Bartolomeo Gastaldi
Encyclopedia
Bartolomeo Gastaldi was an Italian
geologist
and palæontologist, and one the founders of the Club Alpino Italiano
.
Gastaldi was born in Turin
, then capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia
. As a child he developed a passion for fossils; the finds he made during excursions in the areas around Turin and Asti
were to form the basis for his extensive collection of fossils and geoplogical specimens. Under pressure from his father he studied law at the University of Turin, Faculty of Law
; after graduating in 1839 he entered the legal profession.
On the death of his father in 1843 he abandoned his legal work and devoted his energies to geology and palaeontology, making field trips in various parts of Italy and in Spain. He spent the years 1849–52 in Paris taking courses at the Ecole des Mines
, the Jardin des Plantes
, the Collège de France
and the Sorbonne
. A particular interest was glaciology
. Also at this time he first met Quintino Sella
with whom he was to form a lasting friendship.
He became professor of mineralogy
and geology at the University of Turin.
On October 23, 1863, he, together with Quintino Sella
and others, founded the Club Alpino Italiano
, the first and largest Italian Alpine Club
, becoming its first vice-president. The following year he was appointed as its second president, an office he held until 1872.
In 1870, he was made a member of the Accademia nazionale delle scienze
.
Bartolomeo Gastaldi died in Turin in 1879.
, is named after him; so too are the Rifugio Bartolomeo Gastaldi (a mountain hut in the Graian Alps
), the mountain called Cresta Gastaldi in the Gran Paradiso
group, and the Punta Gastaldi, a peak near Monviso.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
and palæontologist, and one the founders of the Club Alpino Italiano
Club Alpino Italiano
The Club Alpino Italiano is the senior Italian alpine club which stages climbing competitions, operates alpine huts, marks and maintains paths, and is active in protecting the Alpine environment...
.
Gastaldi was born in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, then capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
. As a child he developed a passion for fossils; the finds he made during excursions in the areas around Turin and Asti
Asti
Asti is a city and comune of about 75,000 inhabitants located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about 55 kilometres east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River...
were to form the basis for his extensive collection of fossils and geoplogical specimens. Under pressure from his father he studied law at the University of Turin, Faculty of Law
University of Turin, Faculty of Law
The University of Turin, Faculty of Law is the law school of the University of Turin . The faculty of law is elsewhere called the Law Department of the University of Turin...
; after graduating in 1839 he entered the legal profession.
On the death of his father in 1843 he abandoned his legal work and devoted his energies to geology and palaeontology, making field trips in various parts of Italy and in Spain. He spent the years 1849–52 in Paris taking courses at the Ecole des Mines
École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris
The École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris was created in 1783 by King Louis XVI in order to train intelligent directors of mines. It is one of the most prominent French engineering schoolsThe École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris (also known as Mines ParisTech, École des Mines de...
, the Jardin des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes is the main botanical garden in France. It is one of seven departments of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. It is situated in the 5ème arrondissement, Paris, on the left bank of the river Seine and covers 28 hectares .- Garden plan :The grounds of the Jardin des...
, the Collège de France
Collège de France
The Collège de France is a higher education and research establishment located in Paris, France, in the 5th arrondissement, or Latin Quarter, across the street from the historical campus of La Sorbonne at the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue des Écoles...
and the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. A particular interest was glaciology
Glaciology
Glaciology Glaciology Glaciology (from Middle French dialect (Franco-Provençal): glace, "ice"; or Latin: glacies, "frost, ice"; and Greek: λόγος, logos, "speech" lit...
. Also at this time he first met Quintino Sella
Quintino Sella
Quintino Sella was an Italian statesman and financier.-Biography:Sella was born at Sella di Mosso, in the Province of Biella....
with whom he was to form a lasting friendship.
He became professor of mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
and geology at the University of Turin.
On October 23, 1863, he, together with Quintino Sella
Quintino Sella
Quintino Sella was an Italian statesman and financier.-Biography:Sella was born at Sella di Mosso, in the Province of Biella....
and others, founded the Club Alpino Italiano
Club Alpino Italiano
The Club Alpino Italiano is the senior Italian alpine club which stages climbing competitions, operates alpine huts, marks and maintains paths, and is active in protecting the Alpine environment...
, the first and largest Italian Alpine Club
Alpine Club
The first Alpine Club, founded in London in 1857, was once described as:Today, Alpine clubs stage climbing competitions, operate alpine huts and paths, and are active in protecting the Alpine environment...
, becoming its first vice-president. The following year he was appointed as its second president, an office he held until 1872.
In 1870, he was made a member of the Accademia nazionale delle scienze
Accademia dei Quaranta
The Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze called the Accademia dei XL is an Italian learned society which was founded in Verona, northern Italy, in 1782....
.
Bartolomeo Gastaldi died in Turin in 1879.
Recognitions
The mineral gastaldite, a type of glaucophaneGlaucophane
Glaucophane is a mineral belonging to the amphibole group, chemical formula []Na2]Mg3Al2][2|Si8O22].-Name:It is named from its typical blue color . Glaucophane crystallizes in the monoclinic system....
, is named after him; so too are the Rifugio Bartolomeo Gastaldi (a mountain hut in the Graian Alps
Graian Alps
The Graian Alps are a mountain range in the western part of the Alps. They are located in France , Italy , and Switzerland...
), the mountain called Cresta Gastaldi in the Gran Paradiso
Gran Paradiso
The Gran Paradiso is a mountain group between the Aosta Valley and Piedmont regions of north-west Italy. The peak, the 7th highest mountain in the Graian Alps with an elevation of 4,061 m, is close to Mont Blanc on the nearby border with France. On the French side of the border, the park is...
group, and the Punta Gastaldi, a peak near Monviso.