Weathering Mechanisms of Stone Sculptures at the Ming Imperial Mausoleum in Fengyang, China
HUANG Huang1, WANG Yu-long2, SHI Yu-chen1, ZHANG Bin-bin3, TANG Geng-sheng4
1. Laboratory of Scientific Archaeology and Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Anhui University, Hefei 230039, China
2. Hanzhong Museum, Hanzhong 723000, China
3. Department of Anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
4. Fengyang Museum, Fengyang 233100, China
Abstract：In this study, a systematic analysis of the weathering damage of stone sculptures in the Ming Dynasty Emperor's Mausoleum in Fengyang, Anhui Province, was carried out, and the material properties and weathering mechanisms of the statues were revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), and super depth-of-field 3D microscopic techniques. XRD analysis shows that the stone is dominated by calcareous carbonate composed of quartz, dolomite, aragonite, and calcite, and the black pollutants on the surface mainly originate from MgO produced by the weathering of dolomite and the sulfide FeS. XRF detection showed the widespread presence of Ca, Si, Fe, S, Cl, etc., in which Cl- and SO2-4 destroy the structure of the stone through soluble salt cycle crystallization, leading to scaling. Ultra-depth of field microscopy reveals that salt spray corrosion significantly reduces the density of quartz particles. Water absorption experiments confirm that the average water absorption rate of the stone is related to the difference in water content, which is influenced by the local environment. The results indicate that since the statues are not buried in the earth and are shallowly affected by groundwater, it is the air humidity and precipitation that accelerate the process of erosion by soluble salts. It is recommended that surface encapsulation materials be used to isolate moisture and contaminants. The results provide a scientific basis for the protection of stone carvings in the Ming Dynasty Emperor's Mausoleum, revealing the mechanism of multifactorial synergistic destruction of open-air stone cultural relics.
黄 凰，王玉龙，石宇辰，张斌斌，唐更生. 安徽凤阳明皇陵石像生风化病害成因分析研究[J]. 光谱学与光谱分析, 2025, 45(11): 3198-3206.
HUANG Huang, WANG Yu-long, SHI Yu-chen, ZHANG Bin-bin, TANG Geng-sheng. Weathering Mechanisms of Stone Sculptures at the Ming Imperial Mausoleum in Fengyang, China. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2025, 45(11): 3198-3206.
[1] GUO Hong(郭 宏). Introduction to the Conservation Environment of Cultural Relics(文物保存环境概论). Beijing: Science Publishing House(北京：科学出版社)，2001, 115, 131.
[2] ZHANG Bing-jian, HU Yu-lan(张秉坚，胡瑜兰). Preservation Techniques and Materials of Stone Cultural Relics(石质文物保护技术与材料). Beijing: China Construction Science and Technology Press (北京：中国建材工业出版社), 2024, 8.
[3] Eric Doehne, Clifford A. Price. Stone Conservation: An Overview of Current Research (2nd edition), Published by the Getty Conservation Institute, 2010.
[4] YANG Yi, YANG Jun-yong, FAN Tao-feng(杨 毅，杨隽永，范陶峰). Stone(石材)，2013，（7）：54.
[5] WANG Feng, FU Ying-chun, LI Di，et al(王 锋, 付迎春, 李 迪，等). The Journal of Light Scattering(光散射学报)，2024，36（2）：198.
[6] SONG Di-sheng(宋迪生). Cultura Relics and Chemistry(文物与化学）. Chengdu: Sichuan Education Press(成都：四川教育出版社)，1992. 182.
[7] WANG Hui-zhen(王蕙贞). Conservation of Cultural Relics(文物保护学). Cultural Relics Press(文物出版社)，2009, 108.
[8] Wu Huihua, Xie Quanhua, He Yuanyuan, et al. Heritage Science, 2024, 12(1): 345.
[9] Virendra Bahahur Singh, Sughosh Madhav, Naresh Chandra Pant, et al. Weathering and Erosion Processes in the Natural Environment. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2023-12-21.
[10] Elisa Mammoliti, Marta Cupido, Riccardo Teloni, et al. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 2024, 83(4): 110.
