Marble Tombstone Weathering

If the marble headstone is in good condition proceed to the next step.
Marble tombstone weathering. Therefore in west yorkshire the back of the headstone faces the prevailing winds so should be more weathered. Maps of surface recession rates measured from 8 438 century old vermont marble tombstones at 320 cemeteries. Physical weathering is the toll put on rocks by processes like frost ice splitting abrasion from things hitting it plant roots decompression at the surface remember most rocks are formed. Marble tombstone weathering and air pollution in north america thomas c.
Thaw weathering as temperatures fall faster in the open air than under trees. First check the condition of the marble headstone that you want to clean. Gravestone weathering department of geography. Studying rock types weathering processes and human history in a cemetery.
Since marble is vulnerable to wear and tear marble headstones that have cracks and signs of aging should be left as is because cleaning can weaken the marble further and result in more serious damage. Dragovitch 1986 an excellent source of data for tombstone weathering in two different cities. In many graveyards the head stones are aligned with the engraved side facing to the east. Marble for example is assumed to decay mainly through dissolution by acidic rainfall natural rainfall is slightly acidic being a weak carbonic acid with a ph of 5 6.
Aspect is the compass direction in which the headstones face. This removes matrix and grains from the surface of the gravestone leaving a rough sugary feel.