ABSTRACT
Salamanca was built on Tertiary materials related to the Duero river. Sedimentary rocks are the most common geological material around the city of Salamanca. Nearby bedrock includes slates formed from clays by increased pressure and temperature during ancient tectonic events. There are Hercynian granites, mostly produced by the partial melting of metasedimentary rocks of Precambrian age. The geology allowed for the development of the quarries of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks that provided the construction materials for the historic buildings and structures of Salamanca city and the villages nearby. Stones for monuments and historic buildings were cut from large, quarried blocks that were sawn to the correct size and prepared for emplacement. Stones can be described in terms of technological characteristics. Some characteristics are more important than others, depending on whether they are intended for construction or ornamental use. These include mineralogical composition, chemical composition, density, water absorption, compressive strength, freeze-thaw, abrasion, flexural strength, etc.
