Building-stone used in architectural heritage: red sandstone of Astorga cathedral (León)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21701/bolgeomin.120.1.004Keywords:
anatase, architectural heritage, natural building stone, quarries location, red sandstoneAbstract
The unequivocal origin of the red sandstone used for Astorga cathedral was studied in this paper. This red sandstone presents distinctive hydrothermal minerals filling fractures, the most conspicuous are anatase crystals with characteristic habit, colour and transparency, quite rare in the region. The identification of fractures filled with this TiO2 polymorph in an abandoned sandstone quarry south of Astorga allowed us to confirm the origin of the rock used for one of the towers of Astorga cathedral.
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