gas by carbonate aggregates

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is removed from flue gases prior to discharge into the atmosphere by high temperature sulphation reactions with the mineral calcite (CaCO3) in the form of calcite aggregates such as limestone. The efficiency of this industrial-scale process is constrained by the self-inhibiting growth of anhydrite (CaSO4) along calcite grain boundaries. Using very high resolution X-ray μCT and Scanning Electron Microscopy we show, for the first time, how the sulphation reaction is initiated by the anisotropic thermal expansion of calcite grains to produce high inter-grain permeability. In turn fast gas-solid reaction occurs to produce a network of porous anhydrite layers between grains. Individual calcite grains are then free to rotate and translate with respect to each other as the sulphation reaction proceeds. Grain translations of up to 24 μm and rotations of up to 0.64 degrees have been tracked in samples of a highly compacted calcite aggregate (Carrara Marble) across up to 600,000 grains through heating and cooling cycles during exposure to SO2 gas flow at temperatures from 600 to 750 °C at one atmosphere. Such grain kinematics help to maintain gas phase permeability in the solid reactant and mitigate the inhibitory growth of porous anhydrite on grain boundaries.

Crystallographic and Seismic Anisotropies of Calcite at Different Depths: A Study Using Quantitative Texture Analysis by Neutron Diffraction

Eight samples of limestones and marbles were studied by neutron diffraction to collect quantitative texture (i.e., crystallographic preferred orientations or CPO) of calcite deforming at different depths in the crust. We studied the different Texture patterns developed in shear zones at different depth and their influence on seismic anisotropies. Samples were collected in the French and Italian Alps, Apennines, and Paleozoic Sardinian basement. They are characterized by isotropic to highly anisotropic (e.g., mylonite shear zone) fabrics. Mylonite limestones occur as shear zone horizons within the Cenozoic Southern Domain in Alpine thrust-and-fold belts (Italy), the Briançonnais domain of the Western Alps (Italy-France border), the Sardinian Paleozoic back-thrusts, or in the Austroalpine intermediate units. The analyzed marbles were collected in the Carrara Marble, in the Austroalpine Units in the Central (Mortirolo) and Western Alps (Valpelline). The temperature and depth of development of fabrics vary from <100 ∘ C, to 800 ∘ C and depth from <10 km to about 30 km, corresponding from upper to lower crust conditions. Quantitative Texture Analysis shows different types of patterns for calcite: random to strongly textured. Textured types may be further separated in orthorhombic and monoclinic (Types A and B), based on the angle defined with the mesoscopic fabrics. Seismic anisotropies were calculated by homogenizing the single-crystal elastic tensor, using the Orientation Distribution Function calculated by Quantitative Texture Analysis. The resulting P- and S-wave anisotropies show a wide variability due to the textural types, temperature and pressure conditions, and dip of the shear planes.

Improved methodology for identification of Göktepe white marble and the understanding of its use: A comparison with Carrara marble

The provenance of marbles used for ancient statuary and architecture is of utmost importance for archaeologists, art historians and archaeometrists. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive characterisation of the white marble exploited in antiquity in Göktepe (Muğla Province, Turkey) to increase the reliability for identifying this marble in ancient artefacts. A campaign of interdisciplinary archaeological and geological fieldwork undertaken by the Marmora Asiatica project is based on a multi-method approach and on a representative set of samples used for the archaeometric analyses. Petrographic investigation showed that the Göktepe marble is more variable with regard to fabrics and grain size than previously suggested, whereas it is generally non-luminescent and dolomite-free. Stable C and O isotope and elemental analyses confirmed the results reported so far. We also report, for the first time for Göktepe white marble, the results of Sr isotope measurements, which in combination with elemental ratios, e.g. Sr/Mg and Mn/Sr, and δ18O values, greatly improve the discrimination among Göktepe, Carrara and other fine-grained white marbles. Applicability of these proxies was tested on artefacts from Hadrian's Villa, for which Carrara and Goktepe provenance had been proposed. The paper also reports new archaeological findings and results of estimates of stone extracted from the quarries, which allowed for a recontextualization of the significance of quarries at Göktepe. High-resolution topographic measurements, performed for the first time with the use of a 3-D laser scanner, combined with geological field study, allowed for precise calculation of the volume of the white variety extracted in antiquity. Estimates of 17000 m3 is almost a half less than previously suggested. Moreover, a careful study of the existing literature showed that in some instances assignment of white marble artefacts to the Göktepe quarries may not be accurate. Verification of provenance for those problematic artefacts and a more reliable identification of Göktepe marbles in the future can be achieved by application of the set of analyses proposed in this work, which has a higher discrimination potential.

Notch effect and fracture load predictions of rock beams at different temperatures using the Theory of Critical Distances

This work aims to analyse the fracture behaviour of rocks with U-shaped notches subjected to mode I loading and to different temperature conditions. To this end, the so called Theory of Critical Distances (TCD) is applied and four different types of isotropic rocks are studied: a Floresta sandstone, a Moleano limestone, a Macael marble and a Carrara marble. This study attempts to extend a previous work of the authors where the TCD was successfully applied to U-notched components subjected to mode I loading conditions at room temperature. In this case, the effect of temperature is considered as a new variable.The research comprises, in total, more than 790 four-point bending tests and 144 tensile splitting (Brazilian) tests. The latter include 6 disc-shaped specimens for each rock and temperature (6 different temperatures), while the four-point bending tests consist of at least 6 SENB specimens for each rock, notch radius (8 different notch radii varying from 0.15 mm to 15 mm) and temperature (4 different temperatures) combination. The temperatures considered in this study vary from room temperature up to 250 °C, which is a common range in geothermal applications.Temperature has proven to be a significant parameter when analysing the fracture behaviour of the four selected rocks. Its influence on the tensile strength and fracture toughness of the rocks is clear and reveals common patterns. However, no apparent tendencies are shown on the influence of temperature on the critical distance (L). Likewise, the application of the TCD has led to relatively accurate fracture predictions and notch effect analyses at different temperature conditions.

An analytical model for strength of jointed rock masses

An analytical model of rock mass with non-persistent joints is utilized to develop linear and nonlinear failure criteria based on intact rock strength, joint shear strength and joint persistence. The analytical model matches the solutions for the strength of fracture-free and fully jointed rocks and provides a reasonable transition of strength for rocks with non-persistent joints. Consistent with empirical evidence, the model predicts that increasing joint intensity and decreasing joint shear strength cause a reduction in the cohesive and frictional components of rock mass strength. Joint persistence in the analytical model has not only a physical definition as the normalized jointed area, but also a mechanical interpretation as the normalized reduction in strength due to the presence of joints. The relationship between the analytical model and the empirical Hoek-Brown failure criterion with Geological Strength Index (GSI) is explored. The analytical model of rock mass is utilized to develop and calibrate a quantitative GSI chart. The analytical model is validated using the results of comprehensive tests on undisturbed samples of naturally jointed Panguna andesite and thermally granulated Carrara marble. Practical application of the analytical model is illustrated by numerical back analysis of displacements around the Nathpa Jhakri powerhouse cavern.

Carbon and oxygen isotope variability among foraminifera and ostracod carbonated shells

This study investigates the effect of biological and environmental inter-individual variability on the meaning of d 18 O and d 13 C values acquired on small carbonated shells. First we present data obtained with a MultiPrep automated carbonate system on small sample sizes of a homogeneous carbonate material: Carrara marble. This demonstrates the capacities of the analytical system to reliably run small amounts of carbonates even down to 10 mg. Then we present two data sets obtained on real fossil samples of various size ( sensu number of individual organisms) calibrated against the NBS19 carbonate standard. Both datasets evidence a clear trend of between-biological sample standard deviation increase for both d 18 O and d 13 C measurements when the number of pooled specimens per sample decreases. According to the results obtained from a systematic study of a geologically homogeneous sample of coeval fossil Elphidium foraminifera, we estimate that there is 95% of chances to reach between-biological sample standard deviation values higher than 1.02‰ (d 18 O) and 1.45‰ d 13 C) based on single-cell measurements. Such values are one order of magnitude higher than the instrumental standard deviations associated with these stable isotope ratios. Conversely, a minimum of 35 (d 18 O) and 44 (d 13 C) pooled specimens of Elphidium appears necessary to reach a between-sample standard deviation £ 0.25‰ with a probability of 95%. Such biological intrinsic and irreducible variability between coeval individuals, and thus samples, clearly questions the interest for single-cell analyses, more precisely, for coastal marine species, such as Elphidium, subject to many environmental changes during their life-time. Indeed, strong variations in salinity or temperature, as well as biogenic fractionation, could influence the isotopic composition of an individual specimen. Results might be less problematic for an average community including several tests. This paper underlines uncertainties linked to specific environments in which selected organisms live, especially for paleoceanographic or paleoclimatic reconstruction purposes where secular oxygen and carbon isotope variations typically range from 0.5 to 1.5‰.

Effect of water and rock composition on re-strengthening of cohesive faults during the deceleration phase of seismic slip pulses

The elastic strain energy release rate and seismic waves emitted during earthquakes are controlled by the on-fault temporal evolution of the shear stress during rupture propagation. High velocity friction experiments highlighted that shear stress on the fault surface evolves rapidly during seismic slip pulses. This temporal evolution of shear stress is controlled by both fault weakening at seismic slip initiation and re-strengthening rate towards the end of slip. While numerous studies focused on fault weakening, less attention was given to co-seismic re-strengthening processes. Here we performed 53 friction experiments (normal stress ≤30 MPa, slip-rate ≤6.5 ms−1) imposing constant slip acceleration and deceleration (7.8 ms−2), on cohesive Carrara marble (99% calcite) and micro-gabbro (silicate-built rock) under dry, vacuum and water pressurized conditions. Microstructural observations showed that micro-gabbro accommodated seismic slip by bulk melting of the sliding surfaces, whereas Carrara marble by coupled decarbonation and grain-size dependent crystal plastic processes. Under room humidity conditions and low imposed power density (i.e., product of normal stress per slip rate), re-strengthening rate during the deceleration stage was up to ∼ 17 times faster in marble than in micrograbbro. In the latter, the re-strengthening rate increased slightly with the power density. The presence of water enhanced further this trend. On the contrary, in marbles the re-strengthening rate decreased drastically with power density and in the presence of water. Our experimental observations highlighted the first order importance of the mineralogy and rheology of the slip zone materials and, to a second order, of the presence of water in controlling co-seismic re-strengthening of faults during seismic slip deceleration.