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Loose materials

Giorgio Buccellati – May 2024

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Definition

As defined in the Grammar, loose materials “fill a space that is alredy bounded by pre-existing structures or installations.” They derive either from a regular depositional process (build-up), or as the result of unintended processes (disaggregation). (CKCK)

They constitute a vast part of the overall corpus of constituents of the built environment.

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FOR REVIEW

Accumulations occur primarily with two recurrent types of fine deposits, characterized in the first place by the color: one is pinkish, the other grayish. I attribute this alternation to varying degrees of exposure to smoke coming from fireplaces, tannurs or the like. In sector B of the service wing of the Palace this can be correlated to the a sequence of door sills: the grayish accumulations occur before a new doorsill is set in place, suggesting that more smoke was allowed in as the old door was no longer functioning properly. The pinkish color, which is generally associated with a matrix very fine in texture, is the result of the accumulated dust brought in especially by sandstorms in the summer season. Two video clips show well the power of such sandstorms: video clip 2 shows a sandstorm approaching the Expedition House, and video clip 3 is taken when the storm has arrived in full force by the camera.

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Inventory

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Gradual build-up

J1 J3 total
buildup accumulation 9 2 11
accumulation A 1 1 2
accumulation B 10 2 12
accumulation C 13 4 17
accumulation D 90 100 190
laminations 1 2 3
layer 1 16 17
lens 3 1 4
lens type A 1 1
lens type B 5 5
lens type C 1 1
lens type D 1 1 2
packing 11 11
topsoil 22 24 46
156 156 312

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Sudden compacting

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disaggregation collapse 4 1 5
dumping fill 18 24 42
22 25 47