September 6, 2013

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Geologizing Asses

“Humanity’s genius is to have always had a sense of its weakness. The physical energy and strength, with which nature insufficiently endowed humans, is found in animals that help them to discover new territories.” “Home” (2009) A post dedicated to the forgotten heroes of early geology -  asses !

By David Bressan

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This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

"Humanity’s genius is to have always had a sense of its weakness. The physical energy and strength, with which nature insufficiently endowed humans, is found in animals that help them to discover new territories."

"Home" (2009)

A post dedicated to the forgotten heroes of early geology - asses !

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The mountains of the Italian provinces of Piedmont and Liguria are rich in minerals, but not an easy terrain to travel and prospect. Italian geologist Prof. Angelo Sismonda (1807-1878) overcame this problem by designing a transportable mineralogical laboratory, to be carried on the back of a donkey or mule during fieldwork. Made of wood its interior is covered by an elegant red cloth, there is plenty of space for small bottles of glass, used to transport chemicals and collect samples. In a set of drawers the equipment for the preparation of the samples and immediate chemical analyses is safely stored. There was room even for the (relative) heavy tools of geologists, like a hammer and a pair of pliers.

Thanks to this kit and also to the donkeys carrying it onto the rugged terrain of the mountains, Sismonda was able to publish the first geological map of the two provinces in 1862, this work was for decades to come the most important publication about the (still poorly known) geology of the western Alps.

Bibliography:

GALLO, M.L. & COSTA, E. Mineralogen im Piemont zwischen 1800 und 1900. Mineralientage München Messetage 2010: 172-174

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My name is David Bressan and I'm a freelance geologist working mainly in the Austroalpine crystalline rocks and the South Alpine Palaeozoic and Mesozoic cover-sediments in the Eastern Alps. I graduated with a project on Rock Glaciers dynamics and hydrology, this phase left a special interest for quaternary deposits and modern glacial environments. During my research on glaciers, studying old maps, photography and reports on the former extent of these features, I became interested in history, especially the development of geomorphologic and geological concepts by naturalists and geologists. Living in one of the key area for the history of geology, I combine field trips with the historic research done in these regions, accompanied by historic maps and depictions. I discuss broadly also general geological concepts, especially in glaciology, seismology, volcanology, palaeontology and the relationship of society and geology.

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