Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana Volumen 74, núm. 3, A010422, 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.18268/BSGM2022v74n3a010422

Comparative study of pre-Hispanic and colonial adobes in Mexico. Preliminary inferences on the effects of the granulometric distribution and used recycled materials in the state conservation of earth architecture

Estudio comparativo de adobes prehispánicos y coloniales en México. Inferencias preliminares sobre los efectos de la distribución granulométrica y los materiales reciclados utilizados en la conservación del estado de la arquitectura de la tierra

María Jesús Puy-Alquiza^1,*, Velia Yolanda Ordaz-Zubia², Omar Cruces-Cervantes³, Antonio Bello-Sandoval³,

Raúl Miranda-Avilés¹, Ma. Del Carmen Salazar-Hernández⁴, Gilberto Carreño-Aguilera⁵, Gabriela A. Zanor⁶, Yanmei Li¹

¹ Departamento de Minas, Metalurgia y Geología, División de Ingenierías, Universidad de Guanajuato, Campus Guanajuato, 36000, Guanajuato, Mexico.

² Departamento de Arquitectura, División de Arquitectura, Arte y Diseño, Universidad de Guanajuato, Campus Guanajuato, 36000, Guanajuato, Mexico.

³ Instituto de Antropología e Historia (INAH), Centro, 36000, Guanajuato, Mexico.

⁴ UPIGG-IPN, Av. Mineral de Valenciana No. 200, Col. Fraccionamiento. Industrial Puerto Interior, Silao de la Victoria, 36275, Guanajuato, Mexico.

⁵ Departamento de Geomática e Hidráulica, División de Ingenierías, Universidad de Guanajuato, Campus Guanajuato, 36000, Guanajuato, Mexico.

⁶ División Ciencias de la vida, Universidad de Guanajuato, Campus Irapuato, 36824, Guanajuato, Mexico

* Corresponding author: (M. J. Puy-Alquiza) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

How to cite this article:

Puy-Alquiza, M.J., Ordaz-Zubia, V.Y., Cruces-Cervantes, O., Bello-Sandoval, A., Miranda-Avilés, R., Salazar-Hernández, M.C., Carreño-Aguilera, G., Zanor, G.A., Li, Y., 2022, Comparative study of pre-Hispanic and colonial adobes in Mexico. Preliminary inferences on the effects of the granulometric distribution and used recycled materials in the state conservation of earth architecture: Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, 74 (3), A010422. http://dx.doi.org/10.18268/BSGM2022v74n3a010422

Manuscript received: December 7, 2021; Corrected manuscript received: February 20, 2022; Manuscript accepted: March 29, 2022.

ABSTRACT

The characterization of the pre-Hispanic and colonial adobes used in the construction of buildings in Mexico was carried out to know the differences between their processes and manufactures. The eight samples obtained correspond to adobe blocks 0.45 m long x 0.35 m wide and 0.12 m thick, which were part of the interiors of houses, the structure of fences, and hacienda galleys. These samples were investigated using X-ray Diffraction, X-ray Fluorescence, and Scanning Electron Microscopy techniques to determine the morphometry of the material and its chemical and mineralogical composition. Likewise, some analyzes were performed to determine their mechanical properties (simple compressive strength), physical properties (granulometry, solid density, cohesion, plasticity index, porosity, and moisture content), and biological (organic matter content). The results obtained in terms of the granulometric distribution indicate that pre-Hispanic adobe has a higher content of sand than silt-clay and gravel, while the colonial adobes present a low or null content of gravel with a higher content of silt-clays. Regarding the organic matter content, the colonial adobe presents the highest percentages compared to those of the pre-Hispanic adobes. Taking into account the above the pre-Hispanic adobes have better resistance and durability than colonial adobes due to their granulometric distribution, low organic matter content, good cohesion, high plasticity index, and the use of materials found in their natural environment, while the colonial used recycled materials, coming from the economic activity to which the hacienda was dedicated, for example, agriculture, mining, livestock, this has given rise to different manufacturing techniques and construction styles that reflect the state of conservation of buildings throughout the pre-Hispanic and colonial times. The granulometric distribution that pre-Hispanic adobe provides favorable physical and mechanical qualities for any construction technique, so it is recommended to use this formula to manufacture resistant and durable adobe.

Keywords: pre-Hispanic period, colonial period, adobes, manufacture, technical, conservation.