Geochemical analysis and scientific conservation of the exterior surface of the ancient Kedarnath temple, Uttarakhand, India

Kedarnath temple is situated on the Garhwal Himalayan range near River Mandakini in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, India. The temple (more than 1200 years old) was badly affected by devastating floods and landslides during 13–16 June 2013. To protect the aesthetic value of this ancient temple, a systematic scientific conservation has been carried out. The present study describes the geochemical character of the rocks mounted on the temple. It also evaluates weathering trend of the rocks by studying petrography and the analysis of major oxides, using optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. Petrography and discrimination clusters analysis show that the rock is granitic gneisses in composition and is peraluminous in nature, while the new rock KDN2 sample shows paralkaline character.