Mineralogy
The main research areas in Mineralogy concern the crystal chemistry, structural complexity and systematics of various groups of silicates and non-silicates, base metal- and REE-bearing minerals, biominerals, gems, etc. Studies on interaction and impact of advanced bidimensional materials (grafene, MoS2, WS2) with biological ones are carried out. The analytical techniques used by the researchers, both in DiSTAR laboratories and in other scientific Labs, are optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD), scanning (SEM) and trasmission (TEM-HRTEM) electron microscopy with microanalysis (EDS, WDS, AEM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), ICP-OS spectrometry, LIBS spectrometry (calibration free method), thermal analyses (TG-DTA), etc. Minerals from European and extra-European areas are studied, as Somma-Vesuvius volcano, Phlegraean Fields, Sardinia, Alps, UK, Ireland, Iceland, Belgium, Poland, France, Australia, Peru, South Africa, USA, etc.