Earth Science/geochemistry and applied petrography

Short description of the research team

Thematic fields of interest/research areas: Earth Science/geochemistry and applied petrography.

Manager/head of the team: Carmela Vaccaro Associate Professor in GEO/09 "Mining Georesources and Mineralogical Petrographical Applications to Environment and Cultural Heritage"

Team members: Massimo Coltorti Full Professor in Petrography and Petrology; PhD Salvatore Pepi and PhD Faccini Barbara

Research infrastructures:

Petrography and geochemistry laboratories (ICP-MS; XRF; XRD; MICRORAMAN; SEM-EDS;IC - Chromatography; LWIA- Liquid Water Isotope Analyzer; EA-IRMS - Elemental Analysis - Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry)

Prerequisites of the trainee researcher:

Level of education: “Marie Curie Individual Fellowship” Action requirements

Research experience: Graduated in geology. Degree thesis on one of these topics: geochemistry, mineralogy, petrography.

Required working language: English

Contacts: prof. Carmela Vaccaro

Further useful information:

Subject: effect of mineral chemistry, mineralogy (Light and Geometric Crystallography) in micro nutrient availability of edible clay in industrial soils (Case Study in W and NW of Iran)

Abstract: Deficiencies of micronutrients are a major global health problem and Many people in the world suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, particularly among countries in th eMiddle East (Hwalla, N, 2017). This problem particularly in children and women of childbearing ages is very important. For a young child, micronutrient deficiencies increase the risk of dying due to infectious disease and contribute to impaired physical and mental development (World Health Organization, 2007). Eliminating of micronutrient deficiency in child has a golden time, and if this time is lost, it is not compensable. Micronutrient are comprised of vitamins and minerals which are required in small quantities to ensure normal metabolism, growth and physical well‐being. There is growing interest in the role of the micronutrients (essential trace elements and vitamins) in optimizing health, and in prevention or treatment of disease (Shenkin, 2006). many of countries are suffering from micronutrient deficiencies, while theses counties have nature resources that are rich in elements such as zinc, iron, Calcium, sodium, potassium, etc. In the recent years, with the development of interdisciplinary science, studies have been conducted on industrial soils as edible clay in some countries (such as the United States) and these soils are used as nutritional supplement now. The applicability of industrial soils as edible clays should be investigated in two respects. In the first, presence of micronutrients such as zinc, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium and etc. in the next step, presence of toxic heavy metals. There are rich resources of these industrial soils in the Middle East countries. A case study in this area could be the basis for study in other countries with similar geological environments to solve micronutrient deficiency. In this research W and NW of Iran is selected as a case study.

Topics: Earth system science; Food Science, Agriculture, Forestry and Non-Medical Biotechnology