Deterioration of different stones used in historical buildings within Nigde province, Cappadocia Mustafa Korkanç ⇑ Nigde University, Geological Engineering Department, 51240 Nigde, Turkey highlights  Cappadocia region various historical buildings constructed by several civilizations.  Tuff, ignimbrite, marble, travertine and andesite were used in examined buildings.  The lowest engineering properties were determined in ignimbrites and tuffs.  The highest strength and resistance against weathering were obtained from andesite.  The biggest scale of deteriorations was found on ignimbrites in capillary level. article info Article history: Received 30 January 2013 Received in revised form 12 July 2013 Accepted 21 July 2013 Available online 24 August 2013 Keywords: Historical building Deterioration Flaking Engineering properties Nigde Turkey abstract The Cappadocia region hosts various historical buildings constructed by several civilisations from long in the past until more recently. Some of these are big and significant buildings and their artistic, cultural and aesthetical features are quite attention-grabbing. The stones used in most of these buildings have dete- riorated due to various effects. The correct identification of the deterioration mechanisms is of fundamen- tal importance to design retrofitting and restoration procedures. In this study we aimed to determine the engineering properties and deterioration of the stones widely used in the different historical buildings in the Nigde region that forms the southern boundary of Cappadocia. 17 block samples (2 marble, 2 traver- tine, 6 tuff, 5 ignimbrite and 1 andesite) were taken – in accordance with the obtained permits – from stones that had fallen from the buildings and could not be used again as part of any restoration. With the purpose ofidentifying the deterioration of the building stones due to their geological structure and external effects, chemical and petrographic analyses were conducted along with detailed field observa- tions. To determine the geomechanical properties (dry unit weight, water absorption, effective porosity, P-wave velocity, uniaxial compressive strength, slake durability index, capillary water absorption, Bohme abrasion value and Schmidt hammer rebound value) of the stones comprehensive laboratory research was carried out. The main cause of the deterioration observed in ignimbrites (UK3) and tuffs (AK3) with low strength and high porosity was humidity, especially at the capillary level. Significant deterioration observed on some stone samples was also due to the use of stones that exhibited poorer properties than the rest, although they came from the same quarry. Adding the negative effects of ground and surface water on top of these, severe damage on the stones in the formof flaking, discolouration and loss of strength were observed. Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Although the most durable building element used in historical buildings, rock materials still weather and fragment due to several causes and effective conservation work is required. The condition of stone used in historical buildings can bring about many prob- lems that can result in the loss of the buildings under extreme cir- cumstances, as well as affecting their conservation and use [1]. After examination carried out by experts from various disciplines such as conservation, biology, chemistry and geology, today it is possible to solve those problems, sometimes without actually touching the buildings but by improving their environmental con- ditions. As a result, correct identification of the deterioration taking place on historical buildings is important. The origins of the deteri- oration have to be determined precisely [2]. Architectural heritage undergoesseveral decaying processes due to exposure to aggressive environmental conditions that threaten its durability and preserva- tion [3]. Moisture, whose presence may be due to rain, condensa- 0950-0618/$ - see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.07.033 ⇑ Tel.: +90 3882252259; fax: +90 3882250112. E-mail addresses: mkorkanc@nigde.edu.tr, korkancm@gmail.com Construction and Building Materials 48 (2013) 789–803 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Construction and Building Materials journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuildmat