G. Balassone, P. Cappelletti, N. Mondillo, A. Colella, M. Rossi

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.