NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL STONE MATERIALS WITH LABORATORYModule NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL STONE MATERIALS LABORATORY
Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: PAOLO MAZZOLENIExpected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding - The educational objectives are: a) to acquire the basic skills to perform mineralogical, petrographic, geochemical and petrophysical analyses of natural and artificial stone materials; b) to know how to interpret analytical data for the use of stone materials in industry and in the field of Cultural Heritage also through practical examples
Applying knowledge and understanding - The student will apply in the laboratory the knowledge acquired on the different analytical methodologies proposed by the professor
Making judgements - the student will develop independent judgment in evaluating the results of the analyses carried out during the laboratory experiments
Communication skills and learning skills - will be the subject of the exam test
Specific Competencies
- Ability to independently analyze Earth materials in both field and laboratory settings, and to describe, analyze, document, and report the results.
- Ability to apply simple quantitative methods, including geospatial techniques, to Earth systems.
- Ability to define, design, and implement a strategy for solving Earth Science-related problems and to produce a substantial report or thesis.
- Ability to provide advice on the use of natural resources in the development of policies, legislation, plans, and programs.
- Ability to adopt good professional practices (e.g., legal, safe, responsible, environmentally sound, and sustainable practices).
- Rigor in sampling procedures and data collection, as well as in data processing, analysis, and interpretation.
- Ability to collect, process, and interpret data from multiple sources using both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
- Ability to integrate and critically evaluate qualitative and quantitative data derived from different sources.
Course Structure
exercises with the guide of the teacher in the laboratories of the Department. Students will carry out brief reports on practical activities.
If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus
Attendance of Lessons
Mandatory, in accordance with the Degree Programme Regulations.
Detailed Course Content
- Sampling Methods
- Petrographic Description Protocols for Rocks, Ceramics, Mortars, and Cements.
- X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Analyses of Natural and Artificial Stone Materials.
- Determination of Physical Properties of Stone Materials and Their Relationship with Mineralogical Composition and Structural Features: Water absorption by capillarity test; Water absorption by total immersion test; Determination of open porosity; Determination of the drying index; Determination of apparent and true specific gravity (density).
- Durability Assessment of Stone Materials.
Textbook Information
ELEMENTI DI PETROGRAFIA APPLICATA Piero Comin-Chiaramonti & Maurizio Mazzucchelli
Le malte antiche e moderne tra tradizione ed innovazione Elena Pecchioni,Fabio Fratini,Emma Cantisani
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | sampling methods | |
| 2 | esercitazioni su analisi petrofisiche | normative europee; ELEMENTI DI PETROGRAFIA APPLICATA Piero Comin-Chiaramonti & Maurizio Mazzucchelli |
| 3 | Petrographic characterization and analysis of mortars and ceramics. | Power point. Le malte antiche e moderne tra tradizione ed innovazione Elena Pecchioni,Fabio Fratini,Emma Cantisani |
| 4 | determination of density | normative europee; ELEMENTI DI PETROGRAFIA APPLICATA Piero Comin-Chiaramonti & Maurizio Mazzucchelli |
| 5 | water absorption tests by total immersion | normative europee; ELEMENTI DI PETROGRAFIA APPLICATA Piero Comin-Chiaramonti & Maurizio Mazzucchelli |
| 6 | water absorption tests for capillary rising | normative europee; ELEMENTI DI PETROGRAFIA APPLICATA Piero Comin-Chiaramonti & Maurizio Mazzucchelli |
| 7 | porosity analysis | normative europee; ELEMENTI DI PETROGRAFIA APPLICATA Piero Comin-Chiaramonti & Maurizio Mazzucchelli |
| 8 | XRD and XRF analysis and interpretation | normative europee; ELEMENTI DI PETROGRAFIA APPLICATA Piero Comin-Chiaramonti & Maurizio Mazzucchelli |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Open-ended written questions.
Learning assessment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it. To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA) referring teacher within their department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti)
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
- Interpretation of water-related test results.
- Interpretation of mineralogical analyses.
- Petrographic description and characterization of pottery and mortars.
- Relationships between chemical, mineralogical, and petrographic characteristics and the durability of materials.