The use of dolomitic lime in mortar samples from a 15th-century buttress of York Minster (York, UK)

Pesce, Giovanni, Pesce, Cecilia, Henry, Alison, Leslie, Alick and David, John (2019) The use of dolomitic lime in mortar samples from a 15th-century buttress of York Minster (York, UK). In: HMC 2019 - 5th Historic Mortars Conference, 19th - 21st June 2019, Pamplona, Spain.

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Abstract

This paper describes the results of a series of analyses carried out on mortar samples from a 15th-century buttress of York Minster (York, UK). The aim of these analyses was to investigate the materials and technologies used in the late Middle-Ages for the construction of one of the most important religious places in Northern England. The limited knowledge currently available on the past use of locally-sourced construction materials represent an important limitation to the design of the new conservation works, since the choice of appropriate compatible materials can only be achieved through a detailed knowledge of the materials and technology used in the past. To provide an initial insight on the construction materials and technologies used at York Minster in the late Middle-Ages, mortar samples from one of the buttresses under restoration were collected and analysed using a variety of techniques such as optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. The results suggest that the binder in this mortar was produced using locally available dolomitic limestone. The quicklime produced, a mixed oxide of calcium and magnesium, was directly mixed with locally-sourced river sand in a ratio 1:2.5 using a technology currently known as ‘hot mixed’ lime.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects:	H200 Civil Engineering K200 Building
Department:	Faculties > Engineering and Environment > Architecture and Built Environment
Depositing User:	Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited:	21 May 2019 08:30
Last Modified:	10 Oct 2019 18:48
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/39367

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