AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Module I intends to complete the student's preparation in Petrography. Particular attention is devoted to acquiring the ability to analyze stone materials, plasters and concretes in light transmitted optical microscopy. This is done through numerous laboratory exercises. Real cases extracted from the petrographic and industrial mineral collections of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV) are an occasion to demonstrate and discuss micro-textures and their potential for alteration. The main objective of module I is to make students aware of the resolution and predictive capacity of petrographic analysis on the macro-meso and microscopic scale.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

This class aims at giving the basic knowledge for the use of most significant techniques of mineralogical and petrographic investigation in the diagnostic of cultural heritage, together with a general sketch of their resolution and limits. A wide numer of case studies are described with the most suitable strategies of multianalytical diagnostic approach related with the specific problems of characterisation, with aprticular attention to archeometry and weathering diagnostics.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures in the classroom. Lectures are delivered through power point presentations and website consultations.

Practise. The practical exercises are based on demo analysis and discussions on specimens of the rock education collection (samples and thin sections) of the Department of Earth Sciences of the Environment and Life (DISTAV). The materials object of the experiences are industrial minerals, building rocks, ornamental rocks, lithoid materials of the built (plaster, mortars, concretes, aggregates). The instrumentation useful for the characterizations (USB digital microscope, reflected light, optical microscope in transmitted polarized light are subject to demo and direct use of the students.

The exercises are carried out in the Microscopy room of the "L. Cortesogno" Department of Earth Sciences of the Environment and Life (DISTAV), equipped with microscopes for students and a projection system on monitors for the teacher. Students take a look at the production chain of thin and metallographic sections in the Rocks Preparation Laboratory in compliance with Decree Law 81/2008. At the end of the course there will be an exercise at the Electronic Microscopy Laboratory on rock, plaster and concrete preparations. The Laboratory of Electron Microscopy is equipped with a projection system and can carry out exercises even remotely.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Sample preparation techniques for petrographic analysis.
Techniques for preparing thin sections of stone materials, mortars and plasters.
Microanalysis techniques: SEM-EDS on ceramic and stone mortars
Morphological analysis techniques: stereomicroscopy, polarized light microscopy
transmitted, and SEM-BSE on ceramic and stone mortars.
Characterization of geomaterials, their degradation, elements to determine their provenance.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Suggested readings:

• Armigliato A., Valdrè U. (1980) Microscopia elettronica a scansione e microanalisi. Lo Scarabeo, Bologna, Vol. 1 e 2.
• Borghini G. Marmi antichi (2004) Min. per i beni e le attività culturali. Istituto centrale per il catalogo e la documentazione
• Deer W.A, Howie R.A., Zussman J. (1993) An introduction to the rock forming minerals., Longman scientific and technical
• Maggetti M, Messiga B. (eds) (2006) Geomaterials in Cultural heritage. Geological Society of London, Special Publication n. 257
• Pecchioni, Fratini, Cantisani: Le malte antiche e moderne tra tradizione ed innovazione. II Ed., Patron Editore, 2018.
• Price M.T. (2008) Atlante delle pietre decorative. Guida tecnica illustrata. Hoepli.
• Turkington A.V. (2005) Stone decay in the architectural environment. Special paper 390, Geol Society of America

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CRISTINA CARBONE (President)

LAURA GAGGERO (President)

ROBERTO CABELLA

SIMONA SCRIVANO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

For lessons start and timetable go to the following link: http://www.distav.unige.it/ccsbenicultura/orario-lezioni

Class schedule

MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY LABORATORY MODULE 1

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written and oral. The examination of the 3 modules is integrated and consists of a written test consisting of an open-ended topic related to the design / description / discussion of an analytical protocol on stone / ceramic / mortar materials.

The topic is discussed by the commission with the student, with particular attention to points of possible lack.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment is based on a written task and on the discussion of the same.

The composition concerns the topics of teaching. The teachers evaluate the ability and the critical sense in dealing with a theoretical diagnostic problem with the survey methodologies studied and practiced. In particular, the ability to integrate the knowledge acquired in the 3 modules of the course is evaluated.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Due to the markedly experimental nature of the course, the frequency is strongly recommended.