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The map ‘Geology of the Monte Banchetta – Punta Rognosa area (Troncea valley, Western Alps)’ details the lithostratigraphy and structural setting of a key sector in the Alpine chain, characterized by close associations of continental and oceanic basements, and meta-sediments. The mapped Monte Banchetta – Punta Rognosa unit (BRU), tectonically juxtaposed to different metaophiolitic units, comprises the Punta Rognosa succession, made of serpentinized mantle overlain by Middle-Upper? Jurassic polymictic meta-breccia, with oceanic and continental clasts, and metasandstone, and the Monte Banchetta succession, consisting of continental crust and Lower–Upper? Jurassic carbonate-bearing quartzite, micaschist and polymictic meta-breccia. These two successions share the uppermost stratigraphic levels consisting of post-rift Upper Jurassic-Cretaceous carbonate-micaschists. The deciphered stratigraphic architecture indicates that the lower succession of the BRU represents portions of continental crust and exhumed mantle reworked and emplaced before deposition of post-rift sediments.
Alberto Corno; Pietro Mosca; Alessandro Borghi; Marco Gattiglio. Geology of the Monte Banchetta – Punta Rognosa area (Troncea valley, Western Alps). Journal of Maps 2021, 17, 150 -160.
AMA StyleAlberto Corno, Pietro Mosca, Alessandro Borghi, Marco Gattiglio. Geology of the Monte Banchetta – Punta Rognosa area (Troncea valley, Western Alps). Journal of Maps. 2021; 17 (2):150-160.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlberto Corno; Pietro Mosca; Alessandro Borghi; Marco Gattiglio. 2021. "Geology of the Monte Banchetta – Punta Rognosa area (Troncea valley, Western Alps)." Journal of Maps 17, no. 2: 150-160.
The ‘Ornamental Stones of Piemonte Region’ geo-lithological map at 1:250,000 scale aims at reviewing the ornamental stone heritage of Piemonte at the regional scale. The map derives from a thorough revision of the available literature, integrated with some unpublished original data. The map shows the location of the main quarries of ornamental stones of the region, selected on the basis of their historical, cultural and architectonic relevance. A geo-lithological basemap was produced, deriving it from a basic Geological Map of Piemonte, available at the same scale. The large varieties of lithotypes of Piemonte have been resumed, in the new map, into 21 classes, which all the ornamental stones have been assigned to. The Main Map is enriched by some significant examples of using the ornamental stones in historical buildings, and it is supported by a supplementary data base containing essential information about the quarry sites and the quarried material.
Luca Barale; Alessandro Borghi; Anna D’Atri; Francesca Gambino; Fabrizio Piana. Ornamental stones of Piemonte (NW Italy): an updated geo-lithological map. Journal of Maps 2020, 16, 867 -878.
AMA StyleLuca Barale, Alessandro Borghi, Anna D’Atri, Francesca Gambino, Fabrizio Piana. Ornamental stones of Piemonte (NW Italy): an updated geo-lithological map. Journal of Maps. 2020; 16 (2):867-878.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Barale; Alessandro Borghi; Anna D’Atri; Francesca Gambino; Fabrizio Piana. 2020. "Ornamental stones of Piemonte (NW Italy): an updated geo-lithological map." Journal of Maps 16, no. 2: 867-878.
In the Western Alps, different shear zones acting at different depths have been investigated for explaining multistage exhumation of (U)HP units, and several exhumation models have been proposed for explaining present-day stacking of different tectonometamorphic units. This study aims to reconstruct the tectonic evolution of the Susa Shear Zone (SSZ), a polyphasic first-order shear zone, outcropping in the Susa Valley. The SSZ consists of a thick mylonitic zone, along which units characterized by different Alpine metamorphic P–T peaks are coupled. In the study area, the footwall of the SSZ mostly consists of oceanic units (i.e., Internal Piedmont Zone), which record eclogitic conditions, whereas the hanging wall consists of oceanic units (i.e., External Piedmont Zone), which record blueschist-facies conditions. These tectonic units were deformed during subduction- and exhumation-related Alpine history, throughout four main regional deformation phases (from D1 to D4), and were coupled along the SSZ, wherein two shearing events have been distinguished (T1 and T2). T1 occurred during early exhumation and was characterized by “apparent reverse” Top-to-E kinematics, whereas T2 occurred during late exhumation and was characterized by Top-to-W kinematics. Detailed fieldwork and structural analysis allowed us to describe the main features of the different deformation stages and define the deformation relative timing. As final result, we propose a four-step geodynamic model, focused on the different stages developed along the SSZ, from pre-T1 to syn-T2, showing the geometrical relationships between the tectonic units involved in the exhumation. The model aims at explaining the role of the SSZ in the axial sector of the Western Alps.
Stefano Ghignone; Gianni Balestro; Marco Gattiglio; Alessandro Borghi. Structural evolution along the Susa Shear Zone: the role of a first-order shear zone in the exhumation of meta-ophiolite units (Western Alps). Swiss Journal of Geosciences 2020, 113, 1 -16.
AMA StyleStefano Ghignone, Gianni Balestro, Marco Gattiglio, Alessandro Borghi. Structural evolution along the Susa Shear Zone: the role of a first-order shear zone in the exhumation of meta-ophiolite units (Western Alps). Swiss Journal of Geosciences. 2020; 113 (1):1-16.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Ghignone; Gianni Balestro; Marco Gattiglio; Alessandro Borghi. 2020. "Structural evolution along the Susa Shear Zone: the role of a first-order shear zone in the exhumation of meta-ophiolite units (Western Alps)." Swiss Journal of Geosciences 113, no. 1: 1-16.
New petrologic data from meta‐ophiolites exposed in a relatively poorly known sector of the Western Alps (i.e. Susa Valley, Internal Piedmont Zone) are reported. Garnet + chloritoid ‐bearing phengitic micaschist and Fe‐Ti metagabbro preserving eclogite‐facies assemblages have been investigated in detail to constrain the HP‐tectono‐metamorphic evolution of meta‐ophiolites in the study area. Microstructural investigations allowed to identify different assemblages related to different tectono‐metamorphic stages, whose pressure‐temperature (P‐T) conditions of the HP stages were constrained using the pseudosection modelling approach combined with multi‐equilibrium thermobarometry. Four main metamorphic stages have been recognized: i) an Alpine peak‐P stage (M1a), which reached the HP‐UHP eclogite‐facies boundary (P=25‐29 kbar, T=460‐510°C); ii) a slightly prograde decompression stage (M1b), still under eclogite‐facies conditions (P=21‐25 kbar, T=500‐530°C); iii) a greenschist‐facies re‐equilibration stage (M2) ; iv) a nearly isobaric late heating stage (M3), developed at the boundary between greenschist‐ and amphibolite‐facies conditions. The new P–T path inferred for the HP phases recorded by the studied meta‐ophiolites is compatible with that reported from other meta‐ophiolite units in the Western Alps, i.e. the Zermatt‐Saas ophiolite to the north and the Monviso ophiolite to the south, confirming that subduction of the Tethys oceanic lithosphere occurred at similar P‐T regimes all along its length. The comparison with the tectonic evolution of the adjacent Dora Maira continental crustal unit suggest that the early exhumation of eclogitized oceanic crust likely occurred along the plate interface in the subduction channel, without the buoyancy contribution of continental crust.
Stefano Ghignone; Alessandro Borghi; Gianni Balestro; Daniele Castelli; Marco Gattiglio; Chiara Groppo. HP tectono‐metamorphic evolution of the Internal Piedmont Zone in Susa Valley (Western Alps): New petrologic insight from garnet+chloritoid‐bearing micaschists and Fe–Ti metagabbro. Journal of Metamorphic Geology 2020, 39, 391 -416.
AMA StyleStefano Ghignone, Alessandro Borghi, Gianni Balestro, Daniele Castelli, Marco Gattiglio, Chiara Groppo. HP tectono‐metamorphic evolution of the Internal Piedmont Zone in Susa Valley (Western Alps): New petrologic insight from garnet+chloritoid‐bearing micaschists and Fe–Ti metagabbro. Journal of Metamorphic Geology. 2020; 39 (4):391-416.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Ghignone; Alessandro Borghi; Gianni Balestro; Daniele Castelli; Marco Gattiglio; Chiara Groppo. 2020. "HP tectono‐metamorphic evolution of the Internal Piedmont Zone in Susa Valley (Western Alps): New petrologic insight from garnet+chloritoid‐bearing micaschists and Fe–Ti metagabbro." Journal of Metamorphic Geology 39, no. 4: 391-416.
The 1:10,000 scale geological map of the Susa Shear Zone (SSZ) in the inner sector of the Western Alps, aims to describe the geological setting and tectonic evolution of a first-order Alpine shear zone, which drove exhumation and juxtaposition of different oceanic and continental margin units (i.e. the blueschist-facies External Piedmont Zone in its hanging wall and the eclogite-facies Internal Piedmont Zone and Dora Maira Massif in its footwall). The SSZ corresponds to a tectonic mélange showing a block-in-matrix structure, wherein mylonitic calcschists embed blocks of different rock units. Geological mapping and structural analysis investigated overprinting relationships among shear planes and structures related to different deformation phases: they show that the SSZ evolved through two tectonic events, during which apparent reverse top-to-E shear planes were superposed by extensional top-to-W ones.
Stefano Ghignone; Marco Gattiglio; Gianni Balestro; Alessandro Borghi. Geology of the Susa Shear Zone (Susa Valley, Western Alps). Journal of Maps 2019, 16, 79 -86.
AMA StyleStefano Ghignone, Marco Gattiglio, Gianni Balestro, Alessandro Borghi. Geology of the Susa Shear Zone (Susa Valley, Western Alps). Journal of Maps. 2019; 16 (2):79-86.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Ghignone; Marco Gattiglio; Gianni Balestro; Alessandro Borghi. 2019. "Geology of the Susa Shear Zone (Susa Valley, Western Alps)." Journal of Maps 16, no. 2: 79-86.
Marbles from Alpine area have been widely employed to build and decorate masterpieces and buildings which often represent the cultural heritage of an area (statuary, historic buildings and sculptures). Candoglia marble, object of the present research, is one of the most famous and appreciated marbles from Alpine area; it has been quarried since Roman times in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (VCO; Piemonte – NW Italy) extractive area. Candoglia Marble outcrops are present as lenses within the high-grade paragneisses of the Ivrea Zone, a visible section of deep continental crust characterised by amphibolite- to granulite-facies metamorphism (Palaeozoic period). Candoglia calcitic marble (80–85% CaCO3 and the 15–20% other minerals) shows a characteristic pink to gray colour and a coarse-grained texture (>3 mm): frequent centimetre-thick dark-greenish silicate layers (mainly represented by diopside and tremolite) characterize the texture of the marble. It has been largely used in local rural constructions and historical buildings, but its most famous application has been (and still is) for the “Duomo di Milano” construction (fourteenth century). The Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano carried out the anthropogenic activities dealing with the Candoglia marble exploitation; it has to be highlighted that the company have managed the Marble exploitation during the last seven centuries and that the quarry itself is a tangible sign of the development of extraction and heritage in the VCO area. Candoglia marble can be recognized as a significant example of a “Global Heritage Stone Resource”: its exploitation from quarry to building (the Duomo di Milano) well represents the close correlation between stone and cultural heritage, between georesources and humankind development
Giovanna Antonella Dino; Alessandro Borghi; Daniele Castelli; Francesco Canali; Elio Corbetta; Barry Cooper. The Candoglia Marble and the “Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano”: A Renowned Georesource to Be Potentially Designed as Global Heritage Stone. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4725 .
AMA StyleGiovanna Antonella Dino, Alessandro Borghi, Daniele Castelli, Francesco Canali, Elio Corbetta, Barry Cooper. The Candoglia Marble and the “Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano”: A Renowned Georesource to Be Potentially Designed as Global Heritage Stone. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (17):4725.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanna Antonella Dino; Alessandro Borghi; Daniele Castelli; Francesco Canali; Elio Corbetta; Barry Cooper. 2019. "The Candoglia Marble and the “Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano”: A Renowned Georesource to Be Potentially Designed as Global Heritage Stone." Sustainability 11, no. 17: 4725.
The study of ancient marble plays an important role in the interpretation of historical and archaeological sites and gives interesting information about building materials used in ancient times and their trade routes. The present work focuses on Chianocco marble that represents one of the most important ancient white marbles for cultural heritage exploited in the Piedmont region (Northwest Italy) and employed for the Palazzo Madama façade. A multi-analytical study based on petrographic (optical and scanning electron microscopy), electron microprobe, cathodoluminescence and stable isotope analyses was carried out on these marbles in order to perform an archaeometric study. Chianocco marble was used in Turin during the baroque era by the Savoy architect Filippo Juvarra (1678–1736) in historical buildings, such as the façade of the Palazzo Madama, the plinth of the façade of the town Cathedral and the columns (now plastered) of the portico of Piazza San Carlo. This stone is a dolomitic rock belonging to the Mesozoic cover of the Dora Maira Massif (Pennidic Unit). It shows a vuggy fabric characterized by a vacuolar texture due to tectonic brecciation and subsequent selective dissolution during subaerial exposure. This kind of research is useful to highlight the importance of the use of local stones as building materials and to investigate stone materials for the restoration and maintenance of historical buildings.
Francesca Gambino; Alessandro Borghi; Anna D’Atri; Luca Martire; Martina Cavallo; Lorenzo Appolonia; Paola Croveri. Minero-Petrographic Characterization of Chianocco Marble Employed for Palazzo Madama Façade in Turin (Northwest Italy). Sustainability 2019, 11, 4229 .
AMA StyleFrancesca Gambino, Alessandro Borghi, Anna D’Atri, Luca Martire, Martina Cavallo, Lorenzo Appolonia, Paola Croveri. Minero-Petrographic Characterization of Chianocco Marble Employed for Palazzo Madama Façade in Turin (Northwest Italy). Sustainability. 2019; 11 (15):4229.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesca Gambino; Alessandro Borghi; Anna D’Atri; Luca Martire; Martina Cavallo; Lorenzo Appolonia; Paola Croveri. 2019. "Minero-Petrographic Characterization of Chianocco Marble Employed for Palazzo Madama Façade in Turin (Northwest Italy)." Sustainability 11, no. 15: 4229.
Dispersal patterns of lichen species in monumental and archaeological sites and their relationships with spatial population structure are almost unknown, hampering predictions on colonization dynamics that are fundamental for planning conservation strategies. In this work, we tested if the local abundance and distribution pattern of some common lichen species on carbonate stones of heritage sites may be related to their patterns of propagule dispersal. We combined analyses of the spatial population structure of eight species on the calcareous balustrade of a heritage site in Torino (NW Italy) with aerobiological analyses. In situ and laboratory analyses were mainly focused on the ejection of ascospores and their air take-off and potential dispersal at short and long distance. Results indicate that the spatial distribution of lichens on the stone surfaces is influenced by both species-specific patterns of propagule dispersal and microenvironmental requirements. In particular, apotheciate species that have a higher ejection of ascospores with higher potential for long range dispersal are candidate for a much aggressive spreading on the monumental surfaces. Moreover, their occurrence on natural or artificial stone surfaces in the surroundings of the stone monumental surface may easily support recolonization dynamics after cleaning interventions, as an effective supply of propagules is expected. On the other hand, species with a lower dispersal rate have a more clustered distribution and are less effective in rapid recolonization, thus representing a minor threat for cultural heritage conservation. These results support the idea that information on the reproductive strategy and dispersal patterns of lichens should be coupled with traditional analyses on stone bioreceptivity and microclimatic conditions to plan effective restoration interventions of stone surfaces.
M. Morando; E. Matteucci; J. Nascimbene; A. Borghi; R. Piervittori; S.E. Favero-Longo. Effectiveness of aerobiological dispersal and microenvironmental requirements together influence spatial colonization patterns of lichen species on the stone cultural heritage. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 685, 1066 -1074.
AMA StyleM. Morando, E. Matteucci, J. Nascimbene, A. Borghi, R. Piervittori, S.E. Favero-Longo. Effectiveness of aerobiological dispersal and microenvironmental requirements together influence spatial colonization patterns of lichen species on the stone cultural heritage. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 685 ():1066-1074.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Morando; E. Matteucci; J. Nascimbene; A. Borghi; R. Piervittori; S.E. Favero-Longo. 2019. "Effectiveness of aerobiological dispersal and microenvironmental requirements together influence spatial colonization patterns of lichen species on the stone cultural heritage." Science of The Total Environment 685, no. : 1066-1074.
Analytical techniques based on luminescence properties of materials have proved to be useful in the study of artistic and archaeological materials. For example, iono-luminescence (IL), in conjunction with ion beam analysis (IBA) techniques, and cathodoluminescence (CL), coupled with optical microscopy or scanning electron microscopy (SEM), are important for identifying mineral phases and provenance studies. X-ray luminescence (XRL) has been used on Cultural Heritage less than other luminescence techniques; we therefore investigated its potential in this field. The first developed setup, necessarily to be used in the laboratory, was tested on a provenance study of the lapis lazuli “Savoy Collection”, kept by the Regional Museum of Natural Sciences in Turin. Very interesting results were obtained: while some samples were labelled as Chilean origin (or simply no attribution), XRL spectra clearly excluded that particular provenance for any specimen of the collection. Although this approach has given valuable information, the potentiality of the technique has not yet been fully exploited due to lack of portability, a great limitation for characterising ancient artefacts. We therefore upgraded the sensitivity of our detection setup, in order to respond also to lower signal levels obtainable with portable X-ray sources. The first results are encouraging and comparable with those obtained with non-portable setups.
Alessandro Re; Marco Zangirolami; Debora Angelici; Alessandro Borghi; Emanuele Costa; Roberto Giustetto; Lorenzo Mariano Gallo; Lisa Castelli; Anna Mazzinghi; Chiara Ruberto; Francesco Taccetti; Alessandro Lo Giudice. Towards a portable X-ray luminescence instrument for applications in the Cultural Heritage field⋆. The European Physical Journal Plus 2018, 133, 362 .
AMA StyleAlessandro Re, Marco Zangirolami, Debora Angelici, Alessandro Borghi, Emanuele Costa, Roberto Giustetto, Lorenzo Mariano Gallo, Lisa Castelli, Anna Mazzinghi, Chiara Ruberto, Francesco Taccetti, Alessandro Lo Giudice. Towards a portable X-ray luminescence instrument for applications in the Cultural Heritage field⋆. The European Physical Journal Plus. 2018; 133 (9):362.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandro Re; Marco Zangirolami; Debora Angelici; Alessandro Borghi; Emanuele Costa; Roberto Giustetto; Lorenzo Mariano Gallo; Lisa Castelli; Anna Mazzinghi; Chiara Ruberto; Francesco Taccetti; Alessandro Lo Giudice. 2018. "Towards a portable X-ray luminescence instrument for applications in the Cultural Heritage field⋆." The European Physical Journal Plus 133, no. 9: 362.
The paper presents the geotouristic project carried out on Busca Onyx quarry (Piedmont, Italy). Busca Onyx (also called Busca Alabaster) is an ornamental stone quarried from the seventeenth century until the early years of 1900, when the quarry was closed. This stone was greatly appreciated by the architects working for the House of Savoy who used this material in the decorative apparatus of many churches and civil buildings mainly in Turin, the ancient seat of the House. The quarry site is very interesting from both geological and historical point of views. The area is characterized by paleokarst formations and the deposits developed in an ancient cave system. Despite its name, Busca Onyx is a speleothem-derived rock (calcite-alabaster). The peculiarity of the quarry lies in its morphology; in fact, it is composed of four artificial canyons exploited in the side of the hill. The canyons are around 100 m long, 2–3 m wide, and up to 40 m deep, determining a landscape, which is very suggestive for tourists and excursionists. Nowadays, the quarry is abandoned and the site can be used for didactic and geotouristic purposes; in fact, a characterization project recently started. Busca Onyx and its quarry were characterized using a multidisciplinary approach, linking data obtained from geoscience studies (such as mineralogy, petrography, geochemistry, and geomorphology) to local history. All the information obtained through the characterization project describes a complex geological and environmental system, which is also a precious site for local cultural enhancement.
Alessandra Marengo; Alessandro Borghi; Erica Bittarello; Emanuele Costa. Touristic Fruition of the Disused Quarry of Busca Onyx: Problematics and Strategies. Geoheritage 2018, 11, 47 -54.
AMA StyleAlessandra Marengo, Alessandro Borghi, Erica Bittarello, Emanuele Costa. Touristic Fruition of the Disused Quarry of Busca Onyx: Problematics and Strategies. Geoheritage. 2018; 11 (1):47-54.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandra Marengo; Alessandro Borghi; Erica Bittarello; Emanuele Costa. 2018. "Touristic Fruition of the Disused Quarry of Busca Onyx: Problematics and Strategies." Geoheritage 11, no. 1: 47-54.
Trachyte of the Euganean Hills is a subvolcanic porphyritic rock historically used as carving and building stone in northern and central Italy–primarily from Roman times onward–with the first evidence of its use dating back to prehistory. The numerous quarries and very similar trachyte varieties, as well as the widespread use of this stone, create several problems in defining its provenance for archaeological and historical materials. New petrographic and geochemical tracers for recognizing the provenance quarry of Euganean trachyte are presented here, providing a comprehensive reference database for archaeometric studies. The petrographic markers principally include quantitative data on mineralogical composition and textural features of phenocrysts and groundmass, determined by image analysis of chemical maps acquired by micro X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscope-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; particular use has been made of data on the abundance and grain-size distribution of feldspar phenocrysts, phenocrysts-groundmass ratio, content of SiO2 phases in the groundmass, and the arrangement and grain-size of microlites in the matrix. The geochemical tracers involve composition of bulk rock and phenocrysts, determined by X-ray fluorescence and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, respectively; quarry recognition can be achieved using plots built from concentrations of major and trace elements, with mineral-scale chemistry being the most effective and precise discriminant property, especially in the case of biotite and, secondarily, augite, kaersutite, and magnetite.
Luigi Germinario; John M. Hanchar; Raffaele Sassi; Lara Maritan; Roberto Cossio; Alessandro Borghi; Claudio Mazzoli. New petrographic and geochemical tracers for recognizing the provenance quarry of trachyte of the Euganean Hills, northeastern Italy. Geoarchaeology 2017, 33, 430 -452.
AMA StyleLuigi Germinario, John M. Hanchar, Raffaele Sassi, Lara Maritan, Roberto Cossio, Alessandro Borghi, Claudio Mazzoli. New petrographic and geochemical tracers for recognizing the provenance quarry of trachyte of the Euganean Hills, northeastern Italy. Geoarchaeology. 2017; 33 (4):430-452.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuigi Germinario; John M. Hanchar; Raffaele Sassi; Lara Maritan; Roberto Cossio; Alessandro Borghi; Claudio Mazzoli. 2017. "New petrographic and geochemical tracers for recognizing the provenance quarry of trachyte of the Euganean Hills, northeastern Italy." Geoarchaeology 33, no. 4: 430-452.
The Piemonte mountains surrounding the city of Torino comprise a wide variety of rocks, characterized by a multitude of minerals, structures and colors. The Alps, because of their long and complex history, have produced a wide variety of ornamental stone used in the town, over the centuries, for both esthetic and structural reasons. TOURinSTONES is an application for mobile phones that allows geotourists to walk in the center of Torino, where the visitor can find Alpine rocks used in palaces and historical monuments as witnesses and tangible symbols of the city. The application consists of 26 historical sites of interest in each of which ornamental stones of historical and scientific interest can be observed in detail. The sites are grouped in four thematic itineraries through which the user can discover the city from the cultural and architectural point of view. By a numbered list of the stones used in all the described monuments, the user can access specific data on each rock including quarry location, petrographic description and utilization in Torino. The mobile application can be downloaded free from the App Store or Google Play respectively for Apple and Android devices.
Francesca Gambino; Alessandro Borghi; Anna Raffaella D'Atri; Lorenzo Mariano Gallo; Luca Ghiraldi; Marco Giardino; Luca Martire; Mauro Palomba; Luigi Perotti; John Macadam. TOURinSTONES: a Free Mobile Application for Promoting Geological Heritage in the City of Torino (NW Italy). Geoheritage 2017, 11, 3 -17.
AMA StyleFrancesca Gambino, Alessandro Borghi, Anna Raffaella D'Atri, Lorenzo Mariano Gallo, Luca Ghiraldi, Marco Giardino, Luca Martire, Mauro Palomba, Luigi Perotti, John Macadam. TOURinSTONES: a Free Mobile Application for Promoting Geological Heritage in the City of Torino (NW Italy). Geoheritage. 2017; 11 (1):3-17.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesca Gambino; Alessandro Borghi; Anna Raffaella D'Atri; Lorenzo Mariano Gallo; Luca Ghiraldi; Marco Giardino; Luca Martire; Mauro Palomba; Luigi Perotti; John Macadam. 2017. "TOURinSTONES: a Free Mobile Application for Promoting Geological Heritage in the City of Torino (NW Italy)." Geoheritage 11, no. 1: 3-17.
G. Poretti; M. Brilli; C. De Vito; A.M. Conte; A. Borghi; D. Günther; A. Zanetti. New considerations on trace elements for quarry provenance investigation of ancient white marbles. Journal of Cultural Heritage 2017, 28, 16 -26.
AMA StyleG. Poretti, M. Brilli, C. De Vito, A.M. Conte, A. Borghi, D. Günther, A. Zanetti. New considerations on trace elements for quarry provenance investigation of ancient white marbles. Journal of Cultural Heritage. 2017; 28 ():16-26.
Chicago/Turabian StyleG. Poretti; M. Brilli; C. De Vito; A.M. Conte; A. Borghi; D. Günther; A. Zanetti. 2017. "New considerations on trace elements for quarry provenance investigation of ancient white marbles." Journal of Cultural Heritage 28, no. : 16-26.
Francesca Gambino; Alessandro Borghi; Anna D'Atri; Lorenzo Mariano Gallo; Luca Ghiraldi; Marco Giardino; Luca Martire; Mauro Palomba; Luigi Perotti. TourInStones: application for mobile on ornamental stones of the city of Torino. Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana 2017, 42, 81 -84.
AMA StyleFrancesca Gambino, Alessandro Borghi, Anna D'Atri, Lorenzo Mariano Gallo, Luca Ghiraldi, Marco Giardino, Luca Martire, Mauro Palomba, Luigi Perotti. TourInStones: application for mobile on ornamental stones of the city of Torino. Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana. 2017; 42 ():81-84.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesca Gambino; Alessandro Borghi; Anna D'Atri; Lorenzo Mariano Gallo; Luca Ghiraldi; Marco Giardino; Luca Martire; Mauro Palomba; Luigi Perotti. 2017. "TourInStones: application for mobile on ornamental stones of the city of Torino." Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana 42, no. : 81-84.
Despite that the Badakhshan Province (Afghanistan) remains the most plausible hypothesis for the lapis lazuli used in antiquity, alternatives proposed in literature are worth to study to confirm or disprove their historical reliability. In this work, a protocol for determining the provenance of lapis lazuli rocks used for carved artefacts is described. Markers for the univocal attribution of the raw material to a source were identified analysing 45 rocks of known provenance (among which 15 georeferenced) from 4 quarry districts. To the best of our knowledge, this reference database is the widest in provenance studies on lapis lazuli. All the markers are recognisable by means of Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) techniques, in particular micro-proton-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) and micro-ionoluminescence (IL). These techniques are non-invasive and applicable in air, allowing to analyse artworks and rocks of practically any shape and dimension without sample preparation. The protocol was applied to determine the provenance of raw material used for carved lapis lazuli artefacts kept at the Egyptian Museum of Florence, the second most important Egyptian museum in Italy, second only to the museum of Turin. The collection in Florence has a great historical value and includes several lapis lazuli pendants, scarabs, small statuettes and amulets ascribable mainly to the first millennium BC. Following the protocol, 11 of these artefacts were analysed by means of IBA techniques. Results ascribe the raw material to the Afghan quarry district.
Alessandro Lo Giudice; Debora Angelici; Alessandro Re; Gianluca Gariani; Alessandro Borghi; Silvia Calusi; Lorenzo Giuntini; Mirko Massi; Lisa Castelli; Francesco Taccetti; Thomas Calligaro; Claire Pacheco; Quentin Lemasson; Laurent Pichon; Brice Moignard; Giovanni Pratesi; Maria Cristina Guidotti. Protocol for lapis lazuli provenance determination: evidence for an Afghan origin of the stones used for ancient carved artefacts kept at the Egyptian Museum of Florence (Italy). Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 2016, 9, 637 -651.
AMA StyleAlessandro Lo Giudice, Debora Angelici, Alessandro Re, Gianluca Gariani, Alessandro Borghi, Silvia Calusi, Lorenzo Giuntini, Mirko Massi, Lisa Castelli, Francesco Taccetti, Thomas Calligaro, Claire Pacheco, Quentin Lemasson, Laurent Pichon, Brice Moignard, Giovanni Pratesi, Maria Cristina Guidotti. Protocol for lapis lazuli provenance determination: evidence for an Afghan origin of the stones used for ancient carved artefacts kept at the Egyptian Museum of Florence (Italy). Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. 2016; 9 (4):637-651.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandro Lo Giudice; Debora Angelici; Alessandro Re; Gianluca Gariani; Alessandro Borghi; Silvia Calusi; Lorenzo Giuntini; Mirko Massi; Lisa Castelli; Francesco Taccetti; Thomas Calligaro; Claire Pacheco; Quentin Lemasson; Laurent Pichon; Brice Moignard; Giovanni Pratesi; Maria Cristina Guidotti. 2016. "Protocol for lapis lazuli provenance determination: evidence for an Afghan origin of the stones used for ancient carved artefacts kept at the Egyptian Museum of Florence (Italy)." Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 9, no. 4: 637-651.
The Arch of Augustus in Susa (north-western Italy) was built in 9–8 bc by King Cottius, to celebrate the treaty between the Romans and the Gauls. It is made of white marble, which was considered for a long time to be locally extracted, but no archaeometric studies have been performed up to now. Therefore, a multi-analytical study based on petrographic (optical and scanning electron microscopy), electron microprobe and stable isotope analyses was carried out on the marble from the arch and from reference samples, with the aim of defining the provenance. All the data confirmed that white marble belonging to the metamorphosed carbonate cover of the Dora Maira Massif, known as Foresto marble, was used for the Susa Arch. This choice was probably made for economic reasons, but also due to the relative independence of the ruling family of the Alpes Cottiae, which was obviously interested in promoting a local marble.
A. Agostoni; F. Barello; A. Borghi; R. Compagnoni. The White Marble of the Arch of Augustus (Susa, North-Western Italy): Mineralogical and Petrographic Analysis for the Definition of its Origin. Archaeometry 2016, 59, 395 -416.
AMA StyleA. Agostoni, F. Barello, A. Borghi, R. Compagnoni. The White Marble of the Arch of Augustus (Susa, North-Western Italy): Mineralogical and Petrographic Analysis for the Definition of its Origin. Archaeometry. 2016; 59 (3):395-416.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Agostoni; F. Barello; A. Borghi; R. Compagnoni. 2016. "The White Marble of the Arch of Augustus (Susa, North-Western Italy): Mineralogical and Petrographic Analysis for the Definition of its Origin." Archaeometry 59, no. 3: 395-416.
In this study, µ-XRF was applied as a novel surface technique for quick acquisition of elemental X-ray maps of rocks, image analysis of which provides quantitative information on texture and rock-forming minerals. Bench-top µ-XRF is cost-effective, fast, and non-destructive, can be applied to both large (up to a few tens of cm) and fragile samples, and yields major and trace element analysis with good sensitivity. Here, X-ray mapping was performed with a resolution of 103.5 µm and spot size of 30 µm over sample areas of about 5×4 cm of Euganean trachyte, a volcanic porphyritic rock from the Euganean Hills (NE Italy) traditionally used in cultural heritage. The relative abundance of phenocrysts and groundmass, as well as the size and shape of the various mineral phases, were obtained from image analysis of the elemental maps. The quantified petrographic features allowed identification of various extraction sites, revealing an objective method for archaeometric provenance studies exploiting µ-XRF imaging.
Luigi Germinario; Roberto Cossio; Lara Maritan; Alessandro Borghi; Claudio Mazzoli. Textural and Mineralogical Analysis of Volcanic Rocks by µ-XRF Mapping. Microscopy and Microanalysis 2016, 22, 690 -697.
AMA StyleLuigi Germinario, Roberto Cossio, Lara Maritan, Alessandro Borghi, Claudio Mazzoli. Textural and Mineralogical Analysis of Volcanic Rocks by µ-XRF Mapping. Microscopy and Microanalysis. 2016; 22 (3):690-697.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuigi Germinario; Roberto Cossio; Lara Maritan; Alessandro Borghi; Claudio Mazzoli. 2016. "Textural and Mineralogical Analysis of Volcanic Rocks by µ-XRF Mapping." Microscopy and Microanalysis 22, no. 3: 690-697.
The Dora-Maira Unit is a geological unit cropping out in the inner part of the Cottian Alps and belonging to the Penninic Domain of the Western Alps (northwestern Italy). It consists of a Paleozoic basement and its Mesozoic carbonate cover, metamorphosed under eclogite facies conditions in the Cenozoic. Due to the complexity of the rock associations and the textural-metamorphic transformations, the Dora-Maira Unit has been a source of ornamental stones over the centuries, and still represents a reservoir of material locally employed for historical and contemporary buildings. Several varieties of orthogneiss, quartzite and marble, derived from the Paleozoic basement and Mesozoic cover, are known by different local names (e.g. Luserna Stone, Borgone and Vaie Stone, Perosa Stone, Bargiolina Quartzite, Foresto and Chianocco Marble).These stones were largely employed during the 17th and 18th centuries for some of the most famous and important monuments in Turin (capital of Piedmont region, northwestern Italy), as well as in the countryside, since Roman times. Some of the materials exploited in the Dora-Maira Unit were also exported to foreign countries: Borgone and Vaie Stone were used for the paving of the Louvre Museum, and Perosa Stone was employed for the construction of the monument of Independence in Lagos, Nigeria. Consequently, the Dora-Maira Unit can be designated as a Global Heritage Stone Province.RÉSUMÉL’Unité Dora-Maira est une unité géologique affleurant dans la partie interne des Alpes Cottiennes; elle appartient au Domaine Penninique des Alpes occidentales (Italie du Nord-Ouest). Elle se compose d'une croûte continentale d’âge Paléozoïque supérieur et de sa couverture carbonatique Mésozoïque, métamorphosées en faciès éclogite pendant le Cénozoïque. En raison de la complexité des associations lithologiques et des transformations métamorphiques et structurelles, l’Unité Dora-Maira a été une source de pierres ornementales au cours des siècles, et encore il représente un réservoir de matériau employé localement pour des bâtiments contemporains et historiques. Plusieurs variétés de gneiss, de quartzite et de marbre, provenant du socle paléozoïque et de la couverture mésozoïque et connues sous différents noms locaux (par exemple Pierre de Luserna, Pierre de Borgone et Vaie, Pierre de Perosa, Bargiolina, marbres de Foresto et Chianocco), étaient largement utilisées pour certains monuments les plus célèbres et importants à Turin (capitale de la région Piémont), au cours des 17ème et 18ème siècles, et dans les alentours de la ville depuis l'époque romaine. Certains des matériaux exploités dans l'Unité Dora-Maira ont été également exportés aux pays étrangers: la Pierre de Borgone et Vaie a été utilisée pour le pavage du Musée du Louvre, et la Pierre de Perosa a été employé en Afrique, à Lagos, au Nigéria, pour la construction du monument de l'indépendance. Par conséquent, l'Unité Dora-Maira peut être indiquée comme une Pierre Province du patrimoine mondial.
Alessandro Borghi; Paola Cadoppi; Giovanna Antonella Dino. Heritage Stone 2. The Dora-Maira Unit (Italian Cottian Alps): A Reservoir of Ornamental Stones Since Roman Times. Geoscience Canada 2016, 43, 13 -30.
AMA StyleAlessandro Borghi, Paola Cadoppi, Giovanna Antonella Dino. Heritage Stone 2. The Dora-Maira Unit (Italian Cottian Alps): A Reservoir of Ornamental Stones Since Roman Times. Geoscience Canada. 2016; 43 (1):13-30.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandro Borghi; Paola Cadoppi; Giovanna Antonella Dino. 2016. "Heritage Stone 2. The Dora-Maira Unit (Italian Cottian Alps): A Reservoir of Ornamental Stones Since Roman Times." Geoscience Canada 43, no. 1: 13-30.
A role of lithobionts in geomorphological processes is increasingly argued, but the spatio‐temporal scale of their impact is largely unexplored in many ecosystems. This study first characterizes in the temperate zone (NW‐Italy) the relationships between lithobiontic communities including endolithic lichens and the hardness of their siliceous rock substrate (Villarfocchiardo Gneiss). The communities are characterized, on humid and xeric quarry surfaces exposed for decades and natural outcrops exposed for centuries, in terms of lichen and microbial constituents, using a combined morphological and molecular approach, and with regard to their development on and within the gneiss.
Sergio E. Favero-Longo; Edoardo Accattino; Enrica Matteucci; Alessandro Borghi; Rosanna Piervittori. Weakening of gneiss surfaces colonized by endolithic lichens in the temperate climate area of northwest Italy. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 2015, 40, 2000 -2012.
AMA StyleSergio E. Favero-Longo, Edoardo Accattino, Enrica Matteucci, Alessandro Borghi, Rosanna Piervittori. Weakening of gneiss surfaces colonized by endolithic lichens in the temperate climate area of northwest Italy. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 2015; 40 (15):2000-2012.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSergio E. Favero-Longo; Edoardo Accattino; Enrica Matteucci; Alessandro Borghi; Rosanna Piervittori. 2015. "Weakening of gneiss surfaces colonized by endolithic lichens in the temperate climate area of northwest Italy." Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 40, no. 15: 2000-2012.
A geologic and petrographic study was performed on a rich collection of statues made of stone exposed at the statuary of the Egyptian Museum of Turin (NW Italy) to enhance the value of this artistic heritage and set the basis for its best conservation. Magmatic and sedimentary rocks were recognized. Magmatic rocks with an intrusive origin are the most represented and include two main varieties: Red Granite, consisting of a sieno-granite with porphyritic texture and pink to red K-feldspars, and Black Granite, which includes granodiorite, quartz diorite and tonalite lithotypes, whose colour ranges from grey to almost black. These magmatic rocks belong to the Arabian–Nubian shield, and the historical quarries are located near Aswan. The sedimentary rocks are represented by Cenozoic white limestones and red sandstones and Cretaceous dark-yellow Nubian sandstones. Finally, we note the occurrence of the so-called Bekhen Stone, originally attributed to a green-black metagreywacke belonging to the Hammamat series of late Precambrian age, outcropping in the central sector of the Eastern Desert, and re-interpreted here as a massive dark-green sandstone. This paper provides a scientific classification of the artefacts exposed in the statuary rooms based on the employed materials and contributes to the enhancement of the valuable collection of stone artefacts preserved in one of the leading ancient Egyptian Museums in the world.
A. Borghi; D. Angelici; M. Borla; D. Castelli; Anna Raffaella D'Atri; G. Gariani; Alessandro Lo Giudice; L. Martire; Alessandro Re; Gloria Vaggelli. The stones of the statuary of the Egyptian Museum of Torino (Italy): geologic and petrographic characterization. Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali 2015, 26, 385 -398.
AMA StyleA. Borghi, D. Angelici, M. Borla, D. Castelli, Anna Raffaella D'Atri, G. Gariani, Alessandro Lo Giudice, L. Martire, Alessandro Re, Gloria Vaggelli. The stones of the statuary of the Egyptian Museum of Torino (Italy): geologic and petrographic characterization. Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali. 2015; 26 (4):385-398.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Borghi; D. Angelici; M. Borla; D. Castelli; Anna Raffaella D'Atri; G. Gariani; Alessandro Lo Giudice; L. Martire; Alessandro Re; Gloria Vaggelli. 2015. "The stones of the statuary of the Egyptian Museum of Torino (Italy): geologic and petrographic characterization." Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali 26, no. 4: 385-398.