OVERVIEW

Petrography studies and describes terrestrial rocks in their compositional, textural, and genetic aspects. The course, structured through both theoretical and practical activities, provides fundamental knowledge on the formation processes of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, with particular attention to the textures and microstructures that determine their physical and mechanical properties and their behavior over time.

The course is specifically oriented toward the field of cultural and artistic heritage, addressing both the study of stone materials of historical and artistic significance and the analysis of alteration and deterioration processes, with the aim of providing useful tools for diagnostics, conservation, and the prevention of geomaterial decay.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at providing the theoretical tools to identify and classify stone materials, and at correlating the petrographic analysis with the corresponding technical characteristics, in order to develop a forecasting potential on the durability of materials. Lab and field exercises are planned.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides the fundamental knowledge of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic petrogenesis. After acquiring the tools necessary to apply the genetic criterion in distinguishing the three main groups of rocks, students will study the principal classification diagrams used to assign the correct scientific nomenclature to stone materials, with additional reference to the commercial classification of ornamental stones.

The analysis and understanding of sedimentary processes also provide an opportunity to develop an analogy between rocks exposed in natural environments and stone materials used in monuments, both of which are subjected to the same agents of alteration and deterioration.

Practical exercises based on the teaching collection of stone materials are aimed at illustrating, understanding, and applying the analytical procedures necessary for the study of a rock. The integration of the different stages of observation and analysis leads to the identification and classification of samples through the use of scientifically validated classification diagrams.

A further educational objective, specifically oriented toward the field of cultural heritage, concerns the understanding of the physical properties of rocks — particularly their mechanical and thermal properties — and their relationship to deterioration processes. Starting from the ability to recognize and describe the textures and microstructures of stone materials, the course aims to connect petrographic analysis with the technical characteristics of materials, developing skills useful for evaluating their durability and long-term behavior.

The course includes practical laboratory exercises and field activities.

PREREQUISITES

In order to get the most out of this class, students are strongly advised to have previously attended the course Principles of Mineralogy Applied to Cultural Heritage, particularly with regard to mineral systematics and mineral identification methodologies. The theoretical knowledge and practical skills acquired during laboratory activities provide an important foundation for the recognition, classification, and petrographic analysis activities included in this course.

TEACHING METHODS

Classroom lectures. Lectures are delivered through PowerPoint presentations and guided consultation of specialized websites.

Practical exercises. Practical activities are based on demonstration analyses and discussions of specimens from the DISTAV teaching rock collection. Rock samples are examined during individual practical sessions and, when necessary, with the aid of a 3D projector. At the end of the course, a practical session at the Electron Microscopy Laboratory and/or field visits to buildings in the city of Genoa and/or to the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno are planned.

Indoor practical activities take place in classrooms equipped with microscopes and specialized lighting systems. Students are required to provide a 10× hand lens and a steel point for performing the so-called scratch test (relative microhardness test).

Students with a valid certification of physical disability or learning disability filed with the University who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances related to lectures, assignments, and examinations are encouraged to contact both the instructor and Professor Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the Departmental Disability Coordinator.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Origin and formation processes of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.
• Principles of classification of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, with an introduction to the main classification diagrams and nomenclature criteria.
• Methods for the macroscopic identification of rocks and an introduction to the principal diagnostic and analytical techniques used in the study of geomaterials.
• Technical properties of stone materials.
  Physical properties: specific weight, volume weight, heap weight, real and apparent porosity, gelivity, imbibition coefficient, thermal conductivity, thermal dilatation, fire resistance 
  Mechanical properties: compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, impact resistance, hardness, microhardness, workability.
• Defects in ornamental stone materials; color, pigmentation, and chromatic stability; processes of alteration, deterioration, and durability of stone materials.

For each property, the relationships with mineralogical composition, texture, and rock microstructure will be examined, together with the product test of the reference normative, including applied examples concerning the most widely used commercial stone materials.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

L. MORBIDELLI, Le rocce e i loro costituenti. Bardi Ed. 2014

E.M. WINKLER, Stone in architecture. Springler Verlag, Berlin, 1994

Normative CEN e UNI

Siegesmund S, Snethlage R. (eds) 2011. Stone in Architecture, Properties, Durability Fourth edition, Springer, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-14475-2

The power point presentations of lessons are availbale on Aulaweb for download.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LAURA GAGGERO (President)

PIETRO MARESCOTTI

ROBERTO CABELLA (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Gli studenti sono invitati a consultare l'orario dettagliato al seguente link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Please refer to the AulaWeb specific teaching  for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation.

The examination is an oral test. Questions on the contents of the course are the bulk of the examination. Secondly, the comprehension of a thematic book chapter or scientific article assigned by the teacher will be verified by the preparation of a power point presentation to be discussed.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam is oral and consists of a question on the classification criteria of the rocks. If the need to verify the ability to identify the elements of a rock emerges from the question, the student may be submitted a sample of stone material for discussion.

This is associated with the critical reading and return in the form of a power point presentation of a scientific article, generally in English, on an agreed topic. The oral exam is conducted by two tenured professors (or in limited cases by a tenured professor and a subject expert designated by the CCS) and lasts for about 30 minutes.

The exam assesses logic, the appropriate use of technical-scientific language, the ability to apply what has been learned in the classroom. The exam tends to verify, through questions from simple to complex, the depth and correctness of knowledge (notions), the ability to organize them in a rational scheme, the ability to draw on the preparatory knowledge of Inorganic Chemistry and Mineralogy, the ability to correlate related topics.

The sufficient mark corresponds to the ability to classify a rock (magmatic, sedimentary or metamorphic) with the nomenclatural criteria, motivating its application.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Regular attendance is strongly recommended. The course includes laboratory exercises and technical visits to selected destinations (monuments, laboratories, museums, and quarries).

Students with a certified physical disability or learning disability registered with the University can find information about support services on the webpage University of Genoa – Disability and DSA Services, managed by the “Student Inclusion Services for Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (DSA)” office.

Students may also contact Professor Cristina Carbone (cristina.carbone@unige.it), the DISTAV representative for disabilities.