LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this course is to provide basic knowledge on the morphological, structural, crystal-chemical and crystallophysical aspects of minerals, with particular attention to those that are of greater interest in the field of cultural heritage. The study methods and diagnostic techniques necessary for the characterization and recognition of minerals in manufactured pieces are also treated.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The attendance and participation in the planned training activities (lectures and laboratory activities) will allow the student to acquire the general knowledge of Mineralogy necessary to face studies in the field of conservation and restoration of cultural heritage.

Specifically, the student will be able to:

• know and describe the main classes of silicate and non-silicate minerals;
• know the chemical-physical properties of minerals and to know how to connect them to the main macroscopic and microscopic diagnostic investigations;
• demonstrate how to connect the crystalline systems to the main elements of morphological and structural crystallography;
• distinguish and identify the mineral constituents of stone materials, artefacts and pigments using the theoretical,  the practical and the methodological skills acquired during laboratory activities;
• apply the acquired knowledge to specific case studies.

PREREQUISITES

The following basic knowledge of inorganic chemistry is required to effectively address the teaching content: 1) atomic structure, 2) atoms, molecules and ions, 3) periodic table and the systematic arrangement of elements, 4) chemical bonds, 5 ) chemical reactions and 6) stoichiometry.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching consists of ordinary lectures and theoretical-practical laboratory. Attendance at lessons and laboratory exercises is strongly recommended since learning tests, activities for the application of acquired knowledge, practical and methodological activities are planned during the semester.

Lectures in the classroom are delivered through multimedia presentations. At the end of each part of the program there will be tests in the classroom for self-assessment of learning.

For the first semester, the lessons will be possibly held in presence, guaranteeing however the fruition of the lessons even remotely, through video recording, synchronous or asynchronous.

The laboratory exercises are aimed at the practical application of the theoretical knowledge acquired during the lectures. At the end of each part of the exercises, an individual or group report will be compiled in the classroom using specific forms provided by the teacher. In particular:

• individual exercises to determine the mineral formula from  mineral chemical analysis;
• group exercises for the macroscopic recognition of minerals using samples from the DISTAV's mineral collection;
• individual exercises by means of transmitted polarizing light microscopy for the recognition of minerals on the basis of their optical properties using thin sections of the DISTAV's didactic collection;
• group exercises by means of scanning electron microscope for the determination of the chemical composition of minerals.

The laboratory exercises will take place in classrooms equipped with microscopes and specific lighting and in the DISTAV's electron microscopy laboratory. The laboratory activities will be possibly held in presence, eventually with multiple shifts.

All activities will be carried out in compliance with the capacity limits of the classrooms / laboratories and the social distancing rules provided by current legislation due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic emergency. Please refer to the specific AulaWeb page for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course program includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:

•      Elements of morphological and structural crystallography: overview of translation lattices and crystal elementary cells, laws of crystallography, elements of symmetry, crystalline systems;
•      Crystallochemical aspects (chemical bonds in crystalline structures, isomorphism, polymorphism) and systematic classification of silicate and non-silicate minerals with particular attention to the most important in the field of cultural heritage.
•      Scalar and vector physical properties of crystals, with insights into the optical behavior of minerals in natural and polarized light.
•      Processes of genesis of minerals and stability fields with particular reference to the interaction with atmospheric agents
•      Methods of investigation for the recognition and classification of minerals

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All slides  and other teaching materials used during lessons will be available on AulaWeb at the end of each cycle of lessons / laboratory exercises.

The book below is suggested as a supporting text, but students can still use other university level texts. The recommended text is available and can be consulted at the M.F.N. School of Science Library.

C. Klein (2004): Mineralogy (First Italian edition conducted on the twenty-second American edition) - Zanichelli Editore (Bologna), ISBN: 9788808076892, 632 pp.