Petrographic characterization and durability of carbonate stones used in UNESCO World Heritage Sites in northeastern Italy

This paper presents the petrographic and textural characterization of some ornamental limestones widely used in UNESCO World Heritage Sites northeastern Italy, assessment main decay factors present environment where they are employed. Eleven carbonate building materials have been here considered, all commonly built Italy: two different varieties Vicenza Stone (Nanto Costozza), Verona (Red Brown Verona), Asiago (Pink White Asiago), Chiampo (Ondagata Paglierino), Istria (Orsera), Aurisina Stone, Botticino Stone. The Carrara marble is also as a reference material for determination grain-size distribution. durability was measured by accelerated aging tests which reproduced freeze–thaw salt crystallization cycles, among causes deterioration region. Petrographic features these rocks well their porosity resulted to strongly influence rate, knowledge is, therefore, essential when trying predict stone function local environmental forcings.