Petrophysical and Textural Parameters of Calcarenitic Rocks in World Heritage Sites in Alexandria, Egypt

The underground Greek and Roman monuments at Alexandria are all excavated in the plioquaternary calcarenite that constitutes the basement of the whole region. A few kilometers to the north of the city, quarries still provide this ornamental rock widely used by stone craftsmen. It is characterized by variable and high porosity (18–47%) and thus an elevated permeability, and generally bad geotechnical quality. Its chemical composition is very rich in calcium carbonates and its rough surface allows a high receptivity to the atmospheric gaseous pollutants and to hydrous marine sprays and sea water charged with various salts. The main purpose of this study is to understand influences of bulk structure of materials on water storage and transfer in order to assess durability and weathering. By analysis of linear correlations, some essential mechanisms should be underlined, which may connect the macrostructure to the microstructure of the material. A systematic method of analysis should clearly appear and emphasize the role of the structure (grain size, grain contact and pore shape) on physical and mechanical behavior. The main parameters leading to weathering should then be identified and models of correlations drawn. Correlations between the various physico-mechanical properties could ameliorate the possibilities to assess durability and weathering in the natural environment. Study of these sediments provides information about the origin, texture, distribution and composition which is used in the description of physiochemical and physio-mechanical properties. The contolloing factors in the physiochemical and physiomechanical properties of the Calcarenitic rocks are primarly composition, environment of deposition, microstructure characters, and physical properties.