INTRODUCTION
The IP GLOGE
2013 (Global Heritage and
Sustainability: Geological, Cultural and Historical) in Salamanca is
an international Erasmus Program which included students from different
universities in Europe: University of Salamanca, University of Budapest,
University of Coimbra and University of Ferrara.
The main topics covered during this project were the
following: The Stone: heritage and
importance in our history, Petrography
and Mineralogy, Natural Radioactivity,
Computer Modeling, Weathering
agents and processes: Rock pathologies Conservation treatments, Risk
assessment in urban area and the use of the Remote Sensing, Geo-education
and Geo-ethics
and Geo-diversity
and environment.
MAIN
TOPICS AND EXPLANATION
There is many definitions of rock but we focused our
study on the architecture and geology field. In architectural terms a rock is
the basic building material of the earth’s crust and the original material used
by man in monuments; in geological terms a rock is an aggregate of minerals;
according to the changes in the size, shape and percentage of the presence of
the constituent minerals, we can recognize different origin and composition of
the rocks. The structure of a rock allows to obtain information on the physical
conditions of the environment of formation.
The rocks are classified according to their genesis,
dividing them into:
- IGNEUS;
- SEDIMENTARY;
- METAMORPHIC.
- IGNEUS
Formed by solidification of a melt (mainly Silicate),
formed in the interior of the Earth (Mantle or Crust). These rocks are also
divided into different categories:
- PLUTONIC: massive, non-porous, usually isotropic and sometimes oriented (Gabbro, Diorite, etc.…);
- VOLCANIC: porous, isotropic structure (Basalt, Andesite, etc.…).
These kinds of rocks are classified in accordance with
the classification of Streckeisen.
SEDIMENTARY
Aggregates of granules mineral, more or less rounded,
whose interstices are filled by fine material. The dimensions of the granules
are an index of the mechanical energy of the environment of deposition.
According to the origin the materials that compose
them are divided into:
- TERRIGENOUS CLASTIC ROCKS: formed by the deposit of detrital material torn from the erosion of pre-existing rocks, could be loose or cemented, compacted during a process called diagenesis (Quartz, Feld spat and Rocks fragments). This rocks are classified according to the clasts size:
- Conglomerates > 2 mm;
- Sandstone à 2 > x > 0,0625 mm;
- Limolites à 0,06 > x > 0,002 mm.
- CHEMICAL ORIGIN: formed consequently at the precipitation of dissolved substances in water, by evaporation of the water and transformation into insoluble substances. They are divided into:
- Limestone: formed near or in the site of the final accumulation of the sediments, materials produced by biological processes, composed from the main minerals Calcite and Dolomite;
- Evaporates: an example is the Gypsum, the most used evaportitic rock for the construction of the buildings.
METAMORPHIC
Formed by the result of the transformation of igneous
or sedimentary rocks that must be adapted to new physicochemical conditions
(temperature and pressure) that are operating along a time, usually non porous
and classified according to the type of the metamorphism process.
Metamorphic rocks, apart from those originating from
the contact metamorphism and dynamo metamorphism, have a schistose texture, in
which it has an orientation of the crystals in parallel planes which allows
them to be divided into slabs.
Another important topic,
which has generated a lot of my interest, was concerning the radioactivity of rocks and what society
today thinks about it.
All natural rocks contain minerals that have
radioactive elements in their constitution, even if they are only present in
insignificant amounts. Three important elements to the study of radioactivity
are Potassium (K), Thorium (Th) and Uranium (U), but only the isotopes 40K,
232Th, 238U/235U are radioactive, which means,
they release radiation α, β and γ radiation. We usually measure this radiation
in Becquerel (Bq), which is a measure of the physical/real amount of radiation.
We can also use Sievert (Sv), which measures the biological effect of radiation.
When working in the field of radioactivity one should never forget the
importance of radon, a noble gas that is involved in the decaying of 238U
and is harmful for the environment in high doses.
Regarding the type of rocks we talked above we can say
that the igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks have different radioactive
emission. According to the measurements that all of us made, with the
Geiger-Muller counter, is evident that the values of radioactivity were higher
to the igneous rocks (150 Bq, the highest), and lower to the sedimentary rocks,
particularly in the limestones (30 Bq, the lowest); the metamorphic rocks
showed high levels but still lower than the igneous.
The background radiation (including natural and
industrial) affects the human health, so the radiation of the residential
building needs to be controlled. The radioactivity might be higher if the
surrounding rock is mainly igneous, so we need that the buildings are
constructed in a way that considers Radon emission of the surrounding ground.
Furthermore, the building materials itself emit radiation.
This thought leads us to the significance of the
radioactive emission of the stones: in certain areas the radioactivity of the
ground or the building materials is an important aspect of design.
It is curios how society think that the artificial
radioactivity, like thermoelectric power plants, nuclear power plants, nuclear
accidents, military tests, etc…, are much more than the natural one, like for
example the Radon. In reality the artificial radioactivity is much less in
comparison to the natural one and people can’t realize it properly. According
to this, people are not worryied about natural radiation because, for my point
of view, there is no good exchange of information. It could be a good idea find
a good way to communicate at the population the real potentials danger of
Radon, in fact it is cancerogenic to humans, as recognized for several years by
the World Health Organization.
Changing topic, is important
to know that lots of our buildings and monuments are built with stones: in
Salamanca those are mostly built with Villamayor
Sandstone and Martinamor Granite.
The first type is extracted from a quarry nearby Salamanca and its use is
mandatory in new buildings downtown and it is also used in restoration. The
second type is used in combination with the sandstone in most monuments and
historical buildings of Salamanca. The granite is used in the base of the
building due to the high porosity of the sandstone and the lower absorption of
granite. Granite preserves sandstone in a better condition over time.
Similarly, the increased resistance of granite holds the large volume of
building structures (for example the bell tower of the New Cathedral).
These monuments do not remain impassive with the
passage of time. Depending on their structure and composition, historical
buildings, which are part of our heritage, can start to deteriorate, or by
relentless action of time and weather agents, or because the Human activity and
air pollution.
It is important reduce these damages following maybe
some kind of hints: it should take into account that not always the cheapest
materials are the most suitable for the climatic conditions of the area of
interest, in fact is important to have a good knowledge of the place to
evaluate the best type of material to use; the pathology caused by air
pollution could be reduced with a simple limitation of the traffic in the areas
surrounding the monuments; the decrease of the number of pigeons in the city
centre could reduce the damage and etch caused from their excrement; increasing
the vigilance, especially during the night, with the help of automation systems
surveillance (cameras) and with the awareness of the population to report any
forbidden acts, it could be cancel the problem of vandalism (Graffiti).
Another important topic is
the Risk of monuments being damaged, particularly natural’s one. It was useful,
in our case, the study of the vulnerability of the area around the Tormes river
of Salamanca. Building a flooding risk map it helped to realize how important
is protect monuments and buildings near the river with some defensive actions
or measures taken to reinforce embankments.
In order to have a major control of the flooding risk
of the area is important to know the meteorological situation of the area and
the historical events of the natural disasters.
Last topic, but not less important, is Geo-ethics, a new subject
that focused his main aim in the enhancement and in the safeguarding of the
Geosphere. It deals with some of the most significant environmental
emergencies: pollution and problems of waste, greenhouse and climatic
variations. It cares to encourage a critical analysis on the use of natural
resources, to promote the correct information on hazardous and risks of the
territory, to promote the development of environmentally friendly technologies.
It promotes too the role of the Geologist.
It would be appropriate to dwell on the issue of
responsibility of who works in the field of Geosciences, calling to intervene,
in what concern the ethic issue, the Geologist, someone who should be an expert
of the area and of all its dangers, both operating in the field of research and
the public and institutional framework, both working in professional activities
and in teaching and scientific dissemination.
It’s important change the way people think in order to
reach a better world for us but especially for the future generation. It’s
important start to introduce this concept already from the childhood, because
children are our future. It should start with words and communication because
these things are that that stay imprinted in the memories, especially if
assimilated during the child age.
CONCLUSION
The IP GLOGE is an opportunity for students to improve
their knowledge and the use of their English and not only: in fact I found it
very suitable for students who, like me, come from a different background from
geology. This experience allowed me to store lots of new information and
concepts never dealt before and it has also improved my basis of Geology's
knowledge, mostly starting from the most elementary topics that may be obvious
to geologists but, for example, not for who has a degree in Geography, Art or
Languages. I have memorized better this kind of concepts thank to the help both
of the professors and of the other participants.
I’m sure that this kind of international project can
give to all of us, at least it gave to me, a very good help in order to learn
different methods of studies and research, exchange different ways to
assimilate data and topics and improve our interpersonal relationship, without
counting the importance of receive an international certificate that is always
good in the view of the future applications for Jobs.
Fieldworks were essential in order to let me
understand better what I studied and I’m still studying from books and from
frontal classes. For the first time I can say that I was a really geology
student, because, in my opinion, a geology student has to match the theory with
excursions and field works.
Another thing that this project has taught me is how
to write a report, alone and in team. Always because I come from a Bachelor of
Geography and because until now, during my master degree, was more rare than
common write a report, I have found this experience like something useful for
my future like Geologist. In fact, it’s not
necessary to say it, reports are almost the life for this kind of Job.
Finally, I can tell that there is something (besides
my thesis topic) that come out during the last week of the course, that I would
like to investigate more and more: the Geo-ethic. It is a very important topic
and, who knows that, in the future after my graduation, this can give me the chance
to offer my contribution in what I really think is necessary for increase the
importance of my role as geologist and, even more important, do something good
for all that concerns the Geosciences and the "health" of the Earth.
REFERENCES
- http://www.geoenv.it/lezioni/rocce.htm (26.07.2013, 10.54);
- http://www.earth-prints.org/bitstream/2122/7548/1/Peppoloni_Geoitalia_34_aprile2011.pdf (26.07.2013, 13.11);
- https://moodle.usal.es/course/view.php?id=9764 (29.07.2013, 09.02).
