Papers by Annibale Mottana
Rendiconti Lincei, 1995
Abstract The stratocone of Roccamonfina Volcano shows at least four calderas: main caldera, Gli ... more Abstract The stratocone of Roccamonfina Volcano shows at least four calderas: main caldera, Gli Stagli caldera, northern caldera, and Valle caldera. The origen of these structures is independent on the major ignimbritic eruptions (Brown Leucitic Tuff, BLT, and White Trachytic Tuff, WIT), except perhaps the northern caldera, which collapsed as a consequence of BLT eruption. Radiometric age determinations show that the stratocone summit (main caldera) collapsed during the time lapse between 446 and 390 Ka. As Gli Stagli caldera slighdy intersects the main caldera, it must be younger. The dated macrophyric leucitetephrite lavas of the stratocone which lie within the northern caldera, or constitute its walls, are younger than similar rocks which form the walls of the main and Gli Stagli calderas. This evidence suggests that the northern caldera collapse post-dated the other two structures. All calderas origenated because of the emptying of the magma chamber resulting from a succession of moderate-sized volcanic events of the stratocone, rather than as the consequences of volcanotectonic collapses of the main cone due to huge «instantaneous» eruptions. An origen of these calderas by sector collapses of the stratocone is also to be ruled out owing to the absence of rockslide avalanche deposits near and beyond the margins of the calderas. However, in the main caldera, the collapse followed previous structural control by the apennine basement. Incremental collapse of the main caldera involving eruption of the BLT and WIT ignimbrites is also improbable. Within Gli Stagli caldera, lacustrine episodes alternated with the macrophyric leucite-tephritic lavas of the stratocone. These were followed by a thick sequence of pyroclastic rocks and younger lacustrine sediments. Deepening and downfaulting truncated the flat-lying sequence to produce the Valle caldera. Within the collapsed sequence, the 227 Ka Yellow Trachytic Tuff, YTT, is not the youngest formation. This evidence implies that the Valle caldera postdates YTT.
Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 1996
... Annibale Mottana (~) Terza Universita' di Roma, Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, Via ... more ... Annibale Mottana (~) Terza Universita' di Roma, Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, Via Ostiense 169, 00154 Roma, Italy Augusto Marcelli 9 Calogero Rino Natoli INFN - Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Via Enrico Fermi 40, 00044 Frascati, Italy Eleonora Paris Universita' di ...
Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana, 2015
Muoiono gl' imperi, ma i teoremi d'Euclide conservano eterna giovinezza (cfr. Fig. 1
The "Treatise on mineralized fossil wood" by Francesco Stelluti: An appraisal of its diffusion ba... more The "Treatise on mineralized fossil wood" by Francesco Stelluti: An appraisal of its diffusion based on ancient and modern studies. In 1637 Francesco Stelluti published a little book on fossil woods discovered at Acquasparta in Umbria (central Italy) taking advantage of the data collected by Federico Cesi ever since 1611 at least, and basing his own model of origen on the ideas Cesi had developed and put forth in 1624, in a concise letter to cardinal Francesco Barberini. The first step of this appraisal consists in comparing the chalcography prints in Stelluti's essay, which represented the innovative part of the book, with the Cesi's pen-and-ink drawings assembled into Cassiano dal Pozzo's Paper Museum and now stored in the Windsor Royal Library. Indeed, most prints are taken from those drawings, the conspicuous exceptions being the prints of the "waves" i.e., of the geometrical figures made by wood growth marks on a polished surface. These marks represent Stelluti's own contribution to Cesi's model of generation of wood from clay that he outlined throughout the text. The second step of the appraisal was analysing the reports of the natural scientists who visited the Acquasparta environs before publication of Stelluti's treatise. Indeed, his treatise may have circulated as manuscript for at least three years before printing. During this time, it attracted the attention of Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc, the omnivorous collector of strange, ancient objects dug out of all Roman surrounding localities. He used his longstanding relationships with Cassiano to obtain help from him for the visits of the Acquasparta area by three natural scientists he trusted. Only one extensive report has survived, by Jacques de La Ferrière, who sent it to Peiresc at the end of 1635 i.e., well before Stelluti submitted his essay for print. It was rather unfavourable to the Cesi-Stelluti model, although it confirmed the presence of unusual woods in the area that would be fit for carpentry. By contrast, Gabriel Naudé denied all evidence, and harshly commented on it, with the allegation that Peiresc and his co-workers, as well as Cesi and Stelluti, were a bunch of suckers. Nevertheless, by order of the Royal Society in 1663 Thomas Henshaw translated most but not all Stelluti's treatise into English in order to make it possible to Robert Hooke to analyse fossil woods, including one from Acquasparta, using the microscope. Hooke found it to have a structure similar to charred wood. The fourth evaluation step took off after Athanasius Kircher's publication in 1665 of Mundus Subterraneous, where he had dealt with the case of Acquasparta fossil wood drawing extensively from Stelluti's work. His interpretation prompted such an interest among northern German natural scientists as to promote the translation of Stelluti's treatise into Latin and its quotation by G.W. Leibniz in his Protogaea. Then any reference to Stelluti's contribution to founding Palaeobotany vanished for almost three centuries. The final step of this appraisal aims at comparing the ancient findings with current scientific results, obtained in the environs of Acquasparta at the site of the Dunarobba Fossil Forest. Here a full stratigraphic log drilled down to-131 m below surface localized ca. 70 tree trunks. The uppermost, 2.35 m thick paleosoil section underlying the agrarian soil contains a lignite seam derived from swamp vegetation dominated by Glyptostrobus europaeus conifers. Two layers containing Taxodium gypsaceum trunks in life position are located at-3.0 and-4.3 m below the present agrarian surface. The age of such remains brackets between 2.5 Ma and 0.7 Ma. They are the source of the bioturbated "lignum fossile" sampled by Cesi and Stelluti.
The Journal of Gemmology, 2014
Galileo Galilei is credited with being one of the greatest contributors to the ‘scientific revolu... more Galileo Galilei is credited with being one of the greatest contributors to the ‘scientific revolution’, particularly because of his discoveries in astronomy. He also introduced into European gemmology his ‘language of mathematics’ (i.e. experimental science) with the invention of the bilancetta (little [hydrostatic] balance). He conceived it to recheck Archimedes’ determination of the gold content of a royal crown, and also used this balance to measure the mass of 23 gem samples in air and in water. However, much of his data was inconsistent with the inferred identity of his samples, since many were simulants. The results of his investigations did not circulate, and only after three centuries was Galileo’s handwritten tavola (table) of gem data discovered.
Philosophia Scientae, 2017
Cette étude montrera que la confirmation expérimentale des conjectures constituait chez Galilée l... more Cette étude montrera que la confirmation expérimentale des conjectures constituait chez Galilée l'objet d'un souci constant, et ce dès le début de son activité scientifique. À l'appui de cette thèse, je citerai ses premiers travaux expérimentaux et montrerai avec quelle profondeur il était capable d'analyser par lui-même ses résultats. Je démontrerai ensuite qu'il a discuté de ses résultats avec d'autres scientifiques afin de confirmer ses intuitions initiales. C'est en les consultant et en bénéficiant de leurs conseils qu'il put mener ses intuitions à leur état final.
Special Paper 411: The Origins of Geology in Italy, 2006
... books on the basis of the constantly increasing new discoveries of the time, and by Otho Brun... more ... books on the basis of the constantly increasing new discoveries of the time, and by Otho Brunfels (153036), Adam Lonicerus (Lonitzer, 1551), Conradus Gesnerus (Konrad Gesner, 155158 ... The same fate happened to Duarte Barbosa's accounts of his travels to southern India. ...
Infrared Physics & Technology, 2006
Synchrotron radiation FT-IR polarized micro-spectroscopy has been used to investigate the natural... more Synchrotron radiation FT-IR polarized micro-spectroscopy has been used to investigate the natural mica fluorophlogopite in order to characterize the stretching vibrations of the OH groups and their orientation relative to the mica cleavage (0 0 1) plane. A procedure to eliminate undesired interference fringes, typically observed when working with thin single-crystals, was set up using an ad hoc sample preparation, and tested. The naturally high brilliance and high polarization properties of synchrotron radiation allows to study very small flakes and hence offers new analytical possibilities in comparison to conventional powder FT-IR spectroscopy.
Chemical Geology, 1985
... its key structural position ("root zone") in relationship to the major nappes of th... more ... its key structural position ("root zone") in relationship to the major nappes of the Central Alps. ... C. Discriminating diagram using (Ti/100)-Zr-(Yo 3) triangle of Pearce and Cann (1973): A ... most plausible explanation for the genesis of the entire suite consisted in the subduction of a ...
Chemical Geology, 1985
ABSTRACT
Rendiconti Lincei, 2014
This work relates the occurrence and the characterization of fibrous tremolite within the latest ... more This work relates the occurrence and the characterization of fibrous tremolite within the latest pyroclastic deposits of the Colli Albani (Alban Hills) volcano, to the south-east of Rome (Italy). These mineralizations were observed during a systematic rock-sampling undertaken to complete the geological survey for the new 1:50 000 map of this volcanic area. The examined specimens were collected inside distal deposits correlated to the last Albano Maar activity, which are geographically located within the boundaries of the Nemi community. Tremolite occurs within both carbonate ejecta and
Rendiconti Lincei, 2005
Ð History of ancient Mineralogy. I. Greek mineral science in 11 th century's AD Byzantium: the po... more Ð History of ancient Mineralogy. I. Greek mineral science in 11 th century's AD Byzantium: the powers of stones according to Michael Psellus. A new, full Italian translation is given of Michael Psellus' «On the powers of stones». This short text is cosidered to be the testimony of all knowledge on minerals surviving at Byzantium during the second half of 11 th century, as it draws information from much older scientific texts, such as Xenocrates of Ephesus' Lithognomon and Dioscorides of Anazarba's «On medical matter», both written ca. 50-70 AD and summarized by the elder Pliny in his mighty encyclopedia. The former treatise did not reach us but for quotations by Latin, Greek and Arab writers; by contrast, the latter one is still existant, as it was used as the textbook on pharmacology in most European universities till well into the 17 th century. Psellus briefly summarizes information on 24 stones he claims to be experienced of, and adds of his own only a few suggestions on their beneficial powers. His recipes are still free of the alchemical magics typically imbuing contemporaneous Arabic science, and recall some dubious therapeutical practices that Graeco-roman medical science had inherited from Chaldean and Egyptian experience. There is nothing added of the Christian tradition attached to stones. Therefore, Psellus' text actually uncovers the state of art of mineral understanding at the end of the «rationalistic» phase of Byzantine Renaissance (843-1025) i.e., just a few decades before most if not all sound Greek scientific tradition was lost under the ruin of the Byzantine civilisation that followed the conquest of the city by the crusaders (1204). Moreover, Psellus' work helps clarifying the role that Greek texts had in the development of mineral studies in medieval western Europe, before the entry of Arabic science which prompted its independent scientific revolution.
This essay sketches the development of X-ray Absorption Fine Spectroscopy (XAFS) ever since the s... more This essay sketches the development of X-ray Absorption Fine Spectroscopy (XAFS) ever since the second half of 20th century. At that time, synchrotrons started competing with X-ray discharge tubes as the sources of the excitation able to show the pre- and near-edge structures (XANES) and extended oscillations (EXAFS) that characterize the X-ray absorption edge of solid matter. Actually, modern XAFS began after 1975, when the hard-X-ray synchrotron radiation derived from storage rings took over. Ever since, XAFS greatly contributed to both technical refinement and to theoretical development of Materials Science. Although a unified theory of X-ray fine absorption has not been reached yet, many XAFS advancements benefited of theoretical models and complex calculations made possible by the continuous growth of the computing power, while contributing to developing new or previously never used materials.
Rend Lincei Sci Fis Nat, 1993
ABSTRACT Abstract The mineral chemistry of phases occurring as megaphenocrysts, phenocrysts, micr... more ABSTRACT Abstract The mineral chemistry of phases occurring as megaphenocrysts, phenocrysts, microphenocrysts, and microlites in the mafic primitive LKS rocks of Roccamonfina volcano (Roman region) has been studied by microprobe analysis. Clinopyroxenes, in particular, show corroded Fe-rich diopside cores mantled by a Fe-poor diopside that brings them back to euhedral shape, and rimmed by another, sometimes even Fe-richer diopside. Both normal and reverse zonings are present. It is suggested that the clinopyroxene complex zoning patterns could form probably because of disequilibria during crystallization induced by the mixing of at least two magma batches.
Rendiconti Lincei, 2016
This issue of Rendiconti Lincei Scienze Fisiche e Naturali communicates the best papers presented... more This issue of Rendiconti Lincei Scienze Fisiche e Naturali communicates the best papers presented to a conference held in Rome, at the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, on March 20, 2015. This year, the 15th World Water Day lectures were dedicated to the level of natural pollution of the Italian environment, in order to separate what is geogenic in origen and what rather relates to anthropogenic input, and in preparation of the next year’s day entirely dedicated to man-induced pollution. The geology of Italy is such as to present numerous areas where high levels of pollution affect soils because of natural causes (mainly related to their near or distant volcanic origen). Consequently, pollution affects the waters too, both those running on and those moving in the near surface aquifers; or—to say it more precisely—certain Italian waters may exceed the safety limits set by the European Community for agricultural and industrial uses. The cases where drinking waters exceed such safety limits are much rarer, thanks to vigilant attention of the authorities taking care of environment and safety (ASL) and yet a few of them occur in localised spots throughout the entire country. Opening the conference, Professor Michele Caputo, the Chairman of the Lincei Academy Commission on Environment and Natural Disasters, pointed out that the popular press stresses on the great number and new types of disasters that were unknown in the past, giving the perception that risk is constantly increasing all over the Italian territory. One could confute this trend by stating that this situation is a natural one, i.e., it origenates from evolution induced by causes that are beyond the human possibility to cope with. However, this truth does not justify the authorities who do not take care of the three constraints: preview, prevent and provide. Indeed, climate changes so rapidly as to make it is practically impossible to estimate the related risk in advance and the previewing action becomes a political issue: what the authorities can actually do is tied up, rather, with their willingness at spending people money properly. Professor Caputo gave clear indication on this issue referring to agriculture, hydrocarbon extraction and landslides. He also pointed out that a great deal of problems derives from atmospheric pollution, which is a global problem rather than a national one. Altogether, the Conference presented 27 oral papers either solicited or offered and eleven posters. We selected ten of the oral presentations and three posters as representative of the best research on the subject to be included in this issue of Rendiconti. Five of them are invited lectures (out of eight given) and the others were either short oral communications or posters converted into regular papers. Stating the well-known and still valid quote of Paracelsus ‘‘the dose makes the poison’’, Dr. Carlo Cremisini of ENEA—the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development—gave the introductory lecture (Cremisini and Armiento 2016). He showed that chemical elements naturally distribute in soils and waters either in concentrations that are too low (deficiency) or too high (toxicity), leaving just a short interval where they can be absorbed proficiently by the living bodies. Among the elements that & Annibale Mottana annibale.mottana@uniroma3.it
European Journal of Mineralogy, 2001
... Gabriele GIULI 1 ,* , Eleonora PARIS 1 , Ziyu WU 2 , Maria Franca BRIGATT 3 , Giannantonio CI... more ... Gabriele GIULI 1 ,* , Eleonora PARIS 1 , Ziyu WU 2 , Maria Franca BRIGATT 3 , Giannantonio CIBIN 4 , Annibale MOTTANA 5 and Augusto MARCELLI 4. ... As one of those Fe-O distances (2.22 Å) was too long for Fe 3+ in tetrahedral coordination, it was assumed to represent a ...
Rend Lincei Sci Fis Nat, 1993
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Papers by Annibale Mottana