Theme: Minerals, museums, culture and history

 Archeometallurgy

Convenors: Prof. Eric Pirard (Belgium) – Commission on Applied Mineralogy

Description:
Archeometallurgy is dedicated to understanding ancient metallurgical processes from the observation of metal artefacts and residues. The mineralogy and crystal chemistry of slags are of particular interest to understand temperatures and ore provenances.

It is the aim of this session to convene scientists working on this topic, with a particular focus on ancient African metallurgy.

Keynote Presentation: A glimpse into early African metallurgy

 

Archaeometry and Geosciences: Facing the Cultural Heritage Challenges

Convenors: Prof. Corina Ionescu; Prof. Gilberto Artioli; Prof. Patrik Degryse

Description:
The session will focus on the application mineralogy, petrography, geology, chemistry, physics a.o. to the study and conservation of the cultural heritage i.e ceramics, glass, gemstones, lithic tools, and other artefacts, as well as historical buildings. The session will bring together the mineralogists, geologists, archaeologists, chemists and physicists to discuss advances, problems and solutions for several achaeometric topics.

Keynote Presentation: Archaeometry, quo vadis?

 

Minerals and Museums

Convenors: Prof. Suzanne Miller; Prof. Bruce Cairncross; Peter Davidson (IMA Commission on Museums)

Description:
The mineral collections and their archives held in museums, large and small, across the World can provide a wealth of actual and potential material for researchers and academics studying mineralogy and historical mineralogy. We are seeking presentations (oral and poster) covering the topics such as historical mineralogy, museum-based mineralogical research, conservation of museum collections and others to provide a forum for museum based mineralogists and museum curators to exchange ideas and to offer fertile ground for discussing and exploring potential future cross-institutional and cross-discipline research projects.

 

Role of Mineralogy in Monument Preservation

Convenors: Prof. Afkos Torok; Mr. Richard Prikryl

Description:
Environmental and human impacts endanger historic monuments. Detailed diagnostic surveys are essential for the preservation of these structures. Wide ranges of mineralogical analyses are applied in these surveys for the condition assessment and for the selection of proper repair materials. The rationale of the proposal is that a great variety of materials are used at historic sites; and thus a variety of approaches are needed to understand the present state and future changes in the mineralogical composition and properties of materials. The session topics include methodologies of material testing such as building stones, bricks, adobe (earthen materials), binders, and artificial stones. Studies on mineralogical-chemical changes in monuments caused by weathering and new testing and diagnostic tools will also make a part of the session. The mineralogical analyses of materials that are used in monument preservation, especially consolidants, water repellents will be discussed as well.

 

General Session - Minerals, Museums, Culture and History 

Convenors: Mr Roger Dixon

Description:
This is a general session under the theme Minerals, museums, culture and history, for submission of abstracts that do not conform with other sessions under this theme.