The video presents Helmut Tributsch's 2017 pyrite-paste proposal as a possible explanation for the precise fitting of Sacsayhuamán's Jurassic limestone blocks. The paper argues that an acidic pyrite slurry, plant acids and pyrite oxidation could have etched the carbonate surfaces and left a binding silicate-rich residue. This mechanism remains a hypothesis and does not explain the granite at Machu Picchu or the andesite buildings of central Cusco. Garcilaso de la Vega described a reddish sticky clay called alpacalpa, but the historical account does not establish its composition.
Video presents Tributsch's speculative pyrite theory for Sacsayhuamán
PeruTheory
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Key facts
- Helmut Tributsch authored “On the reddish, glittery mud the Inca used for perfecting their stone masonry,” published in 2017 in the Journal of Earth Sciences & Environmental Studies.
- The paper proposes that acidic pyrite slurry and plant organic acids could alter the Jurassic limestone at Sacsayhuamán; it does not demonstrate an Inca use of pyrite paste.
- Crushed pyrite is proposed to oxidize and form sulfuric acid. The proposed vigorous exotherm and silicate-glue residue are part of the hypothesis, not established findings.
- The carbonate mechanism would not account for the granite at Machu Picchu or andesite in central Cusco.
- Garcilaso de la Vega's description of a reddish sticky clay called alpacalpa does not identify that clay as pyrite paste.
- The supplied results do not substantiate the specific Cieza de León, Diego de Aguja or Fawcett claims.
Sources
repositorio.cultura.gob.pe
Linked in video description
On the reddish, glittery mud the Inca used for perfecting ...academia.edu
Inca builders utilized highly acidic mud (pH = 0.5) from pyrite oxidation for masonry techniques. Acid mud accelerated softening of volcanic rocks,
Machu Picchu and Mysterious “Gold” Mortarroseannechambers.com
Published in 2017 by a European chemist, Helmut Tributsch, the title captures the essence of his work: “On the reddish, glittery mud the Inca ...
On the reddish, glittery mud the Inca used for perfecting ...semanticscholar.org
Tributsch et al. mud the Inca used for perfecting their stone masonry ・ s Published 30 December 2017 Engineering ・ performance-based dry masonry construction
Inca Red Clay used for perfecting their stone masonryforum.rocktumblinghobby.com
H. Tributsch Due to its impressive appearance, Inca masonry, which mostly consists of volcanic, silica containing rock material, has received much attention ...
On the reddish, glittery mud the Inca used for perfecting ...scispace.com
On the reddish, glittery mud the Inca used for perfecting their stone masonry · Fabrication Methods of the Polygonal Masonry of Large Tightly-fitted Stone Blocks ...
Inca architectureen.wikipedia.org
Tributsch, Helmut (2017). "On the reddish, glittery mud the Inca used for perfecting their stone masonry". Journal of Earth Sciences & Environmental Studies.
The Inca walls as a study object - Helmut Tributschhelmut-tributsch.com
It was the very acidic pyrite slurry from the mines that had been used to dissolve, restructure and embellish stone surfaces. By heating this pyrite slurry ...
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