Characterization of mudejar mortars from St. Gil Abbot church (Zaragoza, Spain): Investigation of the manufacturing technology of ancient gypsum mortars

J. Igea; P. Lapuente; S. Martínez-Ramírez; M. T. Blanco-Varela

doi:10.3989/mc.2012.07311

Authors

J. Igea Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad de Zaragoza
P. Lapuente Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad de Zaragoza
S. Martínez-Ramírez Instituto de Estructura de la Materia-CSIC, Madrid; Instituto de ciencias de la construcción Eduardo Torroja-CSIC, Madrid
M. T. Blanco-Varela Instituto de ciencias de la construcción Eduardo Torroja-CSIC, Madrid

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2012.07311

Keywords:

San Gil, Mudejar, Gypsum mortar, Lime, Characterization, Technological procedure

Abstract

This work has been focused on the investigation of the technological procedure of Mudejar mortars applied to the characterization of a group of unaltered samples from an example church of Mudejar architecture of Aragon. The research was carried out using multi-analytical techniques including petrographic study, chemistry and mineralogical analysis. All mortars present a homogeneous composition. The binder is made up of a mixture of gypsum and a very low proportion of lime, while the main components of the aggregate are gypsum and carbonate rock fragments, both in a different thermal state of decomposition. The results have proved that both, binder and aggregates display the same composition in these mortars. These aggregates are the by-product of a grinding process of the previously burnt raw materials which have had a positive influence on the properties of the mortars in improving their quality.

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