Analisi Mineralogico-petrografiche e chimiche a Villa La Magia (Quarrata-Pistoia)

Mineralogical-petrographic and chemical analyses were carried out on mortars sampled from two areas of Villa La Magia façade, in Quarrata (Pistoia). The mortar samples showed different overlapping layers. The mineralogical investigations of each layer and the petrographic observations showed that the mortars used are constituted by a binder made of an air hardening calcic lime; probably the stone used in the realization of the mortars is Pietra Alberese which gave a partial hydraulicity. The surface layers are instead constituted by a layer of lime and two upper layers of gypsum. The presence of gypsum in a considerable amount and well distributed over the lime, excludes the possibility that it could be newly formed gypsum for decay, but an intentionally applied layer, probably with the addition of organic matter also due to the presence of calcium oxalate.