Methodology

1. Characterization of earthen mortars in Cremona: • a preliminary study. Alberto Grimoldi 1, Dip. Architettura e StudiUrbani – Politecnicodi Milano, Italy, alberto.grimoldi@polimi.it Maria PiaRiccardi 2, Dip. Scienzedella Terra e dell’Ambiente – Univ. Studidi Pavia, mariapia.riccardi@unipv.it MichelaCantù2, Dip. Scienzedella Terra e dell’Ambiente – Univ. Studidi Pavia, michelacantu01@universitadipavia.it Marco Cofani1, , Dip. Architettura e StudiUrbani – Politecnicodi Milano, Italy, marco.cofani@gmail.com Angelo Landi1, Dip. Architettura e StudiUrbani – Politecnicodi Milano, Italy, landi.angelo@libero.it Serena Chiara Tarantino 2, Dip. Scienzedella Terra e dell’Ambiente, Univ. Studidi Pavia, serenachiara.tarantino@unipv.it Fabio Giacometti 2, Dip. Scienzedella Terra e dell’Ambiente – Univ. Studidi Pavia, fabio.giacometti@unipv.it Introduction In the city of Cremona, earthen mortars was widely used since Roman times. The analysis of ancient treatise reveals some aspects of the nature of the materials used, their processing or use. One important indication was offered by Professor Sonsis, who asserted that «a red earth which is seen at Cava Tigozzi, a small village near the city of Cremona, if mixed strongly with lime, even though weak, as it comes from the pebbles of the river Adda has a strength equal to the lime from Piacenza». In recent times some researchers have studied the earthen mortars of Cremona and have supposed that these mortars are made by a soil and by a tattered fluvial sand. Samples from Palazzo Soldi in Cremona Methodology To characterize the earthen mortars, it was used an analytical procedure that combines petrographic, chemical and mineralogical data measured on the mortar bulk samples and chemical and mineralogical data measured on the fine fraction of the mortars. Microstructural investigations of polished thin and cross sections were accomplished through optical (OM) and scanning electronic (SEM) microscopy coupled with an X-ray energy-dispersive system (EDS). The mineralogical composition of the mortars’ fine fraction was analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRDP) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results and Conclusions Remarks and conclusions, remarks and conclusion, remarks and conclusion, remarks and conclusion, remarks and conclusion, remarks and conclusion, remarks and conclusion, remarks and conclusion, remarks and conclusion. Aggiungipaleosuolo