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basilica martiriale
primari conduttori

Glossary entry

Italian term or phrase:

macco

English translation:

macco (fossiliferous calcarenite)

Added to glossary by Ivana UK
Sep 18, 2006 23:02
17 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Italian term

macco

Italian to English Other Geology
Varie tombe di Tarquinia, scavate nella roccia carbonatica (Macco Tarquiniese), conservano pitture

macco = roccia sedimentaria del Lazio (De Mauro)

Can't find any English references to this type of rock, other than a few websites which translate it as "limestone" - but just because it is a sedimentary rock does not necessarily mean it is a type of limestone - so I am not entirely convinced. Plus, De Mauro doesn't specify it as a type of "roccia calcarea".

I could translate as "macco" and "Tarqunian macco" but I'm sure there's an English term out there!
Proposed translations (English)
3 bioclastic calcarenite
3 +2 limestone/macco

Discussion

Patricia Crotty Sep 23, 2006:
what it comes down to is the reliability of the Italian sites and their description of this Macco, i.e. whether it's actually "fossilifera" or "bioclastiche".....
Patricia Crotty Sep 23, 2006:
Hi Ivana, just for the record they aren't the same as bioclastic involves the mechanical transport of organic material (i.e. not necessarily fossiliferous). Fossiliferous on the other hand means that the actual organic material fossilised there. I guess
Ivana UK (asker) Sep 22, 2006:
I'm not sure at all sure that fossiliferous is more generic than bioclastic - their definitions are virtually the same ...
Ivana UK (asker) Sep 22, 2006:
I felt "limestone" on its own was too generic - the author chose to use the term Macco, where he could easily have used "roccia calcarea" so I felt a more specific term was appropriate. I have used the term "fossiliferous calcarenite" as I felt this was the most suitable, although there is absolutely nothing wrong with "bioclastic calcarenite" or "fossiliferous limestone" or even "limestone" - it all comes down to personal preference in the end!
Ivana UK (asker) Sep 22, 2006:
I appreciate the time you put into this and your suggested translation. I'm not sure of the difference (if any) between bioclastic and fossiliferous calcarenite, however I found several references where Macco is described as folliliferous calcarenite and only one where it is defined as bioclastic calcarenite. Also lots of hits (10,800) for "fossiliferous limestone" and not so many for "bioclastic limestone" (587).
Ivana UK (asker) Sep 22, 2006:
Hi Patricia,
Patricia Crotty Sep 22, 2006:
Since you seemed to be so concerned about the precise scientific term and rejected the generic term limestone, can you please explain why you went for the more generic "fossiliferous" as opposed to bioclastic??
Ivana UK (asker) Sep 22, 2006:
In the end, I went with "fossiliferous calcarenite"(in brakets) as it seemed the most appropriate and kept the Italian Macco. I'd like to thank everyone for the imput and research you put into this and the intersting links you provided. Thanks again!
Umberto Cassano Sep 19, 2006:
Questa info l'ho tratta dalla versione cartacea del De Mauro che comunque rileva l'uso regionale (Lazio) del termine in alcune accezioni del termine. Io direi che dovresti scrivere *macco* in corsivo e poi glossare con il termine scientifico appropriato.
Umberto Cassano Sep 19, 2006:
Ivana, hai ragione. In questo caso è necessario il termine scientifico. Quanto ai siti turistici, non tutti sono così inaffidabili come si crede. Ti posso dire che *macco* non è termine regionale nè locale, deriva da un latino tardo *maccu(m)*.
Rosa Cabral Sep 19, 2006:
I will do some research... and let you know soon. Gabriella
Ivana UK (asker) Sep 19, 2006:
It's an academic text, which is why I need the exact translation - limestone is far too generic!
Rosa Cabral Sep 19, 2006:
fossilliferous calcerenite would imply that the formation is made up of perhaps corals while bioclastic would imply smaller pieces of rock fragments containing perhaps fossils; personally I would go with macco, a limestone from the local area of Tarquinia
Rosa Cabral Sep 19, 2006:
It would also depend on how technical the translation piece is and who is the audience it is intended for... would you be able to ascertain anything regarding this?
calcarenite and limestone are both composed of calcium carbonate...
Ivana UK (asker) Sep 18, 2006:
Ho trovato vari riscontri per macco (calcarenite fossilifera) ie. fossiliferous calcarenite su siti web abbastanza attendibili (trattano di geologia, geomorfologia ecc. - siamo sicuri che questi siti turistici (che traducono con limestone) siano attendibili? Non sarebbe piu` adatto "fossiliferous calcarenite" anziche` "limestone"???

Proposed translations

7 hrs
Selected

bioclastic calcarenite

Nell'area di Anzio, risultano preservati anche sedimenti riferibili al Pliocene medio: molto noti sono gli affioramenti in facies di Macco che si estendono sino in prossimità dei rilievi Lepini-Ausoni. Si tratta di calcareniti bioclastiche, costituite prevalentemente da resti organogeni
www.lecatacombe.it/didattica/analisi-territoriale/anzio/geo...
calcarenite
Encyclopædia Britannica Article:
sedimentary rock formed of calcareous particles ranging in diameter from 0.06 to 2 mm (0.002 to 0.08 inch) that have been deposited mechanically rather than from solution. The particles, which consist of fossil materials, pebbles and granules of carbonate rock, and oölites (spherical nodules with concentric structure), are transported and sorted by flowing water.


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Note added at 17 hrs (2006-09-19 16:52:48 GMT)
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The (visual) difference between calcarenite and (pure) limestone is in the size of the granules or particles of the rock. Limestone as commonly understood is chemically deposited while the calcarenite (as Enc. Brit. says) is formed by mechanical deposit of older limestone/shells/fossils. That said however, limestone is a broad term and would include calcarenite under its mantle

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Note added at 21 hrs (2006-09-19 20:31:58 GMT)
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Umberto is right. Macco should be mentioned. I'll stick with the calcarenite and suggest "...bioclastic calcarenite (Macco Formation)"
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Patricia, I jsut found out that a question closed without grading can be re-opened at the click of a button! ALthough I went with fossiliferous calcarenite for my translation, your answer was equally valid and just because I went with my own initial suggestion doesn't mean that your (and everyone else's) efforts should hae been for nothing. I'm never too sure about using the close without grading option - I really don't think it's fair so I'm glad I was able to re-open this question and allocate some well-deserved points! Ivana"
+2
25 mins

limestone/macco

http://www.tarquinia.net/citta/tarquinia_dei_musei_e.asp

the pale local limestone, called macco
Reference:

http://www.latuscia.com/en_comune_tarquinia.php

http://www.etruscopoli.it/english/

Peer comment(s):
agree Umberto Cassano
11 mins
agree swisstell
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
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