The state of conservation of the architectural structure of Azraq castle (Jordan) and the characterization of its mortars. Paper presented at the 'International conference: Interdisciplinary Studies of Ancient Materials from the Mediterranean'. University of Cyprus and NARNIA, Nicosia (CY), 17-19 November 2014

1. THE STATE OF CONSERVATION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL
STRUCTURE OF AZRAQ CASTLE, JORDAN AND THE
CHARACTERIZATION OF ITS MORTARS
Marta Tenconi
Fadi Bala’awi
Queen Rania Institute of Tourism & Heritage,
Hashemite University

4. Historical context:
Roman (c. 3rd -4th)
Byzantine (c. 4th- 7th)
Early Islamic (Umayyad) (638-1099 A.D.)
Middle Islamic (Ayyubid) (1099-1291 A.D.)
Late Islamic (Mamluk) (1291-1516 A.D.)
Ottoman period (1516-1917 A.D.)
Modern period c. 20th

5. External wall, N side
Internal wall, W side

6. layered quarry-stone masonry

7. Interior
interior plastering of loamy earth,
chaff, chalk whitewash
rough foundation
masonry
dry masonry made of natural stones of basalt filled
with rubble, earth and scattered interlocking stones

8. .
Mediterranean
Sea
Red
Sea
Azraq
Geologic map of Jordan
.

9. METHODOLOGIES AND RESULTS

10. To contribute to the knowledge of the building techniques used within time through
the building materials characterization
and
To identify altered building materials of the fort and understand the cause of their
deterioration
Aims and objectives

11. - Photogrammetry
- Macroscopic description (44 samples)
- Grain size distribution (11 samples)
- Microtextural characterization (SEM) (16 samples)
- Petrographic analysis through optical microscopy (16 samples)
- X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) (11 samples)
- pXRF, bulk analysis and analyses of the buinder (44 samples)
- Compressive strength testing (8 samples)
Methodologies:

12. Group B:
AZ33
AZ26AZ37
AZ23
Group A:
Macroscopic description of mortars

13. Macroscopic description of mortars
AZ39
Group D:
Group C:
AZ38
AZ42
AZ05 AZ02

14. AZ32
Outliers:
AZ44b AZ17
Macroscopic description of mortars
AZ42
AZ12

15. Macroscopic description of mortars
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
A B C D E outliers
mortars macroscopic-groups
Samples no.

16. Characterization of mortars
AZ33 AZ23
Group A:
AZ12
Macro-GroupA:limemortar

17. Characterization of mortars
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
210,50,250,1250,063<0,063
%retained
partical ranges (mm)
binder
aggregate
Macro-GroupA:limemortar

18. Characterization of mortars
Macro-GroupA:limemortar
Binder
Cal
Cal
Basalt
Basalt
Basalt

19. AZ38 AZ39AZ39
Group C:
AZ37
AZ26
AZ38
Group B:
Macro-GroupsB-C:gypsummortar
Characterization of mortars

20. Characterization of mortars
Macro-GroupsB-C:gypsummortar
Binder

21. Characterization of mortars
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
210,50,250,1250,063<0,063
%retained
partical ranges (mm)
aggregate
binder
Macro-GroupA:limemortar

22. Characterization of mortars
Macro-GroupsB-C:gypsummortar
Aggregate
Basalt
Basalt
Gp
Gp
Fe, Ti Ox.
Gp
Si

23. Characterization of mortars
AZ05 AZ02
Group D:
Macro-GroupD:earthenmortar

24. Characterization of mortars
Macro-GroupD:earthenmortar
Binder

25. Characterization of mortars
Macro-GroupD:earthenmortar

26. 9.493670886
1.898734177
5.696202532
10.12658228
16.4556962
56.32911392
71.22040073
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
210,50,250,1250,063<0,063
%retained
partical ranges (mm)
aggregate
binder
Characterization of mortars
Macro-GroupA:limemortar

27. INCLUSI
Ca
Fe,Ti
Ca,Si,Mg,Al,K
Macro-GroupD:earthenmortar
wood
wood

28. Macroscopic description of mortars
AZ44b
Group E:
Macro-GroupE:hydraulicmortars

29. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
210,50,250,1250,063<0,063
%retained
partical ranges (mm)
aggregate
binder
Characterization of mortars
Macro-GroupA:limemortar

30. Characterization of mortars
Macro-GroupD:hydraulicmortars
Binder, mortar (AZ44b)

31. Characterization of mortars
Macro-GroupE:hydraulicmortars

32. Types of mortars present:
- LIME MORTAR ( CaCO3 )
- GYPSUM MORTAR ( CaSO4 * 2H2O )
- HYDRAULIC MORTAR (C-S-H + AFm)
- EARTHEN MORTAR
All mortars were produced with local materials
Conclusions

33. Follow up with mortar characterization through petrographic analysis
Interpretation of changes in building techniques over time between the
Roman period and the modern period
Future development of research

34. IDENTIFICATION OF ALTERED MATERIALS

35. Identification of the altered materials
- Salinization in the shallow
aquifer in the Azraq basin,
content of:
- Anhydrite
- Gypsum
- Halite
- Presence of gypsum mortars
Mediterranean
Sea

36. Identification of the altered materials
x

37. Identification of the altered materials
Identificationofthealteredmaterials:gypsum

38. Identification of the altered materials
Lime layer
Lime-wash layer
Gypsum layer
Identificationofthealteredmaterials:gypsum
Migration of the
gypsum towards
the exterior

39. Identification of the altered materials
Identificationofthealteredmaterials:gypsum
Migration of the
gypsum towards
the exterior
Lime layer
Lime-wash layer
Gypsum layer

40. NaCl
Identificationofthealteredmaterials:halite
Identification of the altered materials

41. Identificationofthealteredmaterials:halite
NaCl
NaCl
NaCl
NaCl
Identification of the altered materials

42. Identification of the altered materials
Identificationofthealteredmaterials:haliteandgypsum

43. Identification of the altered materials
Salt contamination
Environmental monitoring program
Temperature & relative humidity data
collected through a Gemini Tinytag Plus
(TGP-4500) data logger
Temperature and relative humidity are
recorded every 30 minutes
Period of analysis: 8 months starting on
January 2014
Identificationofthealteredmaterials:haliteandgypsum

44. Identification of the altered materials
Identificationofthealteredmaterials:haliteandgypsum

45. Identification of the altered materials
Identificationofthealteredmaterials:haliteandgypsum

46. In-depth study of salt infiltrations
1.X
2.X
3.X
Future development of research