Elena Mercedes Pérez-Monserrat

Evolution in the use of natural building stone in Madrid, Spain

Many types of stone have been used for construction in Madrid. In historical times, their use was determined by the proximity of the geological resources, the ease of quarrying and transportation links to the city. More recently, as transport connections and quarrying techniques have improved, quality and durability have become key determinants of building stone selection. Local flint was used intensively from the ninth to the eleventh century, when it was replaced by Redueña dolostone, used in turn until the seventeenth century. Granitic rocks from the Guadarrama Mountain Range that crop out in the northern and western area of the province increasingly began to be used in the city from the sixteenth century. Traditionally known as Berroqueña stone, this building stone was quarried in a number of areas; the primary point of supply was Zarzalejo, and from the eighteenth century the granite used was mainly quarried in the Alpedrete area. Eighteenth century advances in underground quarrying made it possible to extract a limestone (Colmenar stone) located in the southeastern part of the region. Together with Berroqueña stone, this limestone became one of Madrid’s traditional building stones, and both, highly esteemed for their excellent petrophysical properties and durability, are still used today.

An urban geomonumental route focusing on the petrological and decay features of traditional building stones used in Madrid, Spain

The stone traditionally used to build cities contributes to their personality and attests to the geological substrate on which they stand. While stone decay in the built heritage can be attributed to a number of causes, anthropic activity has a particularly significant impact. The geomonumental routes project is one of the initiatives proposed in recent years for urban routes that convey geological fundamentals by observing the rocks present in heritage structures. Its innovative approach addresses traditional stone properties, original quarrying sites and mechanisms of decay. Madrid’s Royal Palace is a fine example of the use of traditional building stone in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. In the geomonumental route proposed, the building doubles as an in situ laboratory that affords an overview of the main petrological properties of the two traditional stones most commonly used in the city’s built heritage, the forms of decay they are subject and the factors underlying such alterations. This route constitutes a tool for showing the main petrological features and decay forms in traditional building stones found in urban heritage façades, with a special focus on anthropic impact, primarily air pollution and the use of conservation treatments that time has proven to be unsuitable.

Assessment of Different Methods for Cleaning the Limestone Façades of the Former Workers Hospital of Madrid, Spain

Abstract Five different methods for cleaning the limestone façades on what was originally the Workers Hospital in Madrid are analyzed in this paper. Due to the pollution in the surrounding air, just 20 years after a prior cleaning operation, sulfate crusts had developed on the entire stone surface of the building. The gypsum mortar used in the original masonry constituted an additional source of sulfur. Limestone is a traditional building material in Madrid and its surroundings. The petrography, mineralogy and petrophysical properties of the biomicrite, pelmicrite and biopelmicrite varieties of limestone identified in the hospital walls were determined. Analysis of a black layer on the stone surface showed that it consisted primarily of sulfate crusts. The cleaning methods tested were alkaline gels (sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide), pressurized hot water, glass bead blasting and latex peeling. The criteria for assessing the effectiveness and potential risks of the various cleaning systems included changes in the chromatic parameters of the stone, the formation of alteration products (i.e. salts) and modification of the stone surface. The stones cleaned with the three most effective methods, together with a rain-washed stone as a reference, were washed with water to generate an artificial runoff. The collected drain water was analyzed to determine the presence of any by-products from the cleaning process. The method found to be most effective and which caused the least alteration to the stone surface was glass bead blasting, particularly after adjustment of the bead size and pressure conditions used for the test.

Colmenar Limestone, Madrid, Spain: considerations for its nomination as a Global Heritage Stone Resource due to its long term durability

Abstract Colmenar Limestone is one of the traditional materials most commonly used in monuments in Madrid, Spain. The petrophysical properties of this stone determine its high resistance to decay. Its low water absorption and pore size distribution favour good hydraulic behaviour, which is likewise furthered by its high ultrasound velocity and low anisotropy. The durability findings pursuant to the 280 freeze–thaw, 42 thermal shock, 30 salt crystallization and 120 salt mist cycles conducted confirmed the stones resistance to decay in these simulated aggressive environments. The mass loss recorded in the samples and the variation in petrophysical parameters were generally very low after all except the salt crystallization trials, which induced loss of cohesion on the stone surface, increased roughness and the formation of concentric microcracks, sub-parallel to the more exposed surface, that also affected the arris and vertices of the specimens tested.

Heritage value of building materials: Former Workers Hospital of Maudes, Madrid (Spain) case study

Trabajo original de tesis para obtener el Doctorado en Ciencias de la produccion y la salud animal Tutor principal: Hector Manelic Quiroz Romero Comite tutor: Hector Manelic Quiroz Romero, Jose de la Fuente Garcia.espanolAllende es un ejemplo emblematico de condrita carbonacea caida en Pueblito de Allende (Mexico) en 1969. Este meteorito es especialmente importante debido a su composicion primitiva, como uno de los principales representantes de los primeros estadios del Sistema Solar. En este estudio se ha llevado a cabo una nueva caracterizacion multianalitica de esta condrita, centrada en la mineralogia y la geoquimica de los condrulos y la matriz empleando varias tecnicas: microscopia optica, SEM-EDX, microsonda electronica y espectroscopia Raman, siendo especialmente relevante esta ultima, que ha demostrado ser de gran utilidad aportando informacion sobre el mineral y su estructura. EnglishAllende is an emblematic example of carbonaceous chondrite which fell in Pueblito de Allende (Mexico) in 1969. This meteorite is especially important due to its primitive composition, as one of the main representative examples of the first stages of the Solar System. In this study, a new multianalytical characterization of this chondrite has been carried out, focusing on the mineralogy and geochemistry of the chondrules and the matrix using several techniques: optical microscopy, SEM-EDX, electron microprobe and Raman spectroscopy, the latter has proven to be very useful providing information a bout the mineral and its structure.espanolPeridotite xenoliths from the Los Tormos volcano (Calatrava volcanic field) provide significant information about the lithospheric mantle of Central Iberia. Studied samples are classified as spinel-bearing lherzolite, harzburgite and wehrlite. Chemical composition of olivine and two pyroxenes shows similar Mg# ranges, providing evidence of mineral equilibrium. Geothermobarometic estimates give depths in the spinel peridotite stability field (35-50 km, 10-15.2 kbar), and temperatures of 961-1185 °C. Major element mineral melting models in the lherzolite xenoliths record a low partial melting degree (up to 10%) although one harzburgite indicates a higher degree of melting (about 15%). The wehrlite sample could result from metasomatism by interaction with alkaline silica-undersaturated melts that replaced primary lherzolite orthopyroxene. Similar estimated pressures for peridotite mineral equilibration and for clinopyroxene megacryst/phenocryst crystallization in the host nephe- linite suggest the formation of mantle magma chambers, where alkaline magmas entrained megacrysts (cumulates) and peridotite wall-rocks. EnglishLos xenolitos de peridotitas del volcan Los Tormos (campo volcanico de Calatrava) proporcionan informacion valiosa sobre el manto litosferico del centro de Espana. Se estima que provienen de profundidades de 35-50 km (10-15.2 kbar), equilibrados a temperaturas de 961-1185 oC, en el campo de estabilidad de peridotitas con espinela. Los modelos de fusion obtenidos a partir de la composicion quimica de los minerales primarios de la peridotita (ortopiroxeno, clinopiroxeno y espinela) muestran un bajo grado de fusion parcial (hasta un 10%), aunque una harzburgita indica un mayor grado de fusion (cerca del 15%). El xenolito de wehrlita se interpreta como un tipo metasomatizado debido a la posible interaccion con fundidos alcalinos subsaturados en silice que reemplazarian el ortopiroxeno primario de la lherzolita. La similitud entre las presiones estimadas para el equilibrio mineral de la peridotita y la cristalizacion de megacristales/fenocristales de clinopiroxeno en la nefelinita sugiere la formacion de camaras magmaticas mantelicas.Trabajo presentado en el 5th YOuth in COnservation of CUltural Heritage, celebrado en Madrid (Espana) del 21 al 23 de septiembre de 2016Trabajo presentado en el International Course Ceramic Materials in Building Heritage (conservation problems and intervention), celebrado en Madrid el 29 y 30 de junio de 2016.Resumen del poster presentado a la 16a Reunion Nacional Sociedad Espanola de Hipertension Liga Espanola para la Lucha contra la Hipertension Arterial celebrada en Barcelona del 1 al 4 de marzo de 2011.Tesis llevada a cabo para conseguir el grado de Doctor por la Universidad de Complutense de Madrid.--2017-06-23.--Sobresaliente cum laudemResumen de la comunicacion presentada en el congreso que se cita- Cartel del congreso y resumenEste trabajo ha sido financiado por Repsol Exploracion, S.A. mediante el convenio 163/2013 con la Universidad Complutense de Madrid y por el proyecto de investigacion CGL2014-54818-P del Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO).Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el proyecto de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid no. PR1/05-13325.

Monitoring façade soiling as a maintenance strategy for the sensitive built heritage

ABSTRACT The color patterns generally found on the façades of architecturally sensitive buildings have an adverse impact on their aesthetics, to the detriment of their identity and potential economic value. A quantitative and qualitative study was conducted of the perception of aesthetic decay in the limestone on a heritage building. The study assessed building aesthetics between two façade cleaning operations, conducted in 1984–1986 and 2006–2008. Based on the calculation of the final or total soiling index, by means of in situ lightness measurement and three architectural design variables, the color distribution of the façades was quantified in 2006 and a model was developed to monitor façade soiling over time. The proposed model, a tool for planning preventive façade maintenance on architecturally sensitive buildings, advocates for sustainable cleaning operations. Its premise that periodic cleaning should only be conducted in areas where the limestone is affected by aesthetic decay redounds to minimised intervention and lower building management costs.

La caliza de Morata de Tajuña, Comunidad de Madrid:una piedra tradicional de construcción en la capital aprincipios del siglo XX.

A partir del estudio sobre la procedencia y la calidad de la caliza empleada en la construccion -a principios del siglo XX- de un emblematico inmueble madrileno, se analizan los principales factores que en esta epoca favorecieron su utilizacion. Se trata de una piedra tradicionalmente empleada en la region pero apenas conocida en la capital y que por entonces se explotaba en las canteras Cornicabra, ubicadas en el paraje del Valhondo de Morata de Tajuna (Comunidad de Madrid). Por un lado, esta caliza resultaba una piedra economicamente muy ventajosa, debido principalmente a la favorable situacion por entonces de las canteras y de las vias de comunicacion. Por otro, debido a su origen geologico y posteriores procesos diageneticos, presenta una muy elevada calidad y durabilidad, resultando un material muy apropiado para configurar elementos portantes especialmente resistentes a la accion del agua y al propio paso del tiempo. Considerando una epoca en la que la piedra tradicional de la region estaba siendo sustituida por piedras procedentes de otros lugares, el prestigio del que historicamente ha disfrutado la caliza extraida en las canteras de Colmenar de Oreja y el efimero empleo en la capital de la caliza de Morata de Tajuna como piedra de canteria, el caracter tradicional de la caliza objeto de estudio resulta ciertamente excepcional.