The Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes site is famous for its exquisite wall paintings and statues.Some of these wall paintings have been damaged by flaking,efflorescence,blisters,and other types of deterioration.Many scholars believe the deterioration is related to salt migration from underlying cliffs into the wall paintings,which makes it very important to study the salt distribution characteristics in the Mogao Grotto cliffs in order to control further damage.An investigation of the salt in the west wall of cave 108 and at the top of the cliff at a depth of 20 meters shows that the main salt types are sulfate and chlorine conglomerated within the Mogao cliff.The salt distribution is even over a large scope,but a high concentration can be found toward the surface of the cliff face:salt content is very high on the surface of the west wall of the caves and in the cliff in a depth of 0.5 meters,with a highest value of 3.5% and an average value of 2.0%.This is the first study of the salt distribution characteristics of the Mogao Grotto cliffs,the researchers aim here to provide important supportive information for future data analysis of salt deterioration in Mogao murals.
