Carlo Riva

Abstract

ITALIAN geology has sustained a heavy loss in the death of the young and accomplished Docent in petrography and Assistant in the mineralogical laboratory of the University of Pavia, Dr. Carlo Riva, who was killed by an avalanche on the 3rd inst. while ascending Monte Grigna. Besides contributing descriptions of various Italian minerals, he specially interested himself in the study of the volcanic rocks of Italy, and in conjunction with his friend G. de Lorenzo he had been for some time engaged in a detailed investigation of the volcanic cones and rocks of the “Campi Phlegræi.” The first fruits of this conjoint labour appeared a year or two ago in a monograph on the remarkable but seldom visited cone of the island of Vivara, which was noticed in NATURE last year. Never before had such a combination of geological and petrographical skill been devoted to any of the old volcanoes of that classic district, so that geologists who had seen the memoir looked forward with much interest to the application of the same, talents to the other cones. It is understood that the account of Astroni was far advanced towards completion. But all this bright promise of a career that would have advanced the cause of science and shed lustre on the scientific work of Italy has been abruptly quenched. Those who knew Carlo Riva personally will keenly feel the untimely extinction of a nature so gentle and kindly, so enthusiastic and unwearying in pursuit of science, so full of power and yet so modest and retiring. He has died a martyr to the energy with which he followed his favourite studies, and carries with him to the grave the respect and affection of a wide circle of friends.