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Geological Characterization of the Marble Commercial Varieties Outcropping in the Frigido Valley (Apuan Alps, Italy)

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Abstract

The Apuan Alps are studied by several authors since the nineteenth century for the presence of important geoheritage mainly represented by metamorphic polydeformed rocks, polymetallic mineralizations and large outcrops of precious natural stones. The Apuan Alps marble is a typology of ornamental stone that is worldwide known for decoration and building purposes as well as for the excellent physical-mechanical properties. This paper aims at improving the knowledge of geology, petrography and microstructures of the marble commercial variety of the Apuan Alps. In particular, this study investigated the Frigido Valley (NW Tuscany, Italy) and its nine stone-work basins: Brugiana, Capraia, Madielle, Rocchetta, Gioia, Valsora, Piastramarina, Piastreta and Forno. Seven marble commercial varieties were identified (namely white, ordinary, veined, grey, “Arabesque-like”, Calacatta and Seravezza Breccias) from these basins, corresponding to more than fifty local names according to the current nomenclature used by the workers during the exploitation work and trading.

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Acknowledgements

Two anonymous reviewers are acknowledged for their helpful comments and suggestions which improved our paper. The authors wish to thank the Massa municipal officials for the technical support, and L. Carmignani and P. Conti for a fruitful discussion about the Apuan Alps marbles. Special thanks are due to D. Bertoni for the helpful and constructive suggestions.

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  1. CGT-Centro di GeoTecnologie, Università di Siena, Via Vetri Vecchi 34, 52027, San Giovanni Valdarno, Italy

    Giovanni Massa

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Diego Pieruccioni

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  1. Giovanni Massa
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Correspondence to Diego Pieruccioni.

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Massa, G., Pieruccioni, D. Geological Characterization of the Marble Commercial Varieties Outcropping in the Frigido Valley (Apuan Alps, Italy). Geoheritage 12, 60 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-020-00483-2

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