What are the effects of acidic soils on buried stone animal sculptures?
Acidic soils can significantly impact buried stone animal sculptures, leading to both physical and chemical damage over time. The high acidity accelerates chemical weathering, dissolving minerals like calcium carbonate found in limestone and marble sculptures. This results in surface pitting, loss of detail, and structural weakening. Additionally, acidic conditions promote faster erosion, especially in porous stones, causing gradual degradation. Prolonged exposure may even lead to complete disintegration of delicate features. To preserve such artifacts, monitoring soil pH and using protective barriers are recommended. Understanding these effects helps in conserving historical and artistic stone sculptures buried underground.
