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Elemental behaviour during the process of corrosion of sekishu glazed roof-tiles affected by Lecidea s.lat. sp. (crustose lichen)

¹ Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima, 739–8526, Japan, and ² Geodynamics Research Center, Ehime University, 2–5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, 790–8577, Japan

^* E-mail: katsuaki{at}hiroshima-u.ac.jp

(Received 5 April 2006; revised 2 August 2006)

Elemental behaviour, during the process of weathering of glazed sekishu roof-tiles affected by Lecidea s.lat. sp. (a crustose lichen), was investigated using optical and fluorescence microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy. Sekishu roof tiles have an opaque reddish brown glaze on their surfaces which consist of an alkali feldspar-type X-ray amorphous glass recrystallized at 1200°C. Optical and fluorescence microscopy revealed the presence of corrosion pits (at a depth of ~50 µm) at the lichen-glaze interface. Elemental mapping by FE-SEM identified the concentrations of Ti and Fe in the section of the glazed tile analysed. The behaviour of C was correlated with those elements, suggesting the possibility of biomineralization.

KEYWORDS: lichen, tiles, weathering, biomineralization, biodegradation, biodeterioration