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El objetivo de esta investigación ha sido caracterizar la naturaleza química y mineralógica del pigmento empleado en los motivos esquemáticos prehistóricos de la cueva de Los Buitres 1 (Capilla, Badajoz), y tratar de identificar la presencia de materia orgánica en su composición. Para ello se han realizado análisis de espectroscopia Micro-Raman y ATR-FTIR sobre cuatro muestras de pigmento, tres de pigmento rojo y una más también roja, aunque de tonalidad más oscura. Se aplicó la espectroscopia Micro-Raman para determinar la composición mineralógica de las muestras seleccionadas, mientras que el ATR-FTIR se aplicó para determinar la presencia de materia orgánica presente en cada una de ellas. Destacar que las muestras 1 y 2 son casi idénticas y registraron la presencia de montmorillonite. Por su parte, los análisis por ATR-FTIR señalaron la presencia de componentes orgánicos en la muestra 3, mientras que la muestra 4 se caracterizó como ocre oscuro quemado. La comparación con los pigmentos empleados en el arte rupestre esquemático de un abrigo cercano, en donde han sido identificados los mismos componentes orgánicos en similares tipologías figurativas, invita a considerar la posibilidad de que nos encontremos con una suerte de “receta” para preparar el pigmento que debió estar en uso en este territorio durante un periodo cronológico concreto.

Microscopic observation correlated with chemical–mineralogical characterization was performed on pigment samples from “Abrigo del Lince” rock art site (V-IV millennium BC), in order to provide contributions to the study of prehistoric schematic art on granite in the province of Badajoz (Spain). The research objectives include the understanding of technological and cultural aspects, as well as of conservation and deterioration issues related to the pictographs. The multi-analytical approach encompasses the integration of microscopic observation, SEM–EDS analysis, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and ATR-FTIR and allowed to achieve a multispectral overview of the samples and to describe their varied composition and the alteration pattern which connects them. The main phases overlying the granitic bedrock and involved in this sequence are as follows: hematite, whewellite, and gypsum. While hematite could be stratigraphically considered the most ancient layer and assigned to the use of red ochre as a pigment, whewellite and gypsum are the main constituent of the alteration layer which forms a patina over the pictographs, due to weathering processes. Finally, the role of biofilms in rock art conservation is discussed, suggesting that, especially for what concern thin and homogenous layers of oxalates, their presence should not be necessarily considered an issue.

The Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region (north of Italy) is characterized by the presence of high-quality freshwater resources which benefit local citizens, animals, environmental habitats, and also agriculture and production activities. Waters from wells, canal, and wastewater selected in the Fiume Veneto area, through a detailed lithological modeling, were sampled and analyzed to characterize them from a geochemical point of view. The chemical and isotopic characterization made it possible to establish provenance, and the average age of water used, making available the estimation of the relationships between recharge capacity and water use in the Fiume Vento area. The focus of this study is to define the average age of the resources based on the time required for the recharge contributions to compensate the losses induced by exploitation. The results made it possible to support the plans for a water balance using the provenance and average age of water sources for the protection of water reserves formed by the multi-aquifer system of the high and medium Friuli plain. The methodology applied has followed the legislation of the water directive considering the overexploitation due to unauthorized withdrawals of the sampling area.

At the end of their activity, quarries require environmental recovery in order to ensure a new balance between the quarry site and its physical and ecological context. Moreover, the activities of the ornamental rock extraction produce a large amount of extraction waste which profoundly modify the site's topography in an increasing way as the accumulations are formed progressively during the quarrying process. These wastes can be either recycled as secondary raw materials (e.g., in the context of the ceramic industry) or reused within the quarry site to mould a new topography and a new landscape as a result. Earth sciences and landscape architecture should constitute the disciplinary basis on which to develop the recovery project associated with the supply of secondary raw materials and the environmental improvement of the quarry site. This contribution discusses the case study of the Buddusò granite quarry (northern Sardinia, Italy), where a design methodology based on topology alteration of the site was applied. Through 3D survey and parametric design, it is possible to calculate the waste volumes within the excavation site and estimate how much and in what way the waste material can be recycled and reused. The first phase of the process consists of taking orthophotographic images by drone with subsequent georeferencing through G.P.S. points acquisition. After processing the acquired data, the topography of quarry volumes is recreated in an explorable 3D model. The last phase concerns the design management of the site topology through the application of parametric design tools. The objective is to create an adaptive project based on parameters such as: the balance between excavation and fill volumes; the recycling potential of waste material; the dynamics of water runoff; the ecological and ecosystem site potential; the site accessibility. The presented design methodology can be carried out either in the pre-quarry phase and/or during the quarry's operation, which allows an a priori assessment of what the future landscape will look like as a consequence of quarrying activities and subsequent site recovery. In practical terms, the presented methodology become a preliminary tool for the assessment of landscape evolution scenarios and ensures that the extraction cycle can be completely closed by reintegrating waste volumes into the recovery process.

The extraction and processing chain of ornamental stones involves a long trail of waste throughout the process. In fact, about 20-22 % of the original block becomes waste in the cutting operations [1], and it goes up to 75 % of the excavated material when considering the entire chain from extraction to sawing, cutting, and polishing [2]. These percentages are higher in leuco-granite quarries as they are often crossed by dikes and small pegmatite intrusive bodies which are landfilled due to aesthetic defects that make them unusable in the context of ornamental stones.The waste generated in the context of quarrying activities produces significant landscape and environmental problems due to the high volume and the possible presence of rare metals (Critical Raw Materials - CRMs) that can be mobilized and diffused in the hydrosphere and biosphere. In fact, massive accumulations of waste strongly impact the territories hosting the quarries due to land consumption and as possible sources of pollution [3].The region of Sardinia (Italy) is the main producer of ornamental granite, with currently more than 350 active and inactive quarries, and huge amounts of waste from granite processing have accumulated in quarry areas throughout the region and these quarries are also near archaeological and landscape interest areas.This paper focuses on a quarry located in the municipality of Buddusò, in the quarrying district of northern Sardinia. In this quarry, which has been active for over forty years, massive waste deposits have been created and can be seen a few km away from the site.The aim of this work is to characterize from a geochemical and petrographic point of view the granite waste coming from the quarry and the products obtained through the processes of crushing and gravitational and magnetic separation of the minerals operated on such waste. This is to evaluate the possibilities of recycling granite waste for possible use in the context of the ceramic industry and to explore the possibility of extracting REE since this waste is rich in allanite (rare earth epidote).The results of the analyses highlighted a rather homogeneous chemical-mineralogical composition of the samples taken from the various landfills present in the quarry under study.As regards the results of the analyses carried out on the products obtained through the working processes on granite scraps, they have highlighted a high potential of these materials for possible use in the context of the ceramic industry. In fact, the composition of these products showed very low Fe2O3 content (< 0.35 %) and falls within the compositional ranges proposed by Fabbri & Fiori [7] of raw materials for mixtures to produce stoneware. ReferencesRana, A. (2016). J. Clean. Prod., 135. Silveira L.L.L. et al. (2014) In Tecnologia de Rochas Ornamentais: Pesquisa, Lavra e Beneficiamento; CETEM/MCTI: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Chapter 7. Lokeshwari M. & Jagadish, K.S. (2016). Procedia Environ. Sci., 35. Fabbri, B. & Fiori, C. (1985). Min. Petr. Acta, 29.

Santa Maria in Vado is a monument in the rich artistic heritage of the city of Ferrara (north of Italy). In this paper we want to investigate the state of conservation of tombstones, cloister and the entrance to the basilica, in order to keep them in the best possible state for the future generations. From the chemical characterization, the state of conservation was determined focusing on the biodeteriogenic and non-biodeteriogenic factors, which determine a series of unwanted changes in the physical, mechanical and above all aesthetic properties of the material, often closely connected with the environment and conservation conditions. On the macroscopic observation, the state of conservation of the tombstones appeared to be very deteriorated through aesthetic and structural damage. In detail, the stereo microscope observation of samples collected from the tombstones show the presence of efflorescence probably caused by the abundant of water that bring the salts present inside the rock into solution. Relating the columns, μ-XRF analysis confirm the carbonate composition of samples and presence of iron and sulfur. Finally, SEM observation highlighted the presence of black crust on arch samples and the presence of pollen on the black crust and spheroidal particles probably related to atmospheric pollution.

The Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region (north of Italy) is characterized by the presence of high-quality freshwater resources which benefit local citizens, animals, and environmental habitats and also agriculture and production activities. In collaboration with the LTA consortium “Livenza Tagliamento Acque”, ENEA and the University of Ferrara, different kinds of waters from wells selected in the Fiume Veneto area were sampled and analysed to characterize them from a geochemical point of view. The results obtained made it possible to support the plans for the protection of water reserves formed by the multi-aquifer system of the high and medium Friuli plain, following the legislation of the water directive. It was also possible to define a circular and sustainable plan for the use of surface water resources respecting the natural recharge balances of aquifers, and the minimum flow of rivers and canals, taking into account the overexploitation due to unauthorized withdrawals. This study based on isotopic geochemistry makes available the estimation of the relationships between recharge capacity and water use of the Fiume Vento area in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. This methodology allows defining the average age of the resources based on the time required for the recharge contributions to compensate for the losses induced by exploitation and resurgence.

For the maintenance of the safety and security of people traveling on the road, renovation of the reinforced concrete is necessary, especially for bridge or viaduct slabs. Being able to quantify the degradation of slabs and propose methodologies for its retrofit or maintenance is crucial not only in the mineralogical-engineering field but also for socio-economic implications. In this study, samples of deck slabs of a viaduct from the highway E45 near the locality of Bagno di Romagna (Emilia Romagna, north of Italy) were subjected to a testing program to evaluate mechanical and mineralogical parameters through thermographic analyses, compression, and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity tests and morphological observation. The analyses allow to better recognize the damage of the reinforced concrete samples and they have shown that the cause of the detachment of the asphalt has mainly a natural origin, due to temperature variations and precipitation, with a secondary cause in the anthropogenic impact. The work aims to understand the relationships between the structure of the aggregates and the characteristics of concrete to understand the development of degradation. This knowledge could be used to prevent future damages to the highways. Article Highlights: Concrete slabs analysed provided information about the relation between damage level, mechanical behaviour, size and distribution of aggregates.Thermographic analyses were useful to understand how deep the damage was in the slabs and to detect any detachment of the asphalt.Compressive tests, through the failure load value, shown that the ultimate strength level decreased due to formation of microcracks.

Cement has good compressive properties but poor tensile strength, which is critical of its composites. To solve this challenge, in the last decades, different types of reinforcing fibers, such as glass, carbon, polyvinyl alcohol, steel, asbestos, aramid, or cellulosic fibers have been used. The main benefits of adding reinforcing fibers in cement are the improvement of tensile strength, flexural strength and toughness, due to this, in the late 1960s in some European motorways, have been used concretes for road pavement slabs and for pylon with asbestos and fibrous minerals in the mixture. Anyway, the cumulative traffic loading and the exposure to weathering, especially the impact of chloride diffusion for use of de-icing salt, can induce severe degradation phenomena affecting both the concrete and the asbestos mineral fibers. Highway and street pavements are massive civil infrastructures. Highway and street pavements are massive civil infrastructures and in Italy, in the last decade, the structural suitability of hundreds of thousands of kilometers of motorways is under verification due to degradation phenomena.A combination of different analytical methods was used to characterize concrete samples affected by self-passivating due to calcite fouling and biofilm, presumably mainly caused by transporting water rich in salts. Samples have been studied by optical microscopic observation and by Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive (SEM-EDS) analysis. It has been hypothesized that seasonal variations of water temperature and high chemical interaction water-concrete should be responsible for the hydrolysis and Ca leaching that cause the degradation of the cement paste and the exposure of asbestos mineral fibers to weathering.Potential risks during maintenance interventions should be taken into consideration, in this light, mineralogical and petrographic characterization of concrete for road pavement slabs and for pylon is a useful tool for investigating the presence of potentially dangerous minerals that required caution during degradation product removal with methodologies that pulverize the samples. To prevent effective post-degradation transformation into elements harmful to health and the environment, careful monitoring is recommended.

Meteotsunamis (or meteorological tsunamis) are long, progressive sea waves triggered by external forcings due to meteorological events as e.g., air pressure disturbances, wind gusts and fast-moving storms that are observed in beaches of enclosed basins and/or in ocean waves entering the harbors and bays. The atmospheric disturbance in open sea generates near the surface water the localized waves, that travel at the same speed but with a period ranging from a few minutes to two hours. The waves propagate toward the shore amplifying near the coast due to resonance mechanisms related to the bathymetric characteristics of the waterbody and the topography of the coastal line. Therefore, a meteotsunamis results from two resonance effects: an external resonance between the air pressure disturbance and the long sea waves in the open sea, followed by an internal resonance between the incoming long waves and the harbor/bay eigenmodes.Meteotsunamis have been observed all around the globe, but the most destructive events happened at a limited number of sites where meteorological and resonance conditions (i.e., intense resonant amplification due to the harbor/bay geomorphology, dynamic instability, frontal passages, gales, squalls, storms, tornadoes, convection cells, and atmospheric gravity waves) are satisfied at the same time. Examples of these sites are the North-East Adriatic Sea, the Balearic Islands (Spain) and the Sicily Strait (Marrobbio). Over the years, this natural phenomenon recorded an increase (higher frequency of Medicanes) and it has caused structural damages to properties and infrastructures along the coastal areas, as well as human casualties.In the last fifteen years, numerous studies have addressed the issue of producing statistics and hazard estimates for meteotsunamis, even though in situ data are scarce and often available with a low spatial and temporal resolution. Numerical atmospheric-ocean models, mostly running with simulated air-pressure disturbance and calibrated over data of real events, were therefore carried out seeking to establish a shared approach for hazard estimation and meteotsunamis short-term forecast. Selecting appropriate models for this natural phenomenon is important in the view of planning coastal intervention in danger areas and quantifying the hazard in the harbor/bay in relation to geomorphological changes. In this light the PMO-GATE project (Preventing, Managing and Overcoming Natural-Hazards Risks to mitiGATE economic and social impact project) in the framework of the Interreg V Italy-Croatia 2014-2020 Program aims to develop a joint innovative methodology to strengthen and consolidate the collaboration against natural disasters specific to the NUTS Italy-Croatia in order to increase the level of protection, resilience and prevention of natural disasters through shared management methodologies and multi-risk overcoming of extreme events, such as meteotsunamis, to deal with natural risk with greater awareness and effectiveness.In particular, it is crucial to understand whether and how the hazard estimate would be modified due to coastal changes brought about by the rise in the sea level expected as a consequence of climate changes.

Ancient buildings are important components of the Italian Cultural Heritage and, since the Etruscan Period, Bologna (north-eastern Italy) has always been one of the most flourishing cities both culturally and economically in the Italian and European panorama. The Orsi-Marconi Palace in Bologna presents a monumental fa&ccedil, ade decorated with many sandstone ornaments of the 16th century. Different samples from different parts of the fa&ccedil, ade of the building were collected and firstly characterised by macroscopic observations to determine the structural aspect. A petro-mineralogical study on the surfaces of the samples was conducted using a stereomicroscope and Optical Transmitted Light Polarized Microscopy. In addition, X-Ray Fluorescence and X-Ray Powder Diffractometer analyses were carried out to better understand the mineralogical composition of the sandstone materials used and the degradation products from the fa&ccedil, ades of this historical building. The aim of this work was to better understand how to revalue the sandstone decorations severely affected by deterioration phenomena.

The archeological site RS-TQ-141 is located in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and belongs to the pre-colonial Guarani Tradition (between fifth and seventeenth century). The site extends to the bank of ...

Compositional and structural characterization was carried out on transparent glass fragments found in a brick rubbish pit discovered in basal floor of the ducal palace of Ferrara, during the excavation of Piazza Municipale. This study aims to identify raw materials and glass-working techniques through X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) quantitative chemical analyses and semi-quantitative Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations. The studied fragments were produced using siliceous-lime sands with natron as flux, and allowed us to better understand the production technologies in a historical period of great innovation for European glass art. The numerous findings of glass fragments discovered in brick underground cellars built for the specific purpose of household rubbish of wealthy complexes in Ferrara testify a consolidated system of separate discharge of solid waste into underground containers, which were closed and sealed once filled. The high volume of the finds indicates the absence of recycling of accumulated materials due to the well-being of the city. Compositional analysis confirmed the local production of glass shops in Ferrara during the late Middle Ages, characterized by differences with the glasses of the nearby city of Venice. Morphological analyses also defined the nature and relative abundance of the products, exploring the types and compositions of the Ferrara glass art.

This study aims to evaluate the presence of marine litter in relation to the main human activities and during some different meteorological conditions. Five surveys were performed along Boccasette spit to collect the stranded items, in order to assess the density of debris and the beach cleanliness. The main litter macro-category is represented by artificial polymer materials (96%), while the others macro-categories represent the 4% of collected items. The main sources of the marine litter have been attributed to improper waste disposal and fishing/aquaculture activities.

After the nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s and 1960s, the atmospheric tritium levels have almost returned to natural levels (pre-1950 levels), which means that tritium is becoming more effective in determining transit times in hydrological systems. It has also been demonstrated that tritium is a non-reactive noble gas and in water is not subject to chemical reactions, absorption, or dissolution/precipitation processes, so it is conservative of the geochemical fingerprint of the source. In addition, it is used as an effective tracer of water contamination by landfill leachate, allowing to detect mixing percentages of the leachate up to levels not achievable with normal chemical analyses (less than 1 %). The purpose of the present work is to deepen the knowledge of the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the aquifers in the pedemontana area of the Venetian plain, and to formulate a conceptual framework of underground water circulation, aimed at understanding phenomena of contamination by toxic metals, harmful to human health. Tritium concentration analyses were performed on selected samples of groundwater collected in different wells in the south part of Treviso city to correlate the young age of the water recharge. The abundance of young waters, in fact, indicates a vulnerability of the aquifer to climate change with respect to possible contributions of surface waters, in particular to prolonged drought periods which could induce salinization dynamics.

In the last decades, the demand for raw materials, such as Heavy Metals (HM) and Rare Earth Elements (REE) is constantly grown due to the increasing demand from the new technologies. In particular, the REEs are mainly concentrated in apatite and zircon, largely present in pre-Paleozoic and Paleozoic cratonic rocks. Although many countries, such as Brazil, China and Iran have important deposits of HM and REE, they may only partially satisfy the increasing technology market demand. At present, extraction possibility is decreasing, and it is important to find new exploitable zones. For these reasons, mineral industries prefer to invest in exploration licenses before the mining activity.Mozambique has a large and diverse mineral resource potential and is one of the most important exporting nations of raw materials. Between 2009-2017 ENEA (National Agency for New Technology, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) in collaboration with the University of Ferrara carried out explorative research to verify the presence of raw strategic materials in the Republic of Mozambique.This research aims to investigate the sediments from the placer deposits of the Zambezi River in order to elaborate on the basis of analytical data an environmental friend extractive plan for mining activities that take into account also the environment and its preservation. The placer deposits are due to the mechanical agent, like marine, aeolian or lacustrine where minerals with high density and hardness, such as HM, are in high concentration, together with more than one economic mineral. The alluvial plain of the Zambesi River is characterized by the presence of sands, which contain heavy minerals in a percentage comprised of between 10-30%. A wide number of geochemical and mineralogical analyses (Diffractometry, XRF and ICP-MS) has been performed on samples, taken along 200 km of the river course. These data show a good presence of precious elements (Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Os and Rh), a strong presence of minerals containing Fe and Ti, Zr, Hf and subordinately Ta, Ni and others. Moreover, Rare Earth Elements are present, in particular, is evident a good presence of Sc and Y from an economical point of view.

Neanderthals collected unusual, sometimes colorful mineral materials from different sources. Several green serpentinite smooth pebbles with a flat shape and use modifications were unearthed at Fumane Cave in northern Italy. This study explores cognitive and functional criteria that influenced the selection and use of unique pebbles based on their regional geology, morphology, petrology, use wear, and residues. Besides the attraction for green materials, there is no evidence for the use of soft green and flat pebbles, like those from Fumane Cave, during the Middle Palaeolithic. Moreover, these materials were collected by Neanderthals only from ca. 44 ka cal BP, despite the large availability of green serpentine pebbles in the alluvial beds near the cave. Ultimately, we provide new data to understand the role of aesthetic and technological factors in shaping the human behavioral range in the Middle Paleolithic.

In the Trentino-Alto Adige region different types of stone materials are extracted, including the porphyry of the Atesino Volcanic Complex. Trentino porphyry from natural splitting stone has gradually gained more and more space in the last 25-30 years also in the market of sawn, flamed and polished products, which bring it back fully in the family of ornamental stones. This evolution has led to a significant increase in mining in the Trentino area with a consequent increase in the quantities of materials placed in landfills.Porphyry landfills represent one of the most significant landscape-environmental and economic problems for the Trentino region. This involves a waste of natural resources, an increasing occupation of areas by processing waste, as well as profound morphological alterations of the landscape which can have repercussions on the stability of the slopes, also due to the difficulty of taking root.The problem of the disposal of waste materials is becoming more and more pressing. From this arises the need to investigate possible sectors of interest for an alternative use of these materials.In this regard, some landfills were sampled in the area between the towns of Baselga di Pinè to the east, Lavis to the west, bounded by an imaginary line that joins the towns of Fornace and Meano to the south and joins the towns of S. Michele all’Adige and Segonzano to the north.Different samples collected were petrographically studied, through microscopically observation of thin sections, and petrochemically characterized by analysis in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), at the laboratories of the University of Ferrara.This study has highlighted the possible reuse in the ceramic sector of part of the materials placed in some of the landfills examined. A more in-depth and extensive study of the materials of the landfills in the stone Atesino District would allow the creation of a complete database useful for identifying the most suitable sites where to find atypical raw materials to be used in ceramic mixtures.