Errors in measuring the percentage dry weight change of stone tablets

Portland Stone and Monks Park limestone tablets were used to assess weathering loss over a two-year study. Procedures involved in preparing tablets for exposure, attaching them to the exposure frame and reweighing might have influenced weight changes measured. The impact of each stage in the above procedures was tested to assess how much weight loss was generated and how significant the loss was comparing the two stone types and the final loss sustained upon weathering. Although all the procedures seem to produce a statistically insignificant amount of weight loss, the two stone types do respond differently to the procedures. This suggests that stone properties may be important in determining the accuracy with which tablets can be used to assess spatial patterns of weathering.