Abstract
The alterological behaviour of two varieties (grey and yellow) of an Upper Jurassic dimension sandstone from Asturias (Spain) known as La Marina Sandstone has been studied. Besides the classical microscopic techniques, the velocity of propagation of longitudinal waves and the computerized X-ray tomography have been used for the textural studies. The variation of some physical properties (bulk weight, effective porosity and P-wave velocity) has been measured in the specimens before and after the ageing test (drying-wetting, freeze-thaw and salt crystallization cycles), showing that the salt crystallization test is the most aggressive one and that the yellow variety is more susceptible to the deterioration that the grey one. The texture has a high influence on the durability of both sandstone varieties: zones with higher matrix content or higher effective porosity show a more accused surface damage. The presence of an anisotropic behaviour more marked in the yellow variety than in the grey one has been detected.
