Fort, RVaras Muriel, María JosefaAlvarez de Buergo, MMartin-Freire, D2023-09-252023-09-252011-08-231742-213210.1088/1742-2132/8/3/S13https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/87929Received 30 November 2010 / Accepted for publication 8 July 2011 / Published 23 August 2011 /Online at stacks.iop.org/JGE/8/S132 Copyright © 2011, Oxford University Press © 2011 NanjingGeophysical Research InstituteAnisotropy is a petrophysical property of natural stone and other construction materials thatdetermines their quality and resistance to decay due to a variety of agents, such as water. A studywas conducted on nine types of stone widely used in Spain’s built heritage, using six previouslydefined anisotropy indices. These indices can be used to determine the degree of anisotropy,which helps explain the differential decay observed in stone materials quarried in the same bedand used to build the same structure. The conclusion reached is that anisotropy should bedetermined in the natural stone used both to restore the architectural heritage and in newconstruction, since the appropriate choice of material quality ensures greater resistance to decayand, therefore, increased durability. Materials with the lowest possible anisotropy should beselected, as this property governs their hydraulic behaviour: the lower the anisotropy in amaterial, the better its behaviour in relation to water and the longer its durability.engjournal article1742-2140https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/8/3/S13https://academic.oup.com/jge/article/8/3/S132/5127637restricted access552.1539.22limestonedolostoneslategranitecapillary absorptionultrasound velocityanisotropyPetrología2506.13 Petrología Ignea y Metamórfica2506.14 Petrología Sedimentaria