tobermorite
toh-BUR-muh-ryte
Definition
A rare layered mineral crystal that forms within Roman marine concrete as seawater reacts with volcanic ash, effectively sealing cracks and reinforcing the material over time.
Etymology
Named after Tobermory on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, where the mineral was first discovered in the mid-19th century.
In the news
The article describes how the growth of aluminous tobermorite within concrete pore spaces provides a self-healing mechanism that allows Roman piers to remain durable for millennia.
Roman concrete piers built two thousand years ago along the Mediterranean coast are stronger now than the day they were poured, because seawater seeping into the volcanic ash mix triggers the slow growth of a rare crystal called aluminous tobermorite tha
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com