Dr. Andrea Aquino, Ph.D.

PostDoc & Lecturer - Sedimentary mineralogist and petrologist

Anschrift: Büro:

Geo- und Umweltforschungszentrum (GUZ)

Universität Tübingen

Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96
72076 Tübingen

Deutschland

Room 2M40, GUZ

+49-(0)7071-29-74790

andrea.aquino@uni-tuebingen.de

Sprechzeiten: Nach Vereinbarung

Geologist and wanderer with a strong focus on sedimentology, through the lens of mineralogy and petrology. In the free time, passionate mountain climber and nature lover.

My research delves into the intricate connections between sedimentary processes and the mineralogical composition of rocks. In particular, I specialize in the study of sedimentary deposits, including loess and soil samples. Using advanced techniques such as XRD, XRF, grain size & shape analyses (Laser diffractometer), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for grain surface studies, and investigations of micromorphologies and microstructures, I try to understand the complexities of sedimentary systems.

My Ph.D. studies centred around the decay of natural and artificial stones used in historical buildings (mainly sedimentary ones), where I explored the influence of mineralogy and microstructures on the degradation processes. This experience has equipped me with a deep understanding of the interplay between geology, mineralogy, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Currently, as a Postdoctoral researcher in the Terrestrial Sedimentology Group, my research continues to merge sedimentology with mineralogy and petrology. I focus on loess mineralogy, geochemistry, and weathering processes, unravelling the secrets hidden within these deposits to gain insights into past environments and Earth's dynamic history.

Lastly, I possess a deep passion for teaching Earth sciences, with a particular focus on general geology and geomorphology. I find great fulfillment in sharing my knowledge and inspiring students to explore the wonders of our planet.

Currently, I am involved in teaching the following courses:

  1. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy: This course delves into the study of sedimentary rocks, their formation, and the processes that shape them. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles and techniques used in sedimentology and stratigraphy.

  2. Advanced Sedimentology: In this advanced course, we explore specialized topics within sedimentology, such as sediment provenance, diagenesis, and depositional environments. Students delve deeper into the complexities of sedimentary systems and enhance their analytical skills.

  3. Introduction to Rock Identification (aka "Schotterkurs"): This course provides students with the fundamental knowledge and practical skills needed to identify and classify different types of rocks. Through hands-on exercises and laboratory sessions, students develop proficiency in rock identification techniques.

  4. Geology of Building Stones: This course focuses on the geological aspects of building stones, including their mineralogical composition, physical properties, and durability. Students gain insights into the selection and use of appropriate building materials based on their geological characteristics.

  5. Field Excursions: I take part in organizing and leading field excursions to fascinating geological sites. One such excursion is to Mainz, where we explore eolian (wind-blown) deposits, studying their formation and significance. Another excursion takes us to the Schwarzwald (Black Forest), where we examine clastic deposits and their geological features in the field.

Research Interests:

  • Sedimentology:

    • Micromorphologies and microstructures of loess and soil samples
    • Grain surfaces investigations
    • Grain size & shape analyses
  • Mineralogy and Petrology:

    • Loess mineralogy, geochemistry, and weathering processes
    • Decay of natural and artificial stones
    • Stone conservation and cultural heritage
    • Ore mineralogy (especially in sedimentary environments)

Publications

Publications in peer-reviewed journals

  1. Aquino, A., Scardia, G., Prud'homme, C., Dave, A.K., Lezzerini, M., Johansson, A.E., Marquer, L., Safaraliev, N., Lauer, T., Fitzsimmons, K.E.: Variability in geochemical weatehring indices in loess over the last full glacial cycle at karamaidan, central Asia (Tajikistan) (2024) Frontiers in Earth Science, Volume 12, 1347910, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2024.1347910
  2. Bizzarri, I., Barghini, D., Colombetti, P., Gardiol, D., Rubinetti, S., Mancuso, S., Di Martino, M., Pratesi, G., Moggi Cecchi, V., Groschopf, N., Aquino, A., Laubenstein, M., Bhandari, N., Taricco, C.: Cosmogenic radionuclides in the Cavezzo meteorite: Gamma-ray measurement and detection efficiency simulations, (2023) Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Volume 194,110651, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.110651
  3. Santoro, L., Lezzerini, M., Aquino, A., Domenighini, G., Pagnotta, S.: A Novel Method for Evaluation of Ore Minerals Based on Optical Microscopy and Image Analysis: Preliminary Results, (2022) Minerals, 12 (11), art. no. 1348, https://doi.org/10.3390/min12111348.
  4. Lezzerini, M., Tomei, A., Gallello, G., Aquino, A., Pagnotta, S.: The Crystallization Effect of Sodium Sulfate on Some Italian Marbles, Calcarenites and Sandstones (2022) Heritage, 5 (3), pp. 1449-1461, https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5030076.
  5. Ramacciotti, M., Gallello, G., Lezzerini, M., Pagnotta, S., Aquino, A., Alapont, L., Antonio Martín Ruiz, J., Pérez-Malumbres Landa, A., Hiraldo Aguilera, R., Godoy Ruiz, D., Morales-Rubio, A., Luisa Cervera, M., Pastor, A.: Smartphone application for ancient mortars identification developed by a multi-analytical approach, (2022) Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 43, art. no. 103433, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103433.
  6. Lezzerini, M., Luti, L., Aquino, A., Gallello, G., Pagnotta, S.: Effect of Marble Waste Powder as a Binder Replacement on the Mechanical Resistance of Cement Mortars, (2022) Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 12 (9), art. no. 4481, https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094481.
  7. Aquino, A., Pagnotta, S., Lezzerini, M.: Effects of thermal ageing on calcarenite from Livorno coast (Italy), (2022) Atti della Società Toscana di Scienze Naturali Residente in Pisa, Memorie, Serie A, 129, 43-52, https://dx.doi.org/10.2424/ASTSN.M.2022.05
  8. Aquino, A., Pagnotta, S., Lezzerini, M., Pecchioni, E., Cecchi, V.M., Columbu, S.: From minerals to artefacts: the role and challenges of 3D modelling, (2021) Archeologia e Calcolatori, 32 (2), pp. 209-218, https://doi.org/10.19282/ac.32.2.2021.19.
  9. Aquino, A., Lezzerini, M., Giaccherini, A., Montegrossi, G., Di Benedetto, F.: Thermochemical stability of delafossite and other relevant ternary phases in the Cu–Fe–S–O–H system, (2020) Applied Geochemistry, 123, art. no. 104795, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2020.104795.
  10. Moroni, M., Naitza, S., Ruggieri, G., Aquino, A., Costagliola, P., De Giudici, G., Caruso, S., Ferrari, E., Fiorentini, M.L., Lattanzi, P.: The Pb-Zn-Ag vein system at Montevecchio-Ingurtosu, southwestern Sardinia, Italy: A summary of previous knowledge and new mineralogical, fluid inclusion, and isotopic data, (2019) Ore Geology Reviews, 115, art. no. 103194, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2019.103194
  11. La Felice, S., Abebe, T., Aquino, A., Landi, S., Lezzerini, M., Principe, C.: Geological and cultural heritage: Dissemination experiences in Tuscany, (2019) Heritage, 2 (3), pp. 2171-2182, https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage2030131
  12. Moroni, M., Rossetti, A., Naitza, S., Magnani, L., Ruggieri, G., Aquino, A., Tartarotti, P., Franklin, A., Ferrari, E., Castelli, D., Oggiano, G., Secchi, F.: Factors controlling hydrothermal nickel and cobalt mineralization—some suggestions from historical ore deposits in Italy, (2019) Minerals, 9 (7), art. no. 429, https://doi.org/10.3390/min9070429
  13. Aquino, A., Lezzerini, M., Pecchioni, E., Giamello, M., Columbu, S., Cantisani, E., Fratini, F.: Stones for the production of binding materials in Florence area (Tuscany, italy), (2019) Journal of the Geological Society

Conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)

  1. Pagnotta, S., Aquino, A., Lezzerini, M.: Image Segmentation for Reflected-Light Microscopy: Some Theoretical Approaches, (2021) IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 906 (1), art. no. 012121, https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/906/1/012121.
  2. Lezzerini, M., Civita, J., Aquino, A., Pagnotta, S.: Marbles from Castagneto Carducci Area (Tuscany, Italy), (2021) IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 906 (1), art. no. 012122, https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/906/1/012122.
  3. Aquino, A., Pagnotta, S., Lezzerini, M.: Artificial Thermal Decay: Influence of Mineralogy and Microstructure of Sandstone, Calcarenite and Marble, (2021) IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 906 (1), art. no. 012123, https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/906/1/012123.
  4. Aquino, A., Pagnotta, S., Polese, S., Tamponi, M., Lezzerini, M.: Panchina calcarenite: A building material from tuscany coast, (2020) IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 609 (1), art. no. 012077, https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/609/1/012077.
  5. Aquino, A., Pagnotta, S., Pecchioni, E., Cecchi, V.M., Columbu, S., Lezzerini, M.: The role of 3D modelling for different stone objects: From mineral to artefact, (2020) 2020 IMEKO TC-4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, pp. 184-188.
  6. Columbu, S., Giamello, M., Pagnotta, S., Aquino, A., Lezzerini, M.: Ca-oxalate films on the stones of the medieval architecture: The case-study of Romanesque Churches, (2020) 2020 IMEKO TC-4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, pp. 196-201. https://www.imeko.org/publications/tc4-Archaeo-2020/IMEKO-TC4-MetroArchaeo2020-038.pdf
  7. Lezzerini, M., Pagnotta, S., Aquino, A., Spampinato, M.: The local black limestones used to make the typical black-and-white alternation of the Pisa’s Romanesque Style, (2020) 2020 IMEKO TC-4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, pp. 179-183. https://www.imeko.org/publications/tc4-Archaeo-2020/IMEKO-TC4-MetroArchaeo2020-035.pdf
  8. Aquino, A., Antola, M., Pacchini, A., Pagnotta, S., Lezzerini, M.: Thermal decay of monzogranite from Elba Island (western Tuscany, Italy): Properties of an ancient building material, (2020) 2020 IMEKO TC-4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, pp. 38-43. https://www.imeko.org/publications/tc4-Archaeo-2020/IMEKO-TC4-MetroArchaeo2020-008.pdf
  9. Aquino, A., Baglini, P., Pagnotta, S., Tamponi, M., Lezzerini, M.: Macigno sandstone from Monti d’Oltre Serchio: Chemical, mineralogical, petrographic and physical characterization of a building material, (2020) 2020 IMEKO TC-4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, pp. 50-54. https://www.imeko.org/publications/tc4-Archaeo-2020/IMEKO-TC4-MetroArchaeo2020-010.pdf
  10. Aquino, A., Di Petta, C., Pagnotta, S., Tamponi, M., Lezzerini, M.: Macigno sandstone from Garfagnana and Vellano (north-western Tuscany): Chemical, mineralogical, petrographic and physical characterization of a building material, (2020) 2020 IMEKO TC-4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, pp. 44-49. https://www.imeko.org/publications/tc4-Archaeo-2020/IMEKO-TC4-MetroArchaeo2020-009.pdf 
  11. Aquino, A., Pecchioni, E., Fratini, F., Cantisani, E., Felice, S.L., Abebe, T., Principe, C., Lezzerini, M.: The production of binding materials in southern Florence area: Stones and their properties (Greve in Chianti, Italy), (2019) 2019 IMEKO TC4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, MetroArchaeo 2019, pp. 90-94. https://www.imeko.org/publications/tc4-Archaeo-2019/IMEKO-TC4-METROARCHAEO-2019-16.pdf
  12. Lezzerini, M., Aquino, A., Legnaioli, S., Pagnotta, S., Palleschi, V.: The source materials for lime production in the Monte Pisano Area (NW Tuscany, Italy), (2020) IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 609 (1), art. no. 012078, https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/609/1/012078.
  13. Tamponi, M., Aquino, A., Pagnotta, S., Lezzerini, M.: A fast and user-friendly software for quantitative chemical analysis through XRF, (2020) IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 609 (1), art. no. 012058, https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/609/1/012058.
  14. Lezzerini, M., Spampinato, M., Montevecchi, N., Borgoni, L., Grönberg, H., Aquino, A.: A petrographic study of the mortars from the Villa Reale di Marlia (NW Tuscany, Italy), (2019) 2019 IMEKO TC4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, MetroArchaeo 2019, pp. 478-482.
  15. Lezzerini, M., Spampinato, M., Sutter, A., Montevecchi, N., Aquino, A.: Petrographic characteristics of the mortars from the Pisa’s Cathedral apse, (2019) 2019 IMEKO TC4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, MetroArchaeo 2019, pp. 459-463.
  16. Aquino, A., Lezzerini, M.: Performance of consolidants in marble and sandstone from Tuscany: A comparison, (2019) 2019 IMEKO TC4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, MetroArchaeo 2019, pp. 294-298, https://www.imeko.org/publications/tc4-Archaeo-2019/IMEKO-TC4-METROARCHAEO-2019-54.pdf