Stone monuments and works of art suffer from stone decay caused by environmental factors. This can result in a decrease in the mineral cohesion and increase in the porosity of the stone. A variety of organic and inorganic products have been used to strengthen and/or protect weathered stone, however many of these treatments have shown negative effects on the monument and the environment. The purpose of this work is to produce a technique to consolidate weathered calcareous stone by taking a biomimetic approach to reintroducing calcium carbonate into the stone to produce a reinforcing effect. In nature, organisms may produce biominerals to serve various functions, with extraordinary control over the shape and polymorph of the mineral. There are many examples where the materials formed have superior mechanical properties when compared to their inorganic counterparts. It is for these reasons that taking a biomediated approach to introducing calcium carbonate back into weathered stone could be advantageous.

Η εκπόνηση της παρούσας εργασίας, αποσκοπεί στην πετρογραφική μελέτη των πετρωμάτων του όρους Φαλακρού του νομού Δράμας και κυρίως των κοιτασμάτων μαρμάρου που εξορύσσονται σε διάφορες περιοχές του όρους. Από κάθε περιοχή επιλέχθηκαν οι πιο χαρακτηριστικοί εμπορικοί τύποι. Επίσης, εξετάζονται οι πετρογραφικές και φυσικομηχανικές ιδιότητες ανθρακικών πετρωμάτων που εμφανίζονται σε περιοχές των νομών Δράμας και Σερρών, όπου θα εξελιχθούν σε λατομικούς χώρους. / The purpose of this thesis is the petrographical and mechanical study of mount Falakro's rocks and specially of the marbles of different areas og this region, in order to be used as quarries.