Petrographic features and thermal behaviour of the historically known ‘pietra ollare’ from the Italian Central Alps (Valchiavenna and Valmalenco)

Abstract

Abstract Thermal and porosimetric properties of different lithotypes of ‘pietra ollare’ (magnesite-bearing talc-shists, chlorite-schists, tremolite-bearing chlorite-schists and serpentine-schists) from the Italian Central Alps (Valchiavenna and Valmalenco) have been investigated. Some cross-correlations are established among the main mineral—petrographic and textural features, thermal behaviour and historical utilization of these lithotypes for the production of stoves and cooking pots during the Middle Ages. All the analysed samples show (1) low total open porosity (0.73–2.85%) with meso- and micropores prevailing over macropores; (2) regular linear expansion up to c. 700 °C, good thermal stability up to 1200 °C and negligible weight loss (< 1%) to c. 500 °C; (3) high thermal expansion (5.57 × 10 −6 °C −1 < α 25–100 °C < 8.89 × 10 −6 °C −1 ). The results indicate that, under the thermal conditions typical of the traditional medieval ‘open fire system’ ( T ≤ 600 °C), the Italian ‘pietra ollare’ from the Central Alps was an excellent fire-resistant geomaterial, which did not undergo any significant transformation as a result of thermal shocks.