Cosmic ray muon radiography: New teaching and educational media for geotourism and museum—A case study from Italy

From 2019 to 2023, the MIMA-SITES research project tested the application of muon radiography (muography) at the Temperino mine in the Archaeological and Mining Park of San Silvestro, Italy. Through the collaboration of several partners, i.e., Regione Toscana, National Institute for Nuclear Physics INFN division of Florence, Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources – CNR, Parchi della Val di Cornia SpA, and the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Florence, the project has took advantage of the MIMA (Muon Imaging for Mining and Archaeology) muon tracker to test the reliability of muography for archaeological and mining purposes. Focusing on revealing density variations in the mine’s overlying rock mass, this research project identified some unknown cavities and a Cu-Fe-enriched high-density ore shoots. Using the achieved results, multimedia contents were created by employing terrestrial, aerial, and mobile laser scanners (TLS, ALS, and MLS, respectively), unmanned aerial vehicle digital photogrammetry (UAV-DP), and muography data. The results of the muon radiography surveys have been integrated into a new exhibit within the museum pathway of the Temperino mine. This initiative stands as one of the early international examples of utilizing muography to enhance geological heritage within an archaeological and mining park. In addition to emphasizing its geological and archaeological importance, the exhibit sparks interest in local geotourism. This research confirms that incorporating innovative scientific content and multimedia elements can boosts the attractiveness of geological, archaeological, and mining parks, attracting new visitors. Muography can play a key role in cultivating knowledge and curiosity about the distinct geological and archaeological heritage of a site.