Riobamba, renowned as one of Ecuador's emblematic cities and a magnet for both national and international tourists, faces a pressing challenge— the gradual degradation of its civil structures due to the insidious process of salt-induced deterioration. This process not only erodes the structural integrity but also mars the city's architectural splendor. This study aims to assess the impact of salt growing deterioration process in the civil structures of Riobamba, by identifying the primary mineral phases responsible for deterioration and their connection to construction materials. The study area encompassed Riobamba city, where we evaluated the condition of civil structures and determined the source of construction materials. Thirty-two samples of salts responsible for deterioration were collected in the El Retamal area. To identify mineral phases, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) was employed. The results unveiled that the main mineral phases accountable for the deterioration of civil works in Riobamba are thenardite, calcite, and nitratine. These salts are linked to the various aggregates used in mortars and concretes applied in the city's architectural structures. This study underscores the necessity of addressing this issue to safeguard Riobamba's tourist appeal and ensure the preservation of its architectural heritage. The present study shows that deterioration in civil structures by the action of salt growing is a recurrent problem in the city. The results show that, this phenomenon attacks specially to plaster mortars. The deterioration associated with salt growing manifest itself in the form of salt cumulus or efflorescence. After, efflorescence turns into alveolar erosion by the action of wind. The results from the chemical composition analyses of building materials reveal that the main source of salts, anions, and cations corresponds to aggregates.
Key words:
Mineral phases; X-ray diffraction; Efflorescence; Alveolar Erosion; Aggregates; Salts.