GEOLOGY APPLIED TO CULTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION

The course aims to provide the basic knowledge of Mineralogy and Petrography necessary for the identification of the most common minerals and rocks. The course focuses on the mineralogical and petrographic characterization of the geomaterials used in Cultural Heritage, and on the decay in relation to different environments. Part of the course is dedicated to artificial stones with a mention of the development of new sustainable mix designs. The use of standard normative, the commercial definitions, and the main analytical methodologies used for the characterization of rocks will be also introduced.

The main expected outcomes are i) the identification of the minerals and rocks used in Cultural Heritage fields, ii) the identification of the main decay patterns and causes, iii) the use of an adequate geological-technical glossary that allows a unequivocal communication with the various employees of Cultural Heritage. By the end of the course students should be able to recognize the main geomorphological processes, to formulate reasoned hypotheses on the decay causes, and to suggest a suitable diagnostic approach. The course aims to develop a critical thinking on human-environment interaction in terms of Cultural Heritage preservation.

Knowledge acquired during General and inorganic chemistry.

The geology and “the creative action”: the use of geomaterials in Cultural Heritage as expression of the symbolic link with the landscape identity.
Distribution and abundance of elements on the Earth. Structure and dynamics of the Earth.
Definition of mineral. Crystalline state and amorphous state. The crystalline systems. Habit, nucleation, and crystalline growth. Types of polyhedral coordination. Polymorphism and isomorphism. Macroscopic description and physical properties of minerals. Systematic Mineralogy.
Definition of rock. The petrogenetic processes (magmatic, sedimentary, and metamorphic process).
Igneous rocks. Definition and physical-chemical features of magmas. Classification schemes of igneous rocks based on a mineralogy (Streckeisen diagram) and chemistry (TAS).
Sedimentary rocks. Processes of formation, composition, and classification. Criteria and terminology used for the sedimentary rock’s classification.
Metamorphic rocks. Environmental conditions and types of metamorphism. Metamorphic degree.
Artificial stone materials. Ceramics, bricks, and sustainable mix designs. Brief mention of mosaic technique and glass. Mortars and binders.
Physical and mechanical properties of rocks. UNI and ISO Standard Normative. Porosity (closed, open and communicating). Compressive strength (destructive analysis) and ultrasonic tests (non-destructive analysis). Thermal properties. Aging tests (salts crystallization, freeze-thaw cycles, sunlight cycles in climatic chamber). The archaeometry and the most common analytical techniques for a mineralogical, textural, and chemical characterization of rocks.
The decay. The effects of the climate change on Cultural Heritage.

PowerPoint presentations discussed during lessons and supplementary scientific papers.

Mandatory textbook:
1- A. Mottana, R. Crespi, G. Liborio, “Minerali e Rocce”, Mondadori Electa, 2004

Optional textbooks:
1- C. Klein, “Mineralogia”, Zanichelli, 2004
2- L. Morbidelli, “Le rocce e i loro costituenti”, Roma: Scienze e lettere, 2014
3- E. Pecchioni, F. Fratini, E. Cantisani, “Le malte antiche e moderne tra tradizione e innovazione”, Pàtron, 2008

Two tests during the course.

The course includes i) lectures, ii) practical exercises (consisting in the observation, description, and identification of selected macroscopic samples of minerals and rocks), iii) short lab sessions on the physical characterization of rocks (eg. water absorption, ultrasonic tests, IR thermography). Within the limits of covid-19 situation, the course includes two field trips, one to the city of Venice and one to a stone processing company. The lessons (PowerPoint) and the supplementary materials (scientific papers) will be weekly provided on the Moodle platform.

Italian

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF THE COURSE COULD CHANGE AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC.

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This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development