Caracterización y procedencia de la sillería granítica del convento de la Encarnación (Madrid)

Abstract

This work faces the study of the granitic masonry of external façades of the Convent of the Incarnation (Madrid). The aim is to characterize the employed granites in the temple in order to locate its provenance, both of the original granite utilized in the two constructive stages of the Convent (17th and 18th centuries) as well as the replacement one used in latter restorations (20th century). Their petrographical properties and their geochemistry trend, allow to establish the granitic material provenance in the Valdemorillo-Zarzalejo (Madrid) granites outcrops, corresponding to medium grained biotitic monzogranites. The quarries of that area have supplied granitic stone to Madrid´s Architectural Heritage since The Austrias´ times. The petrophysical properties displayed by the granites of the Convent are due to their degradation degree and do not allow establishing any provenance criteria. The results and several references consulted, show that the granite ashlars of the present Southern façade, pulled down and setbacked during the 19th century, come from the ancient ashlars employed in the second constructive stage (18th century) of the Convent.