Stone-environment interaction, first part: alteration forms developed on the stone of Burgos Cathedral

Abstract

The description and inventory of the main alteration forms developed on Hontoria limestone, used in Burgos Cathedral, are carried out in this article. An exhaustive graphic information of these forms, as well as their location in the different parts of the building, are provided. The mapping of defects, made on façade upright projections, has been stored in a computer and digitalized. Relationships among different alterological aspects have been established from these digital images: percentages representing each type of defect on the total surface, types of deterioration more frequent in the walls, etc. The forms of deterioration are grouped in zones that, owing to their chromatic characteristics, are easy to locate in the monument, even without a nearby and detailed inspection. The aim of this procedure is to facilitate to architects and restorators useful and precise data for conservation interventions.