Salvatore Menta

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

[01/10/2024 – Present]
Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences (40th Cycle) – University of Catania

Research project: “Correlative Microscopy vs. Multi-Analytical Approaches in Mineralogical and Petrographic Investigations: The New Frontier for Extracting Quantitative Data from Rock and Geomaterial Analyses”

Supervisor: Prof. Cristina Maria Belfiore; Co-Supervisor: Prof. Gaetano Ortolano

[11/2024]
Professional qualification as Geologist – University of Palermo

[13/10/2023]
Master’s Degree in Geological Sciences (LM-74) – University of Catania

Thesis title: “Petrographic and Microstructural Analysis of Late-Variscan Mylonites from the Serre Massif (Southern Calabria)”

Supervisor: Prof. Gaetano Ortolano; Co-Supervisors: Prof. Patrizia Fiannacca; Dr. Roberto Visalli

Final grade: 110/110 cum laude

[30/04/2020]
Bachelor’s Degree in Geological Sciences (L-34) – University of Catania

Thesis title: “Petrographic Study of the Plio-Pleistocene Volcanic Rocks of Ferla (Hyblaean Mountains)”

Supervisor: Prof. Rosolino Cirrincione

Final grade: 108/110

[2016]
Scientific High School Diploma – Liceo Scientifico "E. Vittorini", Lentini (SR)

WORK EXPERIENCE

[2025 – Present]
Junior Tutor

Contract for tutoring activities as well as integrative, preparatory, and remedial teaching activities for the course “Mineralogy and Rock Constituents with Laboratory” in the Bachelor’s Degree program in Geological Sciences (L-34) – University of Catania

[2024]
Supplementary Teaching

Introductory lessons in basic computer science for students of the Bachelor’s Degree in Geological Sciences, preparatory to the course “Computer Applications for Earth Sciences” – University of Catania

[03/04/2024 – 03/08/2024]
Research Fellowship

Title: “Mineralogical-Petrographic and Geochemical Characterization of Mortars Used in Catania’s Historic Architecture”

Research activities carried out: sampling of mortars from buildings of historical and architectural relevance in the city of Catania; in situ observation of conservation state; mapping of decay forms; characterization of mortars and related degradation products through mineralogical-petrographic and physico-chemical analyses both in situ (non-destructive techniques) and in the laboratory (conventional techniques).

Institution: University of Catania, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences
Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Cristina Maria Belfiore

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

As presenter:

• Menta S., Stroscio A., Ortolano G., Visalli R., Belfiore C. M., "Influence of aggregate grain size on the hydraulic behavior of lime mortars". 3rd Conference of Young Geoscientists “Working for the Future Challenges in Earth Sciences”. Napoli (Italy), 17-18 November 2025. (Oral presentation).
• Menta S., Stroscio A., Ortolano G., Visalli R., Belfiore C. M., "Assessing material compatibility in restoration: comparing hydraulic properties of repair and historic mortars". 3rd Workshop on Advanced X-ray Characterization Technologies in Earth Sciences, Catania (Italy), 22-24 October 2025. (Poster).
• Menta S., Stroscio A., Ortolano G., Visalli R., Belfiore C. M., "Assessing material compatibility for restoration: An innovative approach to compare hydraulic properties of repair and historic mortars". 2025 IMEKO TC-26 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. Bergamo (Italy), 15-17 October 2025. (Oral presentation).
• Menta S., Stroscio A., Belfiore C. M., "From heritage to laboratory: reproduction of ancient lime mortars for durability studies". Workshop "Mathematical tools for Cultural Heritage". Rome (CNR-IAC), Italy,  6-8 October 2025. (Oral presentation).
• Menta S., Stroscio A., Ortolano G., Visalli R., Belfiore C. M., "An innovative approach to compare hydraulic properties of repair mortars and historic mortars: A case study from the historical city center of Catania".  Joint SGI-SIMP Congress, Geosciences and the challenges of the 21st century. Padua (Italy), 16-18 September 2025. (Poster).
• Menta S., Stroscio A., Mazzoleni P., Ortolano G., Visalli R., Belfiore C. M., “Hydraulic properties of experimental lime mortars with differently sized volcanic aggregates: Insights from a multi-analytical approach”. 7th Historic Mortars Conference. Padua (Italy), 2–4 September 2025. (Oral presentation).
• Menta S., Stroscio A., Mazzoleni P., Belfiore C. M., “Reproduction of ancient lime mortars from the Baroque built heritage of Catania (Sicily): An experimental study”. Joint SGI-SIMP Congress, Geology for a sustainable management of our Planet. Bari (Italy), 3–5 September 2024. (Oral presentation).

As co-author:

• Belfiore C. M., Callieri M., D’Agostino G., Menta S., Potenziani M., Santagati C., Scopigno R., “Digital tools for the visualization of diagnostic data of construction materials: the example of the mortars in the historic center of Catania”. CHANGES Spoke 5 Conference, Sustainable Diagnostics and Cultural Heritage Achievements and Perspectives. Catania (Italy), 28-30 October 2025. (Oral presentation).
• Belfiore C. M., Menta S., Stroscio A., “An experimental approach to unravel the decaying behavior of ancient mortars from the historic built heritage of Catania (Sicily)​”. CHANGES Spoke 5 Conference, Sustainable Diagnostics and Cultural Heritage Achievements and Perspectives. Catania (Italy), 28-30 October 2025. (Oral presentation).
• Ortolano G., Fazio E., D’Agostino A., Visalli R., Menta S., Portale S., Cirrincione R., “The overturned nappe-like structure of the Peloritani Mountains upper complex in the light of new multiscale structural investigations (Peloritani Mountains - Sicily)”. Joint SGI-SIMP Congress, Geology for a sustainable management of our Planet. Bari (Italy), 3–5 September 2024. (Poster).
• Ortolano G., Fazio E., Visalli R., D’Agostino A., Menta S., Portale S., Cirrincione R., “Multiscale geological structural analysis of the late-Eocene to early-Miocene mylonites from the southern Calabrian Peloritani Orogen (Aspromonte Massif – Southern Italy): New insights for western Mediterranean geodynamics”. Joint SGI-SIMP Congress, Geology for a sustainable management of our Planet. Bari (Italy), 3–5 September 2024. (Oral presentation).

LANGUAGE SKILLS

English: LanguageCert Level 1 Certificate in ESOL International (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) (Communicator B2)

DIGITAL SKILLS

• Advanced use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher)

• Proficient in GIS software such as ArcGIS and QGIS

• Advanced use of Q-XRMA software (Ortolano et al., 2018) for quantitative image analysis of thin sections of natural and artificial stone samples

• Advanced use of MFA software (Visalli et al., 2021) for quantitative microstructural analysis of thin sections of natural and artificial stone samples

• Proficient in Perple_X software for thermodynamically consistent pseudo-section reconstruction

• Proficient in Corel Draw for image processing and rendering

• Basic programming skills with MATLAB

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCES

Excellent theoretical and practical knowledge of major destructive and non-destructive analytical techniques (POM, SEM-EDS, XRD, FT-IR, XRF) for petrographic, mineralogical, and chemical characterization of natural and artificial stone materials and their degradation products.

MEMBERSHIP IN SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS

• 2025 – present: Member of the scientific association BeGeo Scientists

• 2024 – present: Member of the Italian Society of Mineralogy and Petrology (SIMP)

• 2022 – present: Member of the Geological Society of Italy (SGI)