| CODE | GSC4500 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Scientific Principles for Conservation: Geology and Geophysics | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Geosciences | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Cultural Heritage artifacts are highly composite objects. Many of their constituent materials are minerals and rocks, or derive from rocks (e.g. natural and artificial stone, pigments). Minerals and rocks also compose a large range of conservation materials (e.g. aggregates in mortars and plasters). The understanding of the origin, formation and characteristics of rocks is therefore essential to describe and understand the properties of both cultural heritage and conservation materials. This study-unit will provide fundamentals in Geology that have a particular relevance for the field of cultural heritage and conservation. It will provide the foundation for subsequent units that will be delivered at MSc level. Lectures, tutorials, laboratory and fieldwork sessions will be the main learning methods used throughout the study-unit. Topics will include: - Structure and composition of the Earth; - Definition of mineral; - Crystalline and amorphous state; - Polymorphism and isomerism; - Macroscopic description and physical properties of minerals; - Definition of rocks; - Classification of rocks: formation, composition and basic classification, physical and chemical properties; - Rock cycle (petrogenetic processes); - Sediment origin and provenance; - Rock associations; - Short introduction to artificial stone materials; - Geophysics applied to Cultural Heritage. Topics will be explained, wherever possible, using practical examples relevant for Cultural Heritage and Conservation so as to demonstrate the relevance of Geology for cultural heritage across all the streams (Decorative Architectural Surfaces, Easel Paintings and Stone). Laboratory sessions will be used to observe the macroscopic and/or basic microscopic features of rocks, while fieldwork sessions will be used to introduce students to the local geology and to the diversity of stone types found in cultural heritage. Tutorials are an important component of this unit. They will be scheduled to revise important concepts and clarify possible queries raised by the students. Study-Unit Aims: - Provide a general introduction to the formation and characteristics of rocks, which compose a large part of cultural heritage materials (e.g. sculpture, pigments, mortars, etc.); - Introduce basic physical and chemical characteristics of rocks (e.g. macroscopic appearance, porosity, hardness) - Introduce terminology and key definitions that will be fundamental in more advanced units at MSc level dealing with traditional materials, their analysis and deterioration, as well as conservation materials. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Provide key definitions used in the Geology field; - Describe the processes leading to the formation of rocks; - Classify rocks; - Describe the main morphological/physical features associated with the different classes of rocks, and explain how such features relate to the rock formation; - Discuss the relevance of Geology in Cultural Heritage and Conservation. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Communicate using a proper terminology used in the Geology field; - Observe rocks using a systematic method/process; - Distinguish/identify the macroscopic features of the different classes of rocks; - Relate the main physical and chemical characteristics of rocks to their formation. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Essential Readings: - Davidson et al. (2002) Exploring Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology. (Available at UM Main Library) - Holmes (1992) Principles of Physical Geology. (Available at UM Main Library) - Chernicoff et al. (2007) Geology: An Introduction to Physical Geology (Available at Junior College Library) |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Ind Study, Lec, Field, Tut, Practical & Onl Learn | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Emanuele Colica Sebastiano D'Amico |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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