Mineralogical study of different mortar types from historical monuments of northern Greece

Red coloured plaster mortars and a masonry mortar sample dated from 5th c. BC to 3rd c. BC were collected from Aiani’s archaeological site, northern Greece. The mineralogical composition of the bulk mortars and the mortar surfaces were determined by μRaman spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. Calcite, quartz, feldspars, dolomite, Tioxides (anatase/rutile) and clay minerals consisted the mortar samples. Serpentine, a mineral characteristic for its local provenance was found, which is related to the ophiolithic complex and the ultramafic rocks of the surrounding area. The red colour of the mortar surfaces is attributable to hematite, the raw material being iron oxides and hydroxides either from an ochre deposit or an iron-rich clay deposit. Black inclusions identified by Raman spectroscopy may be associated with carbonaceous material of an amorphous character and iron oxides and hydroxides (hematite/goethite). The presence of micaceous and clay minerals, corroborates the origin of the raw material from local Fe-rich clays

Assessing agro-ecological practices using a combination of three sustainability assessment tools

This paper is based on results from the research project UNISECO, which is funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 773901.We would like to thank all the farmers, farm organisations and stakeholders of the multi-actor platforms of the UNISECO project who contributed to the data collection. We also like to thank Andreas Basler whose corrections improved the comprehensibility of the paper.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Analytical geochemistry in the service of medicine: an experimental study of urinary stones from Northern Greece

Knowledge of the precise human biomineral composition may allow physicians to recommend an appropriate prophylactic therapy for the patient and thus prevent or delay the stone recurrence. The present study focuses on the application of complementary analytical techniques to the characterization of human urinary stones. Several gallbladder and renal stone samples were obtained from patients dwelling in areas of northern Greece. A comprehensive analytical study took place, employing the following, common in analytical geochemistry, techniques: Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) coupled to Energy Dispersive System (EDS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), ¿Raman spectroscopy and Cathodoluminescence (CL). A detailed determination of morphological, micro-structural, molecular, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the urinary stone samples was achieved. It was evident by our study the application of powerful analytical techniques could substantially help the medical advisors to ascribe a medical treatment of diseases related to stone formation.The technical staff from the Museo Nacional Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid ( Rafael Gonzalez Martin, Manuel Castillejo, Laura Tormo Cifuentes, Marta Furió Vega, Alberto Jorge García, Cristina Paradela) for their help in conducting the analyses are gratefully acknowledgedPeer Reviewe

Characterisation of Mycenaean and Matt-Painted Pottery from Aiani, Ancient Upper Macedonia, Greece

Several analytical methods were applied for the study of ancient pottery from Aiani, ancienf upper Macedonia, northern Greece, Mycenaean and matt-painted pottery sherds, dated form Late Bronze age, were analysed with the help of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy, coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray sysrem (ESEM-EDX). morphological, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of both types of ancient pottery indicated a rather local provenance, thus strengthening the of the co-existence of lt1ycenaean and Dorían pottery workshops in the region, during Late Bronze period.Peer Reviewe

Organic geochemistry and petdology of Amynteo lignites, Northern Greece

The contribution of lignite to the total electric power output of Greece exceeds 75%. Most greek lignite deposits are located in the Florina-Ptolemais- Kozani basin, a large intensively exploited area, in northern Greece. This area is exploited by opencast mining and feeds nearby lignite-fired power stations. The elongated intermontaine Florina-Ptolemais-Kozani basin is a NNW-SSE trending graben system, that extends over a distance of 250 km from Bitola, in the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia to Servia, southeast of Kozani, Greece. The basement consists of metamorphic schists in the west and crystalline limestone in the east. The Amynteo basin is part of this graben, that opened in the late Miocene and was divided into sub-basins in the Pleistocene, and consists of rythmic alternations of lignite beds and lacustrine and fluvial sediments. Sampling represents the vertical and lateral differentiation of lignite beds in Amynteo field (Chapter 1). Coal petrological investigation along with proximate and elemental analyses were undertaken (Chapter 2) in order to determine the petrographic characteristics of the Amynteo lignites and their depositional environment. Thirty-eight samples (representing different lignite beds of the Amynteo deposit) were collected from a borehole. The Amynteo lignites have an euulminite B reflectance of Rr=0.21%, and in terms of lithotype belong to matrix soft brown coals. Huminite is the most abundant maceral group, and consists mostly of humodetrinite. Inertinite has relatively low percentages whereas liptinite concentrations are rather high. Ternary plots and facies indices were employed in order to reconstruct the palaeoenvironment. The depositional environment of the Amynteo-Apofysis lignites is not definitely ascribed to a forest swamp or a reed marsh environment. The high ash content of the analysed samples is a clear indication of a topogenous setting. Low TPI and high GI values are observed. High alkalinity and strongly reducing conditions may be inferred from the presence of syngenetic (framboidal) pyrite, the low TPI values which indicate high bacterial activity, and thus high pH conditions, and the preservation of gastropod shells and chlorophyllinite. High GI values indicates a constant influx of calcium rich waters into the coal swamp. The Apofysis lignite deposit may be interpreted to be autochthonous to hypoautochthonous. The peat accumulation was governed by a high groundwater level (wet telmatic to limno-telmatic facies) and a moderate subsidence rate. The high liptinite content of the samples makes them suitable for liquefaction and gasification and may also be useful in chemical industry due to the high extract yields

Combustion behaviour of different types of solid wastes and their blends with lignite

The combustion characteristics of blends of lignite with various organic waste materials are evaluated in this study in order to assess their potential for energy recovery. Different types of municipal solid waste (i. e. paper, plastic, textile, organic), as well as sewage sludge and agri-residues (sunflower shells) samples were collected from the Western Macedonia region, northern Greece. Mixtures of each one of them with lignite in different proportions (30-50-70 wt.%) were prepared. Proximate analysis, calorific value determination, and thermogravimetry (TGA/ DTG) were performed. Thermal parameters such as ignition temperature, total weight loss, maximum rate of weight loss, peak and burnout temperatures and burnout time were determined from the TG/DTG profiles of the raw materials and their blends. The combined utilization of proximate analysis, calorific value determination and TG/DTG method proved to be an effective method for a preliminary assessment of the energetic potential of raw solid waste “combustible” materials and their blends with lignite. The analytical results revealed that most of the blends are promising for energy recovery. Regarding the raw wastes, sunflower shells were the most reactive. A non-synergistic effect was found for the blends. Organic and sewage sludge blends revealed the lowest combustibility, which is attributed to the high content of inorganic matter and the heterogeneity of these two types of wastes

A preliminary provenance study of marble artifacts from Aiani, ancient upper Macedonia, Greece

Preliminary results on the provenance study of ancient marbles from Aiani, ancient Upper Macedonia, Northern Greece are presented in this work. Several samples (both archaeological and modern) were collected and analysed using thermoluminesence (TL) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive System (ESEM/EDS). Chemical, morphological and mineralogical features revealed by ESEM/EDS, combined with TL spectra of natural and irradiated samples, allowed us to make some preliminary suggestions on the origin of ancient marble artefacts. According to ESEM/EDX results, Tranovalto marbles situated just Southwards of Aiani, where some modern white marble quarries occur, could be the most probable origin. TL spectra do not reveal any clear differences, except that of higher intensity of the fresh marbles comparing to the intensity of the ancient ones. Thus, a more detailed analytical work, employing more samples and analytical techniques is proposed in order to achieve satisfactory results.Peer Reviewe

A Comparative Study of Pigments from the Wall Paintings of Two Greek Byzantine Churches

© 2014, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. The goal of this study was to characterize pigments used in the murals of two Byzantine churches, from Kastoria, northern Greece. The identification of the iconographer was also investigated by comparing the pigments applied in the wall paintings of the churches. Pigment microsamples of various colors were collected and analyzed by environmental scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy dispersive system to characterize the elemental composition. Raman spectroscopy was employed to collect molecular spectra for characterization of mineralogical phases. Hematite, cinnabar, and minium were identified in red surfaces. Brown and yellow colors were assigned to mixtures of iron oxides, iron hydroxides, and calcite. Mixtures of iron, lead, and mercury compounds were used to produce different hues in the murals. Black tones were prepared primarily using charcoal and bone black. Grey colors were produced by a mixture of black carbon with calcite; blue hues, by a mixture of iron oxides, calcite, and black carbon. The minerals used were similar for both churches. However, the green color was prepared either by green earth or mixtures of iron oxides and calcite. A modern pigment, lithopone, was also determined, demonstrating restoration or overpainting and thus complicating possible correlations. Based on these preliminary results, the wall paintings could not be ascribed to a specific iconographer.We acknowledge the financial support of the SYNTHESYS Project ES-TAF-258 of the European Community, giving access to the research infrastructures of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN), Madrid, Spain.Peer Reviewe

Analytical study of ancient (6th-4th cent.BC) mortars from Aiani, ancient Upper Macedonia, Greece.

The study is focused on the microstructural, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of aracheological mortars from Aiani, ancient Upper Macedonia, Greece in the frame of the ongoing archaeological research in this region. The mortars were dated back to archaic, classical and hellenistic times. The qualitative and quantitavive characterization of ancient mortar were perfomed by XRD, XRF, ESEM-EDS, FTIR, DSC/TGA/DTA, EMPA and optical microscopy.Peer Reviewe