PRECIOUS MINERALS AND ROCKS

The course aims to provide the appropriate knowledge aimed at the recognition and determination of the origin of the valuable rocks used in antiquity, with particular reference to the Sicilian architectural decoration also as a function of problems concerning the restoration. Other objectives are the acquisition of skills to develop a project for the enhancement and use of museums and the advanced knowledge of innovative analytical methodologies for the distinction of natural, synthetic, artificial and reconstituted gems.

lectures and lab exercises

Sicilian Decorative stones used in architecture in the city of Palermo e Trapani: Billliemi Gray, Castellammare Red, Contorrano Red, Piana dei Greci Red, Ogliastro Red, Castronovo Yellow, Segesta Yellow, Libeccio of Custonaci, Alabastro Cotognino, Jaspers, smaltini di calcara. Macroscopic analysis and laboratories activities.
• “Marble” nomenclature
• Ancient decorative stones: Imezio, Greco scritto, Proconnesio, Cottanello, cipollino mandolato, marmo caristio, iassense, marmo di Chio, marmo calcidense, marmo di Sciro, semesanto, marmo Luculleo, marmo Tenario, marmo Tessalico, Marmo Frigio, marmo di Aquitania, Sienite egiziana, marmo Misio, Marmo Troadense, Portoro, rosso Asiago, rosso Verona , giallo di Siena, giallo antico, marmo Tripontico, Broccatello di Spagna, pietra Paesina, alabastro cotognino egiziano, alabastro Toscano, porfido verde, porfido rosso.
• Precious stones in the antiquity: localization of the quarries. Diffusion and reutilization of the roman marbles. Marble and decorative stone used in Roman Age in Siracusa.
• Analytical methods for the determination of the marble provenance (Minero-petrographic, geochemical and isotopic analyses)
• Opus sectile; mosaic; mischi and tramischi marbles.
• 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.

Pietre e marmi antichi a cura di Lorenzo Lazzarini CEDAM (2004)
I materiali lapidei nell’edilizia storica di Palermo. Conoscenza per il restauro. Ilion Books (2008).

Pietre preziose Mario Fontana De Vecchi editore

(Robert Webster GEMME Zanichelli editore)