Search

Based on optical microscopic study of the petrological features of limestone used in an iconic building in Madrid, this analysis explores the factors that favoured the use of this material, which was scarcely known in the city until the early twentieth century. This local stone was extracted from the Cornicabra quarry at Valhondo, near Morata de Tajuna in the Spanish province of Madrid. The Morata de Tajuna limestone was a more economical option at the beginning of the century, due primarily to the favourable status of the quarries and existing communications with the capital city. In addition, the high quality and durability afforded the stone by its genesis and diagenesis made it highly suitable for use in water- and wear-resistant structural members. The prestige historically accorded the limestone quarried at Colmenar de Oreja, the tendency at the time to replace it with stones from other areas and the ephemeral use of Morata de Tajuna limestone in the city of Madrid, render its short-lived prevalence as a traditional building stone truly exceptional., Based on optical microscopic study of the petrological features of limestone used in an iconic building in Madrid, this analysis explores the factors that favoured the use of this material, which was scarcely known in the city until the early twentieth century. This local stone was extracted from the Cornicabra quarry at Valhondo, near Morata de Tajuna in the Spanish province of Madrid. The Morata de Tajuna limestone was a more economical option at the beginning of the century, due primarily to the favourable status of the quarries and existing communications with the capital city. In addition, the high quality and durability afforded the stone by its genesis and diagenesis made it highly suitable for use in water- and wear-resistant structural members. The prestige historically accorded the limestone quarried at Colmenar de Oreja, the tendency at the time to replace it with stones from other areas and the ephemeral use of Morata de Tajuna limestone in the city of Madrid, render its short-lived prevalence as a traditional building stone truly exceptional.

Many types of stone have been used in construction in Madrid, with their use in historical times determined by the proximity of resources, the ease of quarrying and transport links to the city. With more recent improvements in transport connections and quarrying techniques, quality and durability have become key factors in building stone selection. Local flint was intensively used from the 9th to the 11th centuries when it was replaced by Reduena dolostone which was used until the 17th century. Granitic rocks from the Guadarrama mountain range, which crop out in the northern and western areas of the province, were increasingly used from the 16th century. The stone was traditionally known as Berroquena stone and was quarried in a number of areas, with the main supply from Zarzalejo. The granite used from the 18th century was mainly quarried in the Alpedrete area. Advances in underground quarrying made it possible to extract limestone, known as Colmenar stone, in the south-eastern part of the region. This limestone, together with Berroquena stone, became one of the city’s traditional building stones due to their excellent petrophysical properties and durability and are still in use today., Many types of stone have been used in construction in Madrid, with their use in historical times determined by the proximity of resources, the ease of quarrying and transport links to the city. With more recent improvements in transport connections and quarrying techniques, quality and durability have become key factors in building stone selection. Local flint was intensively used from the 9th to the 11th centuries when it was replaced by Reduena dolostone which was used until the 17th century. Granitic rocks from the Guadarrama mountain range, which crop out in the northern and western areas of the province, were increasingly used from the 16th century. The stone was traditionally known as Berroquena stone and was quarried in a number of areas, with the main supply from Zarzalejo. The granite used from the 18th century was mainly quarried in the Alpedrete area. Advances in underground quarrying made it possible to extract limestone, known as Colmenar stone, in the south-eastern part of the region. This limestone, together with Berroquena stone, became one of the city’s traditional building stones due to their excellent petrophysical properties and durability and are still in use today.

Two non-destructive portable techniques, Schmidt hammer rebound and ultrasound velocity, were used to assess the two types of monzogranites used to construct the Our Lady of the Assumption church at Valdemorillo and the Valdamaqueda bridge, both located in the Madrid region, Spain, and rock from which the granite was originally quarried. The ultrasound velocity and surface strength as measured by the Schmidt hammer were directly related to each other and inversely proportional to the decay of the stone materials and to their porosity. The porphyritic monzogranite on the bridge and in the quarries at Valdemaqueda were both less intact than the Valdemorillo granite. There was a correlation between the indirect ultrasound measurements and the surface strength and the construction period for the church, particularly for homogeneous monzogranite, which may be used as a dating criterion for building materials exposed to similar conditions. Monumental granite decay was generally greater than quarry stone decay and the degree of alteration for both was affected by the surrounding environmental conditions., Two non-destructive portable techniques, Schmidt hammer rebound and ultrasound velocity, were used to assess the two types of monzogranites used to construct the Our Lady of the Assumption church at Valdemorillo and the Valdamaqueda bridge, both located in the Madrid region, Spain, and rock from which the granite was originally quarried. The ultrasound velocity and surface strength as measured by the Schmidt hammer were directly related to each other and inversely proportional to the decay of the stone materials and to their porosity. The porphyritic monzogranite on the bridge and in the quarries at Valdemaqueda were both less intact than the Valdemorillo granite. There was a correlation between the indirect ultrasound measurements and the surface strength and the construction period for the church, particularly for homogeneous monzogranite, which may be used as a dating criterion for building materials exposed to similar conditions. Monumental granite decay was generally greater than quarry stone decay and the degree of alteration for both was affected by the surrounding environmental conditions.