Salt Crystallization Deterioration in Yellow Travertines

Salt crystallization pressures may cause a certain degree of integrity loss and may accelerate the deterioration mechanism of rocks. Travertine is a type of massive CaCO₃ sedimentary rock. Although many researches about the mineralogical, chemical, and physical properties of travertines have been performed, the long term performance of travertines was rarely studied. Thus, the effect of salt crystallization on yellow travertine durability was investigated in this study as the re–crystallization pressure is known to be one of the most destructive agents for rocks. Salt crystallization tests were carried out on porous and less porous cubical specimens using two different salt types (Na₂SO₄ and MgSO₄). The re–crystallization of salts during evaporation stage caused cracking along laminas particularly in less porous yellow travertines. Although crack formation was prevailing in the less porous travertines, high strength reduction was determined in porous samples. This is mostly associated with the strength testing direction and the heterogeneous character of travertines.