FROM TYROL TO VENICE: THE PAPERS OF GIOVANNI ARDUINO (1714-1795) AS VALUABLE SOURCES FOR THE HISTORY OF MINING AND GEOLOGY

摘要

The Italian scientist and mining expert Giovanni Arduino holds a significant place in the history of geology, in spite of a prolonged historiographical 'impasse' which has reduced the knowledge of his studies and research. His relevant mining background, achieved in mountain areas such as Tyrol and the Venetian pre-Alps (but also the Tuscan Apennines), was at the base of a new geological expertise which led to the lithos-tratigraphical theory presented by Arduino in 1760 and which is widely regarded by historians as one of the main contributions to the origin of modern geology. Several documents supporting this interpretation may be found in the collection of manuscripts "Fondo Giovanni Arduino" in the Public Library of Verona, which today represents a significant case of recovery and reorganization of unpublished important sources for the history of the geological sciences. The catalogue of this precious collection, published in 1994, marked the conclusion of a long work started by the author in 1987. The existence of Giovanni Arduino's collection of manuscripts was known by geologists and historians since the early 20~(th)century. Unfortunately Arduino's papers were not of much use in the past because of the lack of organization within the collection contained in six boxes (about one thousand handwritten papers), now newly divided in thematic folders under various subject headings: geology, mineralogy, chemistry, metallurgy, mining, hydraulic engineering and agriculture. The majority of the collection consists of Arduino's correspondence, his notes, rough copies of his writings, his geological sketches and drawings. It is a significant example of the papers of an 18th century European scientist and an impressive collection of manuscript sources that constitute an interesting case of valuable cultural heritage in the history of geosciences and mining.