Testing solvent-base consolidants for the conservation of in-situ dinosaur tracks

• Autor(a) principal: Prada, Cristiana Filipa Ferreira
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/160600
• topic: Nanolime; In-situ dinossaur tracks; Consolidation; Footprint; Domínio/Área Científica::Engenharia e Tecnologia::Outras Engenharias e Tecnologias

In the case of dinosaur footprints which are exposed in-situ, it is expected that only those who are familiar with this subject can identify them with the naked eye. Therefore, the public interest in preserving this heritage depends on the efforts made to raise awareness of these geosites. Due to the degradation, these sites suffer because of outdoor exposure, and the need to perform conservation actions arises, such as consolidation of the upper layers of the footprints. For the present study, rock samples were collected from three sites in Portugal where dinosaur footprints exist: Lourinhã, Carenque, and Sobral da Lagoa. In order to draw conclusions about the proposed consolidant, Nanolime, Paraloid B-72®was used as a termof comparison as the standard in terms of photochemical stability. Different mechanical and analytical tests were performed to better understand the behavior of both consolidates and to characterize the base rock without treatment. This preliminary study on the use of Nanolime as a consolidate for in situ dinosaur footprints showed that Nanolime may work on the studied rocks since it improves the physical and mechanical properties in some way. Further tests on this consolidant are proposed for more definitive conclusions.