Study of Stone materials in "St. Astvatsatsin" church of "Tatev" monastery complex.

Petrographic characterization of stone and the forms of destruction in the " St. Astvatsatsin" Church of "Tatev" Monastic Complex have been mapped and studied. Mineralogical studies included a microscopic investigation of stone sections, united by external similarity into four groups. Each group's structural and textural characteristics, as well as its mineralogical composition, were investigated. The generalization of chemical-mineralogical and technological results made it possible to identify the rock materials used in the construction of the "St. Astvatsatsin." church. The work has been carried out using the visual inspection technique developed in the laboratory of the construction company "Horizon-95" LLC and the system for describing and assessing damage to stones by the International Scientific Committee for Stone (ICOMOS). The survey results were used in the "St. Astvatsatsin" church restoration. The work permits quantifying the forthcoming material costs associated with the rock material renewal. Individual stones were identified and marked for renewal or replacement, depending on the degree of damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]