Egidio Feruglio
Encyclopedia
Egidio Feruglio was an Italian
-born geologist
who spent most of his career in Argentina
.
in 1914, and then enrolled at the University of Florence
. In Florence, he studied medicine and natural sciences, graduating in 1920. He became assistant university professor of geology at the University of Cagliari
. During this period, he was dedicated in particular to geographic studies, as well as geology and glaciology
of the Alps
.
and the province of Salta
. From 1932 to 1934 he was back in Italy, working at the Geologic institute of the University of Bologna
, as director of the paleontology
section. Forced to leave because of his refusal to join the Fascist Party, Feruglio returned to Argentina in 1934, where he resumed geologic research in Patagonia, subsequently travelling and carrying out geologic studies in that reqion. He became attached to the National University of Cuyo in Mendoza
, with the mission of reorganizing its institute for oil studies, and creating a course of mineralogy and geology. He became chair of the department of geology and petrology.
Besides the activities and studies in his university positions, Feruglio carried out explorations in Uruguay
, Chile
and Brazil
. He authored hundreds of publications on geology, paleontology and morphology, published in both Italy and Argentina, many illustrated with geologic maps.
The main contributions for which Feruglio is remembered are his scientific studies on geology and morphology in Italy and in Patagonia. He was a member of various scientific organizations. He died in Friuli
, Italy on 14 July 1954.
, Italy bears his name, as does the Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio
located in Trelew
, Argentina
. A prehistoric category of mammals
has also been named for him.
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...
-born 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...
who spent most of his career in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Early life
The seventh of twelve sons, Feruglio finished grammar schoolGrammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
in 1914, and then enrolled at the University of Florence
University of Florence
The University of Florence is a higher study institute in Florence, central Italy. One of the largest and oldest universities in the country, it consists of 12 faculties...
. In Florence, he studied medicine and natural sciences, graduating in 1920. He became assistant university professor of geology at the University of Cagliari
University of Cagliari
The University of Cagliari is a university located in Cagliari, Italy. It was founded in 1620 and is organized in 11 Faculties.-History:The Studium Generalis Kalaritanum was founded in 1606 along the lines of the old Spanish Universities of Salamanca, Valladolid and Lérida...
. During this period, he was dedicated in particular to geographic studies, as well as geology and glaciology
Glaciology
Glaciology Glaciology Glaciology (from Middle French dialect (Franco-Provençal): glace, "ice"; or Latin: glacies, "frost, ice"; and Greek: λόγος, logos, "speech" lit...
of the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
.
Moving to Argentina and subsequent career
In 1925, he became assistant geologist at an oil company in Argentina, where he worked and travelled extensively in search of oil deposits, until 1928. After travelling for a year in Italy, Feruglio returned to Argentina to continue geologic studies in PatagoniaPatagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
and the province of Salta
Salta
Salta is a city in northwestern Argentina and the capital city of the Salta Province. Along with its metropolitan area, it has a population of 464,678 inhabitants as of the , making it Argentina's eighth largest city.-Overview:...
. From 1932 to 1934 he was back in Italy, working at the Geologic institute of the University of Bologna
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
, as director of the paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
section. Forced to leave because of his refusal to join the Fascist Party, Feruglio returned to Argentina in 1934, where he resumed geologic research in Patagonia, subsequently travelling and carrying out geologic studies in that reqion. He became attached to the National University of Cuyo in Mendoza
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
, with the mission of reorganizing its institute for oil studies, and creating a course of mineralogy and geology. He became chair of the department of geology and petrology.
Besides the activities and studies in his university positions, Feruglio carried out explorations in Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. He authored hundreds of publications on geology, paleontology and morphology, published in both Italy and Argentina, many illustrated with geologic maps.
The main contributions for which Feruglio is remembered are his scientific studies on geology and morphology in Italy and in Patagonia. He was a member of various scientific organizations. He died in Friuli
Friuli
Friuli is an area of northeastern Italy with its own particular cultural and historical identity. It comprises the major part of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, i.e. the province of Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia, excluding Trieste...
, Italy on 14 July 1954.
Memorials
One of the Villanova Caves, in the province of UdineUdine
Udine is a city and comune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic sea and the Alps , less than 40 km from the Slovenian border. Its population was 99,439 in 2009, and that of its urban area was 175,000.- History :Udine is the historical...
, Italy bears his name, as does the Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio
Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio
The Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio is a science research and exhibition center in Trelew city, Patagonia . Its permanent and travelling exhibitions focus on the fossils remains from fauna and flora of Patagonia, as well as the geological changes that affected the region throughout prehistory...
located in Trelew
Trelew
-References:La Pasión según Trelew, Espejo de la Argentina, 1997, Editorial Planeta Argentina S.A.I.C.; Third Edition: April 2000, Buenos Aires, ISBN 950-742-859-3-External links:* * * *...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. A prehistoric category of mammals
Ferugliotheriidae
Ferugliotheriidae is one of two known families in the order Gondwanatheria, an enigmatic group of extinct mammals. Gondwanatheres have been classified as a group of uncertain affinities or as members of Multituberculata, a major extinct mammalian order. The best-known representative of...
has also been named for him.