I'm not a Mineralogist, however I do know a little bit about Chemistry. I found a recent article fascinating. Concrete cast during the Roman era (yes, 1500 years ago) is still standing strong, while our modern-day variants tend to decay (some worse than others).
What was the Romans' secret? They relied on Mother Nature to augment and fortify the concrete over time, as it was exposed to seawater and the elements. In other words, once their concrete had set, the reactions inside it continued, leading to the formation of rare mineral compounds which acted to strengthen the concrete. This is fascinating stuff, as we tend to think of the reactions involved in creating modern-day concrete as complete once the stuff stiffens.
Many scientists have wondered at the remarkable strength of mortars and concrete crafted during the Roman and Byzantine eras, which account for complicated, massive and centuries-old structures still standing to this day. My personal observations revolve around the Simonopetra monastery on Mount Athos, built during the 13th century and still standing strong (see image above, more info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simonopetra).
Too bad the recipes for manufacturing the superior concrete of bygone days has been lost in the mists of history, though there is hope as modern-day scientists attempt to recreate it.
You can find more information about Roman concrete here:
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Excellent write!