Elemental behaviour during the process of corrosion of sekishu glazed roof-tiles affected by Lecidea s.lat. sp. (crustose lichen)

Elemental behaviour, during the process of weathering of glazed sekishu roof-tiles affected by Lecidea s.lat, sp. (a crustose lichen), was investigated using optical and fluorescence microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy. Sekishu roof tiles have an opaque reddish brown glaze on their surfaces which consist of an alkali feldspar-type X-ray amorphous glass recrystallized at 1200°C. Optical and fluorescence microscopy revealed the presence of corrosion pits (at a depth of ∼50 μm) at the lichen-glaze interface. Elemental mapping by FE-SEM identified the concentrations of Ti and Fe in the section of the glazed tile analysed. The behaviour of C was correlated with those elements, suggesting the possibility of biomineralization.