『Abstract
The Goldsworthy Chalk Stones, 14 roughly shaped balls of chalk,
each approximately 2 m in diameter, were installed in June 2002.
Initial assessments by the artist, Andy Goldsworthy, and the Strange
Partners commissioning team concluded that they would last for
about 2 years. The balls' disintegration has been measured as
part of an ongoing scientific monitoring programme designed to
assess their durability and to study controls on rates of chalk
weathering. Preliminary assessment of the first 3 years of data
shows that 76% of the total mass loss occurred during year 1,
19% during year 2 and 5% during year 3. This might reflect the
fact that winter rainfall amounts decreased substantially over
the period of study. The west facing sides of the balls have tended
to show greater mass loss than those facing east, which might
also be a function of exposure to rain. Judging from their present
slow rates of weathering, the balls will last for over 200 years
but an exceptionally cold wet winter might cause sudden and massive
breakdown. Three models of chalk mass weathering are presented.
The ongoing scientific monitoring programme will focus experimental
work on four key research themes: process, lithology, environment
and stress history.
Keywords: Chalk; Andy Goldsworthy; Sussex; Weathering; Rock durability』
Introduction
Location
Geology of the ball
Ball preparation
Field rock weathering experiments
Scale
Shape
Comparability
Aspect
The monitoring programme: measurement procedures
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References