Carlo Fabrizio Parona
Carlo Fabrizio Parona (1855-1939)
1855
He was born in Melegnano (Milan)
1878
He graduates in Natural Sciences at the University of Pavia. Immediately he is hired by prof. Torquato Taramelli as assistant to the Geology Chair of the same University. At the same time he begins teaching Natural Sciences at the Technical Institute of Pavia.
1883
He realizes his first work “Studi geologici sulle conche di Terni e di Rieti. Contributo allo studio della fauna liassica dell'Appennino Centrale” (Geological studies on the basins of Terni and Rieti. Contribution to the study of Liassic fauna of the Central Apennine ).
1889
He starts his career as a professor of Geology at the University of Turin.
During this period, he begins to be interested in Paleontology, in particular to Rudists, the extinct bivalve molluscs, which constructed huge cliffs, which became an integral part of the Southern Apennines.
In those days, the separation of specialists in the various scientific disciplines was not yet so accentuated, as was the case later. In this context, Parona's multi-faceted preparation in the geological field was particularly evident, as he studied various subjects, even personally drawing the scientific illustrations of his works.
1900
Continuing the studies on the Rudists, he publishes the important study “Sopra alcune rudiste senoniane dell’Appennino meridionale” (Above some Senonian Rudists of the Southern Apennines).
1901
He is elected president of the Italian Geological Society.
Some species of newly discovered Rudists are dedicated to him.
1903
He publishes the “Trattato di geologia con particolare riguardo alla Geologia d'Italia” (Geological treatise with particular regard to Geology of Italy), which has played a key role in the study of Italian geology.
1908
He is elected President of the Academy of Sciences of Turin and a member of the Accademia dei Lincei.
The President of the Council of Ministers, Giovanni Giolitti, appoints him as Chairman of the Royal Geological Committee of Italy, post in which he will be confirmed several times until 1925.
1909
He continues and completes the studies on biological builders, publishing on “Memorie descrittive della Carta Geologica d’Italia”, the work “La fauna coralligena del Cretaceo dei Monti d’Ocre” (Cretaceous Coral fauna of the Ocre Mountains).
1910
He is appointed President of the Commission for the Study of Periodic Changes in Glaciers, established in 1904.
1913
The government commissiones him a geological study of the Libyan territories, aimed at the agricultural improvement of the former Italian colony. This study is published with the title “LaTripolitania settentrionale” (The Northern Tripolitania).
1922
He continues geological studies and realizes the work “Caratteri ed aspetti geologici del Piemonte” (Piedmont's Geological Aspects and Characteristics ).
1927
He participates in the realization of the volume: “Relazioni Scientifiche della Spedizione Italiana De Filippi nell'Himàlaia, Caracorum e Turchestan cinese (1913-1914)” (Scientific Reports of the Italian De Filippi Expedition in the Chinese Himalaya, Karakorum and Turkestan (1913-1914)) published by Zanichelli, with two studies on the fossil finds collected during that expedition.
1930
At the age of 75 he ends his long academic career, during which he conducted countless studies and made 174 scientific publications.
1933
He continues to work on Libyan fossils and publishes the study on “Di alcune rudiste della Tripolitania” (Some Rudists of Tripolitania).
1935
He publishes the divulgative work “Il Piemonte e i suoi paesaggi” (Piedmont and its landscapes).
1939
He died in Busto Arsizio (Milan) at the age of 84.
For further information:
Grossi F. (2011) - “Carlo Fabrizio Parona (1855-1939): mezzo secolo di geologia” in Uomini e ragioni: i 150 anni della geologia unitaria. Atti. Sessione F4, Geoitalia 2011, VIII Forum Italiano di Scienze della Terra, Torino, 19 - 23 settembre 2011. ISPRA. pp. 109 -119.