The beautiful micro-world of ice: Whiskers, a peculiar form of ice, growing from tiny fissures on lime plaster at Hyllestad, Western Norway. Width of image c. 2 cm. Photo by Per Storemyr
After 28 years of working with weathering of cultural heritage, I have finally seen it “live” and photographed it: How the force of ice can destroy plaster on stonework. It is more diverse than I though. A complex and fascinating world of beautiful forms of ice growth: Ice needles, ice whiskers, ice lenses. An entirely different thing than statements suggesting that the 9% expansion taking place when water freezes to ice breaks porous materials apart. Although supported by one case study only, what strikes me is the resemblance between ice growth and a more well-known weathering agent: Salt crystallisation – the growth of salt crystals destroying materials. My observations took place over the last few weeks, in Hyllestad in Western Norway, on the masonry of a copy of a historic lime kiln. Continue reading
