GEORISOURCES FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The course aims to provide students with adequate knowledge on: a) the main geo-resources employed in industry and cultural heritage; b) the environmental and health issues related to the use of specific geomaterials; c) the main analytical techniques for their chemical and mineralogical characterization. 

Furthermore, with reference to the Dublin Descriptors, this course contributes to the acquisition of the following transversal skills:

Knowledge and understanding: knowledge of the main georesources of economic interest and their exploitation; knowledge of the most common analytical techniques for the study of geomaterials; ability to understand the negative effects on health and the environment resulting from the use of some georesources; ability to understand the most appropriate analytical techniques in relation to the type of information desired.

Applying knowledge and understanding: ability to apply acquired knowledge by rigorously using the scientific method; ability to use the main analytical techniques for the chemical-mineralogical characterization of geomaterials and apply them to real cases; ability to organize, interpret and process data resulting from the analysis of specific georesources.

Making judgements: critical thinking skills; ability to identify the most appropriate methods for critically analyzing, interpreting and processing experimental data; ability to assess the accuracy of measurements and the sensitivity and selectivity of the techniques used.

Communication skills: ability to present scientific topics orally and/or in writing with appropriate linguistic precision and to illustrate their rationale and results.

Learning skills: ability to read, understand and critically analyze scientific texts and topics with a particular focus on the georesources supply and their use in industry and cultural heritage; ability to independently learn new scientific topics in the field that are necessary for further studies.

28 hours (4 CFU): lectures teaching module

24 hours (2 CFU): laboratory module

Knowledge of mineralogy and petrography is required.

Introduction to mineral resources; classification of minerals and rocks of economic interest; resources and reserves; use and economic value of georesources; classification and exploitation of mineral deposits; quarries and mines.

Examples of georesources used in industry and cultural heritage: clays and clay minerals; kaolin; bentonite; zeolites; geopolymers; mortars, concretes and cements.

Effects of specific georesources on environment and health: asbestiform minerals; free silica; particulate matter air pollution; volcanic ashes.

Analytical techniques for the chemical-mineralogical characterization of geomaterials: 1) X-ray diffraction (XRD) - theoretical principles, sample preparation techniques, analysis and interpretation of a XRD pattern; 2) X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) - theoretical principles, sample preparation techniques, destructive and non-destructive analysis, interpretation and data processing; 3) Scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis (SEM-EDS) - theoretical principles, sample preparation techniques, SEM micromorphological analysis and EDS microanalysis of geomaterials.

Course material (ppt slides) available on Studium.

Suggested books:

- Swapna Mukherjee. Applied mineralogy: Applications in industry and environment. Springer, 2011.

- J. R. Craig, D. J. Vaughan, B. J. Skinner. Earth resources and the Environment. Fourth edition, Ed. Pearson Education Limited, 2014.

An oral examination is aimed at ascertaining the knowledge of the topics covered in the course.

Information for students with disabilities and/or DSA: to ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on educational objectives and specific needs.

It is also possible to contact the CInAP (Center for Active and Participated Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSA) through the reference Professor of our Department, Giorgio De Guidi.

The student will be asked to:

1) discuss about one or more georesouces covered in the course

2) describe one of the analytical techniques (basic theoretical principles and application examples)

3) analyze the effects of specific georesources on environment and health