Elena Marrocchino

• Phd Mineralogy Cristallography and Petrology
• Researcher at University of Ferrara

Heavy metals in coastal ecosystems caused by the increased expansion of urbanization, industrialization, and agricultural practices have become a significant environmental risk to human well-being. This study evaluates and compares 17 sediment quality indices to examine the possible ecological and human health risks associated with heavy metal conc...

The study seeks to unravel the intricate operational sequence involved in preparing prehistoric pigments for rock art within the Puerto Roque rock art shelter. Sixteen pigment samples, identified as Lab Code Puerto_1 to Puerto_16, were meticulously collected from specific figurative representations. Additionally, three ochre samples (Puerto_17, Pue...

In recent years, light isotope analysis in sediments has been used to reconstruct climatic variations in continental contexts. The aim of this study is to verify the usefulness of this analytical methodology in archaeological deposits, especially in the absence of other proxies. Sediments from different contexts (fluvial, colluvial and cave-fill)...

The aim of this study is to characterize the sediments of the coastal area of Bibione and the Baseleghe Lagoon (Province of Venice, Italy). The characterization includes the assessment of particle size distribution, carbonate content, composition of major oxides, and heavy metal concentrations. The results indicated that the sediments primarily con...

Nos últimos anos, a análise de isótopos leves tem sido utilizada para reconstruir variações ambientais em contextos continentais. O nosso objetivo é verificar a possibilidade de aplicar esta metodologia analítica em depósitos de grutas que têm vestígios arqueológicos de ocupação humana. expressões artísticas na Península Ibérica. O projeto FIRST-A...

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, w...

Geoscience disciplines play a pivotal role in the assessment of the conservation state of Cultural Heritage to orient the subsequent restoration interventions. In this report, we exemplify the potential of petrographic and thermographic analyses for the evaluation of the conservation state of a unique symbol of the architectural heritage in the cha...

The aim of this study was to analyze a set of pietra ollare fragments that presented burnt encrustations to further understand the use of pietra ollare vessels during the Middle Ages. The fragments were obtained from Nogara (Vr) and date to the 9th–10th centuries CE. To obtain a variety of data, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-disper...

Living benthic foraminifera were investigated in three tourist marinas of the Central Adriatic in order to test the suitability of these organisms for a quick and cost-effective assessment of the ecological quality status (EcoQS). Local high concentrations of biocidal metals (Cu, Zn, Cr, Sn, Ni and Pb) were measured in the sediments nearby the boat...

This work is part of a project of the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for the enhancement of the widespread archaeological heritage of the Po delta area. Excavation activities, carried out in 2015, allowed the sampling of the stratigraphic elements and artifacts of the archaeological site of the lighthouse tower of Baro Zav...

Post-Renaissance ceramics (XVI–XIX) obtained in the Emilia Romagna region (north of Italy) demonstrate the difficulty in correctly identifying two different main types of artifacts: (i) enamel terracotta (or majolica) and (ii) glazed engobed terracotta (or mezza-majolica). This problem arises from the fact that the two different artifacts have the...

This work is focused on the characterization of metallic finds that are part of an ancient war biga from the Tomba della Biga, using different approaches for the diagnostics and also the conservation of this important cultural heritage. The materials analyzed were brought to light in the necropolis of Canal Bianco (Adria, Italy). The samples were a...

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...

The metal slabs studied in this work are used to protect the walls of the motorway tunnels and to improve the lighting conditions inside the tunnel. Their installation causes an increase in the cost of the work, consequently, the coatings must be resistant to corrosion and must not require frequent maintenance in order to be functional for long per...

The purpose of this research paper is to contribute to the knowledge of the Cloister inside the monumental Certosa di Calci di Pisa (Tuscany, Italy), through the historical-artistic and technical-scientific study of the wall paintings that decorate it. After evaluating the macro-degradation and the state of conservation of the paintings that decora...

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 subjec...

This study investigates the heavy metals (HM) and sulfurs concentration, enrichment level and potential sources in the bottom sediments of Nador lagoon, North-East Morocco. 50 samples of sediments from Nador lagoon heavy metals were analyzed by ICP-MS, while their spatial distribution and source identification were evaluated by Enrichment Factor (E...

Materials research in archaeological ceramic artifacts is a consolidated practice that helps architectural heritage preservation. Ancient buildings located within the historic centres, in particular, mark the image and history of each city at different periods, and when damaged historical masonry needs restoration actions, a good characterization o...

The availability of different lithology with which concrete can be packaged could create substantial questions on the differences that they can provide to the same mixture. Different kinds of aggregates were analyzed individually to investigate their main characteristics, which allowed us to package five types of concrete mixtures. These five mixtu...

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 o...

In recent years, the management of construction and demolition residues (CDRs) has become a major challenge for the construction industry due to the increasing volume of waste produced and its associated environmental impact. The aim of this article is to assess the effect of fine-grained fractions (<0.125 mm–0.6–0.125 mm) of construction and demol...

This work focuses on the characterisation of the heritage building materials (plasters, mortars, bricks and glazed tiles) of the Tsogt Palace’s ruins located in the Bulgan Province of Mongolia. In addition, contribution is also given to a preliminary evaluation of their state of conservation in consideration of the climate conditions to which the s...

In the last years, the ceramic sector started to focus on the exploitation of local georesources with circular economy solutions based on waste recycling. The present work aims to assess both the technological feasibly of waste recycling in the clay bricks manufacturing and the effect of different degreasers on the same clay body in order to disclo...

Abstract: Buildings are the physical expression of a country’s, history, culture, technological level and lifestyle of it. In the last 20 years there has been a strong push towards new analytical approaches in the study of masonry works of common use, based on the interpretation of their socio-cultural meaning and the presentation of new proposals...

Abstract: This study has arisen from post-seismic rehabilitation plans supported by the ER Region, together with the municipalities, on historic buildings, more or less severely affected by the earthquake of 2012. This work is a part of a wide intervention aimed to carry out the functional and architectural recovery of a former Mill through the re...

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...

Atmospheric aerosols are today a key issue in air pollution, mostly related to public health. Two test areas in Ferrara, one in the city center (urban location) and one in the industrial area (industrial location), were studied in June–July 2016 using the SEM technique to identify the environmental impact of some potential pollutant sources. Collec...

From the 1950s and 1960s of the last century, a parish church dating back to the 6th century AD was identified during reclamation works of Valle Pega. The archaeological investigation allowed the recovery of the parish and the attached baptistery, as well as some tombs closely connected to the church. Following the excavation, it was possible to co...

Findings from the archaeological site of Shahr-i Sokhta in eastern Iran include a wide range of undecorated, monochrome, and polychrome ceramics with gray, red, and buff-colored bodies that date back to a period spanning from 3200 to 1800 B.C.E. Given the large number and variety of ceramics unearthed from Shahr-i Sokhta, the provenance of these wa...

This paper presents a chemical-mineralogical characterization of construction materials from medieval Renaissance buildings of Ferrara (NE Italy) to provide an insight into the nature and provenance of the raw materials used. Biagio Rossetti was an Italian architect and urbanist from the city of Ferrara. From 1483, he was the architect of the Duke...

The increase in consumption, the excessive withdrawal of water from the subsoil and the qualitative degradation linked to climate change are producing phenomena of impoverishment and pollution of surface and underground water resources. The results of the project WARBO (WAter Re-BOrn-Artificial Recharge: Innovative Technologies for the Sustainable...

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 sandst...

At the beginning of the twentieth century, artificial stones became commonly used as structural building materials, masonry materials, and architectural decorative elements. The main purpose of this work was to characterize the building materials used in a historical building in Codigoro, a small town near Ferrara, northeastern Italy. This building...

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...

T his research investigates as chemical and mineralogical properties can affect degradation of concrete, made using secondary aggregates derived from recycled, in the enforcement of Waste Framework Directive (WFD) 2008/98/EC. High volumes of C&D require the use of waste in various productive contexts. The utilisation of secondary materials derived...

V itis vinifera L. cultivar “Cannonau” (Magnoliopsida Vitaceae) has been grown for years in the Italian regions to produce a fine wine, with Controlled Designation of Origin (DOC) and Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin, (DOCG). The International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) defined the “terroir” as “a concept which refers to a...

Tremolite group minerals could be present in the aggregate used as filler in the mix asphalt floor in the road surfaces and are subject to wear for vehicular traffic and materials ageing. Dust produced by the degradation of asphalt surfaces can disperse tremolite group minerals present in road paving causing exposure by asbestos fiber to an increas...

The term “Salus per aquam (SPA) therapies” refers to therapeutic pathways that includes mud therapy. The therapeutic efficacy of a peloid depends on its chemical and mineralogical composition, as well as its technological properties. Considering the increasing use of clay-based products, it becomes essential to characterize peloids from a qualitati...

The Mg-rich marbles of Precambrian rocks of Namibia are widely exploited and marketed abroad for ornamental purposes. Karibib marbles, named after the locality where the most important quarries are located, are commercially known as “White Rhino Marble”. They formed under greenschist facies metamorphic conditions and may be characterized by the pre...

Chernobyl accident introduced many radionuclides into the environment and Sacca di Goro, in the Adriatic Sea (north of Italy) is one of the areas affected by the contamination of Chernobyl products. Since the average lifetime of many radionuclides emitted by the fall-out is now over, a further campaign was carry out to check the current situation o...

The Predazzo Intrusive Complex (PIC), a Ladinian plutonic body located in the Southern Alps (NE Italy), is made up of a 4.5 km³ gabbroic to syenitic and syenogranitic intrusion, basaltic to latitic volcanic products (about 6 km³ in volume) and by an extended dike swarm intruding both intrusive and volcanic rocks. An extensive field survey of the co...

The renowned Vitis vinifera L. cultivar “Glera” (Magnoliopsida Vitaceae) has been grown for hundreds of years in the Italian regions of Veneto and Friuli to produce the sparkling Prosecco wine, with controlled designation of origin (DOC). We evaluated the relationship among the concentrations of rare earth elements (REE) in soil and in “Glera” grap...

This work deals with the granulometric and geochemical features of sediments collected at the foreshore of Tetouan beaches (NW Morocco) and at the mouth of the local five main watercourses in order to establish the links between the continental and coastal areas. The littoral, which underwent a great increase of human pressure in past decades, recor...

This work deals with the granulometric and geochemical features of sediments collected at the foreshore of Tetouan beaches (NW Morocco) and at the mouth of the local five main watercourses in order to establish the links between the continental and coastal areas. The littoral, which underwent a great increase of human pressure in past decades, reco...

In the last decades, few days a week, several city centres in Italy are closed at vehicular traffic in order to limit the presence of particulate matter, often exceeding the limits set by law [1,2]. The particulate matter have an impact on human health [3,4], in the cultural heritage and natural environment deterioration [5,6]. Many studies have be...

Structuralstabilityis a major item when considering very high masonry buildings made of stones, bricks, etc., that can start sudden structural failures and collapses, often without any obvious signs of warning. A famous example is the collapse of the belfry of the Basilica of San Marco in Venice --the implementation of it began in the ninth century...

Po Valley and Friuli Plain in Italy and Belgian Plain in Europe, are areas with the highest concentration of solid particulate matter in all the world (European Space Agency, 2004). This implies that those areas does not respect the limits imposed by European Parliament in 2008. Aim of this study is the characterization of the particulate matter, t...

The Nador lagoon is one of the most important ports on the coast of Morocco, and the second lagoon in North Africa by extension (1115Km 2). The lagoon is bordered to the north-west by the volcanic products of the Gourougou volcano complex (887 m asl) and south-east by the Jurassic carbonate succession of marine environment belonging to the Complex...

The Mesola Castle and its Portico (16th century) rises on the right side branch of the River Po Delta in the eastern part of Ferrara province (Italy). Bricks, mortars and plasters from the Castle’s Portico were characterised by optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectro...

In the last decades, few days a week, several city centres in Italy are closed at vehicular traffic. This precaution has been decided in order to limit the presence of particulate matter, that usually affect the air in a significant amount, often exceeding the limits set by law [1-2]. The particulate matter have an impact not only on human health [...

In the last decades the quality of the air has been object of several studies, as concern in particular atmospheric particulate matter [1]. Pollution due to the presence in the atmosphere of minute particles is one of the most important factors affecting the human health, together with effects related to climatic changes. The dimension of the fine...

In the last decades the quality of the air has been object of several studies, as concern in particular atmospheric particulate matter [1]. Pollution due to the presence in the atmosphere of minute particles is one of the most important factors affecting the human health, together with effects related to climatic changes. The dimension of the fine...

The effects on health, environment, monuments and cultural exposure to airborne particulate solid can be estimated through chemical and mineralogical analysis and the observation of morphological data to enable identification of source. To date, most scientific documents describe physical and meteorological models [1-3] to describe the trajectories...

Po Valley and the Friuli Plain in Italy, are areas with the highest concentration of solid particulate matter in Europe [1]. This imply that those areas does not respect the limits imposed by European Parliament in 2008 [2-3]. The aim of this study is to contribute in the characterization of the particulate matter, through direct flying sampling in...

The Jbel Saghro alkaline complex was emplaced close to the eastern edge of the Moroccan Anti-Atlas.

In Italia, le aree della Pianura Padana e di quella Veneto-Friulana sono, insieme alla Pianura Belga, le aree a più elevato particolato solido aereodisperso europee [1]. Questo lavoro vuole contribuire a caratterizzare il particolato attraverso prelievi in quota mirati a definirne, ove possibile, le sorgenti e per fare ciò sono stati affrontati i p...

Internationally the indoor radon exposition as health hazard is widely recognized; so in many countries specific laws and regulations and so-called radon - risk maps have been introduced. Few Italian Regions have started surveys for the identification of 'radon prone areas', with independent standards and protocols and this involves a bigger uncert...

Use of recycled aggregates is promoted by EU with guidelines for common strategies for a correct re-use of construction and demolition (C&D) [Poon et al., 2001]. In Italy, the legislation is encouraging the re-use of C&D inert materials but, due to the scarcity of suitable plants for processing, this resource is used as a lower quality materials fo...

Masonry is one of the most ancient methods of construction. The types of blocks and mortars used over the centuries have developed considerably with the introduction of various types of materials. A multidisciplinary investigative approach, involving both engineering and material sciences expertise, will be necessary for a complete evaluation of th...

The construction industry is now putting greater emphasis than ever before on increasing recycling and promoting more sustainable waste management practices. In keeping with this approach, many sectors of the industry have actively sought to encourage the use of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) as an alternative to primary aggregates in concrete p...

In this paper we present bulk X-ray fluorescence-X-ray diffraction (XRF/XRD) and microanalytical scanning electron microscope-electron microprobe analysis (SEM-EMPA) data on historical bricks from Medieval or Renaissance buildings of Ferrara (NE Italy) to provide insights into the nature and provenance of the raw material as well as clues on the si...

The transverse lateral load capacity of masonry built using solid dense concrete blocks with thin Joint mortar is up to 4.0 times that of similar btockwork constructed using conventional mortar. Both the mortar properties and the constituents of the parent material forming the block alter the joint strength resulting in enhancements to tensile flex...

Building activity is currently demanding remarkable amounts of inert materials (such as gravel and sand) that are usually provided by alluvial sediments. The EU directives and Italian Legislation are encouraging the re-use of construction and demolition waste provided by continuous urban redevelopment. The re-utilisation of building waste is a rela...

The aim of this study was to conduct geochemical analyses of mud bed sediments and the superficial waters of the Rio Quequén Grande catchment, located in the southeast section of the province of Buenos Aires. The Rio Quequén Grande outflow into the Atlantic Ocean, near the city of Necochea. The river has cut its channel into aeolian deposits (loess...

Chemical and mineralogical analyses were carried out on historical mortars from Ferrara to characterise the nature of the related raw materials. Results indicate (a) the binder homogeneity (CaCO3) confirming the widespread use of lime and (b) the remarkable heterogeneity of the silicoclastic skeleton, attesting heterogeneity of the fluvial sands av...

EU Directives and Italian Legislation are encouraging recycling of construction and demolition waste materials, provided by continuous urban redevelopment to face the pressing landfill shortage (i.e., limited area for storing, with related increase of the storing costs), and to limit the quarrying activity of alluvial sediments that often induce en...

The Predazzo Intrusive Complex (PIC) (Central Dolomites, Italy) represents the main Triassic plutonic body in the South Alpine domain. It is composed by a several small intrusive bodies, emplaced between 238 and 232 My, partly coeval with the volcanic products which overlye the complex. Petrographycal and geochemical features, together with age rel...

Construction and demolition (C&D) debris have been considered for long time as waste and as such it, was mainly disposed to landfill. On the other hand, the grow-ing pressure deriving both from the unsustainable use of natural resources and lack of land space for disposal, with consequent environmental impact, have resulted in the increased awarene...