BETWEEN SCARCITY AND CIRCULARITY OF RESOURCES: TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION FOR GRANITE SCRAP IN SARDINIA

Throughout the past two centuries, human activities have had a profound impact on Earth, leading to the progressive consumption of natural resources, increasing in waste, pollution and alteration of ecosystems. This has induced a well-known cli- mate change phenomenon with significant consequences for humankind and eco- systems. The growth of cities and improved living conditions will lead to increased consumption of resources, many of which are already expected to run out by the middle of the next decade. It is essential to monitor resource consumption using relevant indicators to drive economic growth toward resources decoupling. Starting from an analysis of the consumption of the four major categories of natural resourc- es, biomass, fossil fuels, non-metallic minerals and metal ores on an international scale, attention is gradually turned to consumption at the Italian level, focusing on the consumption of non-metallic minerals for use in construction. Thus, the focus was on the granite mining district of Buddusò, in Sardinia, the largest producer in Italy. Granite quarries, which have been drastically reduced in recent decades, have generated huge amounts of processing waste, causing profound changes to land- scapes and ecosystems. Based on the analysis of disused quarry sites, the types of rock abandoned have been studied in detail, investigating the chemical-physical, me- chanical and technological characteristics and experimenting with innovative prod- ucts and alternative uses for these wastes. The findings indicate that these residues can be utilised as a secondary raw material within the ceramics industry, also as a protective layer for ventilated facades.