Greenstone of Calabria: A multi-analytical characterization of heritage metabasite from Southern Italy

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a multi-analytical investigation on metabasite rocks exploited and marketed since pre-historical times as “Pietra Verde (i.e. Greenstone) of Calabria”, southern Italy and employed as building as well as ornamental stone materials. Our contribution focuses on petrographic and mineralogical features, relating them to petrophysical-mechanical properties. Achieved results confirmed the good mechanical performance of metabasite from Calabria in terms of compression strength and deformability, making it suitable also for building structural elements and foundations. The absence of alteration minerals and of noticeable porosity and microfractures contributes to the good petrophysical and physical-mechanical features of such rocks. This study represents a contribution to the very little literature available on this rock type, even in the frame of its use as sustainable georesource as well as of promoting geotourism across historical sites.

Keywords

• Metabasite
• Heritage stone
• Petrophysical-mechanical properties
• Georesource
• Calabria
• Southern Italy