Research in this unit

It researches the processes affecting lithosphere, from surface conditions to low-grade metamorphism, in particular the behavior of phyllosilicates, phosphates, carbonates and metallic ores.

Using crystallographic, mineralogical, (bio)-geochemical, and metallogenetic approaches to rocks and sediments, we apply field, laboratory and computational techniques, to analyse the composition, stability, structure, formation, mechanisms and reaction dynamics, morphology, self-organization and properties of minerals and related natural systems. Industrial applications of special clays and geo-environmental studies are also considered. We also study fundamental geochemical processes occurring in soil, by analysing different organic and inorganic compounds, as well as the improvement of degraded soils quality. Another research focuses on geochemical isotopes (C, O, H) on carbonate materials, clay and water to estimate paleoclimatic, paleoenvironmental and postformational alterations.

Objectives included in PA 2018-2021

1) The composition, structure, and properties of minerals; reaction mechanisms and kinetics under surface conditions, to evaluate their stability and reactivity and the effect of given environmental parameters in their properties.
2) Crystalline morphology and growth models in aqueous and organic media. Moreover, the use of computational methods permits the modelling of minerals at atomic scale and the study of the molecular and crystal structure, the morphology and properties.
3) Understanding the processes of biomineralization, and sedimentary, diagenetic, low-grade and hydrothermal metamorphic processes, together with their paleogeographic significance, from the studies of nanostructures, defects, polytypes, epitaxy, transformation mechanisms, compositional variations and geochemistry of, mainly, phyllosilicates, carbonates, and phosphates.
4) The interaction of minerals that are potentially dangerous under inhalation (chrysotiles, fibrous amphiboles, fibrous phyllosilicates) with the organism, to understand the reaction mechanisms and contribute to possible treatments; estimation of the biodurability of these minerals in the lung cavities.
5) Industrial applications of special clays (including pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and use in specialized centres of mud therapy), and studies of metallic resources (exploration and environmental impact of mining activity).
6) Improvement of soil functioning and quality by strategies aimed to restore and conserve degraded soils and soils polluted by environmental contaminants
7) Paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic characterization-assessment of climate variability in the South of the Iberian Peninsula, by using isotopic fractionation processes associated with carbonate precipitation or water from fluid inclusions in carbonates, water percolation and interstitial waters