Conservation studies on ornamental and building stones of north-eastern Sicily. Geomineralogical and porosimetric investigations.

The effectiveness, as preserving agents, of a series of chemical compounds (silanes, siloxanes, epoxides, perfluoropolyethers, acrylates, acrylsilicones) has been tested on lithic materials mainly used in artistic stoneworks of north-eastern Sicily. The selection and classification of the stone types, based on geomineralogical criteria follows a brief excursus about their use as artistic materials. The results of the porosimetric investigations, before and after conservation treatments, are reported. In addition, polarizing mineralogical microscope photos of the studied lithoid materials are presented.