Investigation of the properties of Sanliurfa-Mardin limestone and Diyarbakir basalt stone

In Turkey, one of the regions where natural stones are used the most in traditional buildings is the Southeastern Anatolia region. The stones found in this region and used extensively are limestone and basalt stone. These stones -limestone in Şanlıurfa and Mardin, basalt stone in Diyarbakır- has been procured from quarries in these cities for centuries and has been used as a building material in the construction of stone structures. Over the last few years, the Southeastern Anatolia Region has attracted the attention of the world with its many historical riches, especially with Göbeklitepe, and has increased the interest in the region. This has made it necessary for the historical buildings in the region to be reviewed, re-functioned and restored. The preservation of these structures and their restoration in accordance with their authenticity are important in terms of preserving the local architectural cultural elements as cultural heritage in the region. The demand for limestone and basalt stone in the region has increased in the restoration of these structures, which are defined by the texture and color of the stone. In line with the increasing demand, the stones in the region are required to be used consciously and correctly. In the restoration works to be carried out, it is expected that the stones to be used in the building and in the renovation should be compatible with each other and meet certain physical and mechanical conformity criteria. In this study, samples of Şanlıurfa limestone, Mardin limestone and Diyarbakır basalt stone were taken from buildings and quarries, samples were prepared in the laboratory, and the freeze-thaw resistance of the stones was investigated with accelerated and intensified repeated sodium sulfate tests in order to examine the criteria. Density, water absorption, capillarity coefficient, ultrasound transmission rate, thermal conductivity and compressive strength of natural stones were investigated. According to the results obtained from the experiments, it was observed that the stones taken from the buildings are still usable and the samples taken from the buildings and the quarries are not significantly different from each other. Key Words: Naturel Stone, Şanlıurfa Limestone, Mardin Limestone, Diyarbakır Basalt Stone, Physical Experiments, Mechanical Properties