Collezione di Geotecnica e Geologia Applicata

Collection of Geotechnics and Applied Geology

A rich collection of stone building materials, consisting of approximately 150 cubic-shaped samples, which represents the main Sicilian materials used in construction.

Introduction

The collection of building stone materials consists of approximately 150 cube-shaped samples (10x10x10 cm), represents the main types of stone used in Sicilian construction. It is located at the Department of Engineering, near the geotechnical laboratory on the ground floor of Building 8. The collection is organised according to a hierarchical criterion, first classifying the materials by Sicilian municipalities and then by lithological type. The building stone materials mainly include sedimentary rocks (such as sandstones and compact limestones) and extrusive igneous rocks. All samples were taken from historic quarries, which are now significant both for industrial archaeology and for landscape enhancement.

Currently, the collection is used as a teaching tool in the fields of Geotechnics and Applied Geology, as part of the degree programs in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering. It provides students with a practical resource for studying the lithological and geotechnical properties of construction materials.

History

The current collection holds significant historical importance, as it originates from an ancient collection of the 19th-century created to classify and characterise building stone materials. This collection was developed by the School of Application for Engineers thanks to the work of Engineer Giovanni Salemi Pace, who conducted a thorough analysis on samples taken from the main Sicilian quarries. His work laid the foundation for subsequent geotechnical studies.

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