GEMMOLOGY AND MUSEOLOGY

Knowledge and Understanding

Knowledge of and understanding of the geochemical, mineralogical, and petrographic properties of geological materials, and of their origin and transformations in natural and anthropogenic contexts:

One of the objectives of the course is to provide advanced knowledge of innovative analytical methodologies for distinguishing natural, synthetic, artificial, and reconstructed gemstones.

Understanding of environmental systems, geo-resources, and geological heritage in relation to sustainability and interactions with human activities:

One of the objectives of the course is to provide the knowledge required to acquire the skills necessary for developing a museum enhancement and visitor engagement project.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding

Ability to apply geochemical, mineralogical, and petrographic analytical techniques to characterize the composition, origin, and properties of geological materials:

Students will acquire and apply analytical methodologies in the field of gemology.

Ability to translate geological knowledge into operational assessments supporting sustainable land management and the enhancement of geo-resources and geological heritage:

Students will acquire and apply the tools necessary for museum exhibition design and planning.

Making Judgements

Ability to make informed decisions in the presence of complex problems:

Students will develop independent judgment in identifying the main gemstones and their characteristics, as well as in evaluating the effectiveness of museum exhibitions addressed during the course.

Communication Skills

Ability to analyze, synthesize, and effectively communicate technical and scientific results to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Ability to prepare technical documentation (reports, technical papers, maps).

These skills will be assessed during the final examination, in which students will be required to present a museum-related project and an analytical report on a gemstone.

Learning Skills

Ability to independently consult databases, scientific literature, and regulatory references:

Students will be required to consult scientific literature and analytical databases in order to identify the gemstone that will be the subject of their analytical report.

Lectures (direct teaching): classroom-based lectures.

Interactive teaching: laboratory activities and practical exercises in both the gemological and museological fields.

The course will also include a seminar delivered by an expert gemologist.

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.

PREREQUISITES

No prerequisites are required.

Attendance is mandatory in accordance with the University's academic regulations.

DETAILED COURSE CONTENT

•    Minerals and Gems; Engraved gems

•    Natural, artificial, synthetic gems; composite gems; treatments.  
•    Methodologies for gems identification: Raman Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) 

•    Museology with detailed focus on Sicilian and European Museum (Berlin, London, Barcellona, Paris and Vienna ...). Scientific project in the field of valorization and fruition of Museums. 

Course handouts

“Pietre preziose” Mario Fontana, De Vecchi editore

(“GEMME” Robert Webster, Zanichelli editore)

(Robert Webster GEMME Zanichelli editore)

ASSESSMENT METHODS

• Preparation of a museum-related project,  in which the students will exercise with Word and/or Power Point.
  
• Analytical report on a gemstone  in which the students will exercise with Word and/or Power Point.
• Oral examination,  for clarification or at the student's request during which students will be assessed on the relevance of their answers to the questions asked, the quality of the content provided, their ability to illustrate concepts with appropriate examples, their command of technical terminology, and their overall communication skills.

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), Prof. Gabriele Lanzafame.

• Characteristics of a natural gemstone and its artificial counterpart.
• Gemological analysis methods.
• Exhibition design and organization of a natural history museum.