Logging Requirements:
- Examine the platform as well as the British insignia closely and describe what you see. Which form(s) of weathering do you think are most dominant here? Do you think the glass cover was installed in order to protect the British insignia from weathering, or likely for a different reason? Explain.
- Calcarenite can have a porosity of up to 50%. How do you think this high porosity impacts the stone’s resistance to weathering? Explain.
- Upload a photo with either yourself or a personal object taken at Atatürk Square.
Atatürk Square, located in the heart of Nicosia, serves as a central landmark reflecting the city's layered history. Originally known as Saray Square, it has undergone various transformations under Ottoman, British, and later administrations. The square is home to a prominent Venetian column, which was relocated here from Salamis in 1489. In the northern part of the square, near the Law Courts, stands an Ottoman-era fountain alongside a platform bearing British insignia. This platform was constructed for the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, from which the announcement of the event was formally made to Cyprus.
Calcarenite is a popular building stone throughout Cyprus. It is a type of limestone composed predominantly of sand-sized carbonate grains, typically formed through the accumulation and cementation of shell fragments, ooids, or other skeletal material. It is often associated with high-energy marine environments, such as beaches or shallow offshore settings, where wave action winnows finer sediments, leaving behind coarser carbonate particles. Over time, these grains lithify into a solid rock through calcium carbonate cementation. The Athalassa Formation, which is composed primarily of calcarenites and conglomerates, is an important depositional unit in Cyprus, and was formed in a shallow marine to coastal setting during the late Miocene (11.63-5.33 mya).
Weathering is defined as the process by which rocks and minerals break down or alter due to exposure to environmental factors. It plays a key role in shaping landscapes, influencing soil formation, and contributing to the rock cycle. Unlike erosion, which involves the movement of weathered materials, weathering occurs in place. The 3 forms of weathering are: physical, chemical, and biological.
Physical weathering involves the mechanical breakdown of rocks without changing their chemical composition. This includes freeze-thaw action, which is when water enters cracks, freezes, expands, and fractures the rock, as well as thermal expansion, where temperature fluctuations cause rocks to crack. Abrasion from wind, water, or ice can also wear down rock surfaces over time.
Next there is chemical weathering, which occurs when minerals in a rock undergo chemical changes due to exposure to water, oxygen, or acidic conditions. For example, carbonic acid in rainwater can dissolve limestone through carbonation, while oxidation causes rocks which contain iron to develop rust-like coatings. There is also hydrolysis, which is a reaction with water that can break down feldspar into clay minerals.
Lastly there is biological weathering, which results from the actions of living organisms. Tree roots can grow into rock fractures and pry them apart, while lichens and bacteria produce acids that dissolve minerals. Burrowing animals can disturb rock structures, contributing to their breakdown.