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“Trachytes” from Sardinia: Geoheritage and Current Use

Author

Listed:
  • Nicola Careddu

    (Department of Civil, Environmental Engineering and Architecture (DICAAr), University of Cagliari, via Marengo 2, Cagliari 09123, Italy)

  • Silvana Maria Grillo

    (Department of Chemistry and Geology (DSCG), University of Cagliari, via Trentino 51, Cagliari 09127, Italy)

Abstract

Sardinia was affected by an intense igneous activity which generated calc-alkaline products during the Oligo-Miocene period. The volcanic substance shows large variations, ranging from pyroclastic flow deposits, lava flows and domes. By composition, the deposits are all primarily dacites and rhyolites, with subordinate andesites and very scarce basalts. The rhyolite lavas show porphyritic and ash-flow tuffs. Ignimbrite structures are found in the dacitic domes and rhyolitic lavas. These rocks—commercially known as “Trachytes of Sardinia”—used to be quarried in all historical provinces, mainly in the central part of the island to be used as ornamental and building stone. They continue to be commonly used nowadays, but their use dates back to the prehistoric age. They are easily found in many nuraghi, “domus de janas”, holy wells, Roman works (mosaics, paving, roads, bridges), many churches built in Sardinia and practically in all kinds of structural elements in public and private buildings, such as walls, houses, and bridges. Contrary to the granitoid rocks, whose appearance is largely influenced by the mineralogical composition, the aesthetic feature of volcanic rocks is rather affected by the widest range of colors, structure and texture, i.e., shape, size and distribution of mineral components, porphyric index, etc. “Trachyte” is quarried opencast with the “single low step” method, with descending development, with prevalent use of double-disc sawing machines. Whenever the stone deposit allows higher steps, the chain cutting machine, in combination with diamond wire, becomes the preferred extraction solution. This study aims to at look Sardinian “trachytes” from a geoheritage perspective. After a geological-petrographic framework, the paper discusses the historical uses of “trachyte” in Sardinia. The current state of the art of “trachyte” quarrying, processing and usage in the Island is also described. An analysis of the “trachyte” production has been carried out. Finally, a consideration about how to enhance geotourism in the area is suggested.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicola Careddu & Silvana Maria Grillo, 2019. "“Trachytes” from Sardinia: Geoheritage and Current Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-16, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:13:p:3706-:d:246154
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Careddu, Nicola & Di Capua, Giuseppe & Siotto, Giampaolo, 2019. "Dimension stone industry should meet the fundamental values of geoethics," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Careddu, Nicola & Siotto, Giampaolo & Marras, Graziella, 2017. "The crisis of granite and the success of marble: errors and market strategies. The Sardinian case," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 273-276.
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    Cited by:

    1. Károly Németh & Ilmars Gravis & Boglárka Németh, 2021. "Dilemma of Geoconservation of Monogenetic Volcanic Sites under Fast Urbanization and Infrastructure Developments with Special Relevance to the Auckland Volcanic Field, New Zealand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-25, June.

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