ANALYSIS OF DETERIORATED SANDSTONE AT THE ROYAL PALACE, STOCKHOLM

The Royal Palace in central Stockholm has facades built of calcite-cem ented Gotland sandstone, with socle stones of quartz-cemented Roslagen sandstone. A total of 197 samples were analysed by SEM/EDS, XRD, and ICP. The Gotland sandstone shows many signs of serious deterioration: gypsum formation, pulverized surface, exfoliation, contour scaling, di scolouration, and black gypsum crusts. The Roslagen sandstone is somew hat more resistant, displaying discolouration, cracks, and exfoliation . Three 'micro areas' were studied in detail, showing relationships be tween chemical composition and observed damage. The chemical analyses and S isotope data indicate that the stone decay to a large part may b e attributed to acid rain, car traffic, and other air pollutants.