2020/2021

2021/2022

DM270

GEO/09 (MINERAL GEOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND MINERALOGIC AND PETROGRAPHIC APPLICATIONS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE)

DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

APPLIED GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES

PERCORSO COMUNE

2°

1st semester (04/10/2021 - 14/01/2022)

6

48 lesson hours

Italian

ORAL TEST

RICCARDI MARIA PIA (titolare) - 6 ECTS

Students in this course are required to have an adequate knowledge of the main constituent minerals of rocks and their physical and chemical properties, to know how to classify rocks, recognize structures, their formation processes and related micro-textures, study of thin sections by light microscopy, knowledge of analytical methodologies and strategies for studying geological materials, knowledge of regional geology. An open approach is also required, particularly towards scientific and technical aspects concerning the relationships between geo-materials, natural resources, production cycles and their sustainability (Obj. 8 and 12, Agenda 2030).

The course gives the basis for understanding industrial (ornamental stone, ceramics, binders and composites) and pre-industrial (historical and archaeological materials/artefacts) processes, multi-analytical methodologies and diagnostic protocols on natural and synthetic materials, reading and interpretation of a collection of textural and compositional data on natural and synthetic materials, assessing the consequences of the use of resources and waste in current production from a technological and sustainability point of view (Ob. 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, Agenda 2030).
It is expected that, at the end of the course, the student will become aware of the need for a transdisciplinary approach in the study of natural and industrial materials, know the basic concepts of the applications of petrography and petrology to some synthesis systems, know the potential of some geo-materials in industrial transformation processes (Ob. 9 and 11, Agenda 2030), and acquire the ability to integrate their knowledge and manage complexity, make decisions based on limited or incomplete information, including reflection on social and ethical responsibilities related to the application of their knowledge. The path of knowledge and understanding will be completed with a synthesis of technologies used in the past as models for innovation and critical review of current ones (Petro-archaeometry).
The structure of the course, with a strongly interdisciplinary character, involves the learning of peculiar scientific concepts, the ability to evaluate, design and apply the criteria, techniques and knowledge acquired, acquiring a technical language, necessary for a correct exposition of the application problems of petrography and petrology. The integration of these elements is functional for the student to become more autonomous in future research and development activities.

The lessons are organized in modules: (i) ornamental stone (current and historical), (ii) traditional bricks and ceramics, (iii) binders and composites. Each module develops the following topics: classification guidelines, industrial and pre-industrial processes at the basis of the material production cycle, material properties, textural and compositional investigation techniques, study of texture and microstructural defects, economic aspects of production, product and process innovations to improve the sustainability of production (Ob. 8, 9, 12, Agenda 2030). Case studies will be presented through specific seminars and will be in-depth compared to the program and will deal current and historical productions.
Ornamental stones: petrographic, petro-physical and chemical characteristics of stones, scientific and business classification (European Commission standards), technical properties and their commodity value, examples of italian mining areas, historical ornamental stones; Bricks and ceramics: petrography and petrochemistry of raw materials (rocks, minerals, production waste) and their transformation processes for the production of traditional bricks and ceramics, industrial transformation of high temperature mixtures, interpretation of the main phase diagrams in the production of ceramics;
Binders, building mortars and concretes, pigments: technological, petrographic and mineralogical characteristics of aggregates, petrography and petro-chemistry of raw materials for the production of traditional and non-traditional binders and pigments for building, their processes and technological characteristics.

The course consists of lectures, seminars and practical experiences. The lectures will be held by the teacher of the course, who will integrate each topic with examples drawn from his experience in scientific research (historical/archaeological materials and artifacts and current traditional and innovative materials). The practical experiences will be conducted in the classroom and will focus on the recognition of samples of Italian and non-Italian ornamental rocks, waste materials and materials of first transformation of waste (secondary raw materials) used in industrial processes. An in-depth study will concern the study of microtextures of artifacts and materials in thin section and in scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis. The seminars will mainly deal with in-depth topics covered in the course.

Siegesmund S., Snethlage R. 2011, Stone in Architecture. Properties, Durability, Berlin: Springer; 4th ed., ISBN 978-3-642-14474-5.

Lazzarini L., 2004, Pietre e Marmi Antichi, CEDAM, ISBN: 978-88-13-25021-8

Pecchioni E., Fratini F., Cantisani E, 2008, Le malte antiche e moderne tra tradizione ed innovazione, PATRON Editore, ISBN: 885552996X

Ingham J., 2013, Geomaterials Under the Microscope - 1st Edition. Print Book & E-Book, ISBN: 9780124076693.

Teaching material is in addition to the recommended texts.

The knowledge acquired will be assessed through a final examination, in oral form. The exam includes the classification of a rock already shown during the course, the presentation of a scientific paper related to one of the topics of the course, and questions related to the topics of the lessons. The exam aims to verify the skills acquired in the classification of natural stone and to assess the ability to discuss the main contents of the course using the appropriate terminology. The discussion of the scientific paper will verify the ability to apply the transversal skills.

The teaching materials used during the course is available on the digital teaching platform Kiro