Bab Agnaou gate, Marrakech, Morocco: Characterization of original building material and commentary on their state of conservation

Bab Agnaou is the most ancient gate sculpted in stone during the Almohad era (twelfth century). The petrographic and mineralogical studies were carried out in order to characterize the original materials of construction. So the ashlar is a calcareous mudstone, whereas the mortar is one with lime binder. The characterization of the ashlar's degradation state, based on the mapping of the gate, permitted to highlight the evolution, the extension and the relation between the different weathering forms. Thus it proved to be possible to distinguish the weathering forms related to architecture and the provision of the blocks, from those related to infiltration of water. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.