Quantifying 450 years of limestone weathering induced by salt crystallization on fortifications in Malta and Gozo

Erwan Roussel (1) , Franck Vautier , Olivier Voldoire , Marie-Françoise André , Joann Cassar , Gilles Fronteau (2) , Bruno Phalip , Céline Thomachot-Schneider (2) , Jean-Pierre Toumazet

1 GEOLAB - Laboratoire de Géographie Physique et Environnementale
2 GEGENAA - Groupe d'Étude sur les Géomatériaux et Environnements Naturels, Anthropiques et Archéologiques - EA 3795

SfM photogrammetry and on-site tests were carried out on Maltese fortifications. A two-rate weathering regime was highlighted within the building limestones. Cohesiveness and water uptake capacity were identified as controlling factors. There is no straightforward correlation between durability and surface hardness.

Mots clés: Salt weathering; Weathering rate; Limestone; Maltese Islands; Mediterranean fortifications

Domaines: Géomorphologie

Erwan Roussel, Franck Vautier, Olivier Voldoire, Marie-Françoise André, Joann Cassar, et al.. Quantifying 450 years of limestone weathering induced by salt crystallization on fortifications in Malta and Gozo. Geomorphology, 2021, 378, pp.107614. ⟨10.1016/j.geomorph.2021.107614⟩. ⟨hal-03113888⟩