Natural Stones Used in the Orsi-Marconi Palace Façade (Bologna): A Petro-Mineralogical Characterization

Abstract

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 façade decorated with many sandstone ornaments of the 16th century. Different samples from different parts of the façade 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 façades of this historical building. The aim of this work was to better understand how to revalue the sandstone decorations severely affected by deterioration phenomena.

Geochemical-Microscopical Characterization of the Deterioration of Stone Surfaces in the Cloister of Santa Maria in Vado (Ferrara, Italy)

“…The stereomicroscope used was an Optika SZM-2 (Opto-Lab, Modena, Italy) equipped with MOTICAM 2500 5.0 M pixel webcam. The software Motic Images Plus 2.0 ML software was used for reflected light observation on all the samples to define grain size and texture, dimensional and morphological aspect of the clasts and state of conservation [28,29].…”

Geochemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Construction Materials from Historical Buildings of Ferrara (Italy)

“…Moreover, the investigation by X-ray diffractometer from powders allows the development of the mineralogical compounds of the sample through information on its crystalline form. The mineralogical characterization of the samples, previously ground using water and then dried and powdered within an agate mill, was carried out by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) by means of a PW1860/00 diffractometer (Philips, Eindhoven, The Netherlands) [36], with a graphite filtered and a Cu Kα radiation (1.54 Å) in a 2θ angular range 5-75 • , with a 5 s/step (0.02 • 2θ). Diffraction patterns were collected in the 2θ angular range 3-50 • , with a 5 s/step (0.02 2θ) [30,37].…”

Geochemical and Petrographic Characterization of Bricks and Mortars of the Parish Church SANTA Maria in Padovetere (Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy)

“…Moreover, mineralogical determinations of the same samples, previously grinded using water and then dried, were carried out through X-ray powder diffractometric analysis (XRPD) using a Philips PW1830/00 diffractometer, with a graphite filtered and a Cu Kα radiation (1.542 Å) in a two θ angular range 5-75 • , with a 5 s/step (0.02 • 2θ) [26]. The data obtained were processed with the XPowder12 software (Martillo Sigmar Software, Spain) to determine the size and the strain Fourier coefficients necessary to perform a Warren-Averbach line profile analysis [27].…”