ANNUAL REPORT for 2004

IGCP Spanish National Committee

1. Spanish National Committee
2. IGCP projects in which Spanish Working Groups have participated

3. National Committee activities
4. Forthcoming events available in connection with the Programme

1. Spanish National Committee

Prof. Dr. Marcos A. Lamolda (Chairman); Facultad de Ciencias-UPV; Apartado 644; E-48080 Bilbao; Spain
Tel. 34 946012608. Fax no. 34 946013500. E-mail: <gpplapam@lg.ehu.es>, <mlamolda@ugr.es>

Members: Dr. A. Barnolas and Dr. A. García-Cortés (Instituto Geológico y Minero de España-IGME); Dr. B. Andreo (448); Dr. C. Quesada (453); Dr. M. García Fernández (455); Dr. A. Márquez (458 & 467); Dr. R. Sáez (502); Dr. J. I. Valenzuela (499); Prof. Dr. F. Vilas (464); Dr. E. Villas (503); Prof. Dr. C. Zazo (495).

Dr. B. Andreo (project 448) and Dr. C. Quesada (project 453), left the committee once their projects are finishing in 2004.

2. IGCP projects in which Spanish Working Groups have participated

a) Project with Spaniard project co-leader

Project no. 502: 'Global Comparison of Volcanic-hosted Massive Sulphide Districts'

Dr. Reinaldo Sáez; Depto. de Geología; Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales; Campus del Carmen, Univ. de Huelva; Av. Fuerzas Armadas s/n; E-21071 Huelva

Spaniard co-leader: Dr. Fernando Tornos

Abstract
The IGCP 502 was formally established at Trabzon (Turkey) in October 2004. Fernando Tornos and Guillermo Ortiz attend the meeting on behalf of the Spanish Group. Up today, this group is composed by 29 researchers engaged in several universities, research institutes as well as private companies devoted to mining and exploration. The Spanish Working Group research concerned by the IGCP 502 is actually supported by six research projects founded by the Spanish Education Ministry (MEC-CICYT). The formal constitution of the Spanish Group took place at Huelva on 21th November, 2004. The main conclusions from the meeting were: a) the nomination of Reinaldo Sáez and Manuel Toscano as Coordinator and Secretary respectively; b) the need for found which could support for activities related with the IGCP would be obtained by application to official calling during the first semester of 2005; c) two coordination meetings will be held during 2005; d) the meeting of the Spanish Tectonic Commission which will be hold in the Iberian Pyrite Belt will be attended by at least two members of the Spanish Group of IGCP 502, and e) also two members of the Spanish Group will be present at the international meeting of the IGCP 502 at Bathrust (Canada). The budget for the Spanish Coordinator assistance to Bathrust is of about 2100 ¤. The objectives of the Spanish Group during the development of the IGCP 502 will be focussed on the research about the origin of massive sulphide deposits on several places of the World and their correlation. In this way, the running research projects are going on for these type of ore deposits on several of the main massive sulphide provinces, including: the Iberian Peninsula, the Chilean Coastal Ranges, Cuba and so on. The main goals to be obtained are related with the study of the geological and geochemical environment on which massive sulphide deposition took place, the space/time evolution of orebodies, and the effect of geodynamic environment both on massive sulphide genesis and deformation related with tectonics.

b) Projects with active working groups

Project no. 448: 'World correlation on Karst Ecosystem'

Dr. Bartolomé Andreo; Depto. de Ecología y Geología; Facultad de Ciencias; Campus de Teatinos s/n; E-29071 Málaga


Abstract
The Spanish Chapter of the IGCP 448 Project (GTE 448) was created in 2000 year, after the approval of the proyect by UNESCO. To this Group belong aproximately 30 Spaniards researchers. The works of research focused on different topics of the Spanish karst ecosystems. Thus, on karst hydrogeology, the karst aquifer behaviour has been studied analizing the natural responses (hydrodinamic, hidrochemical, isotopic and temperature) and provoked by human activity (groundwater exploitation). International classifications on karst aquifers have been improved, particularly new hydrodinamic criteria have been proposed and a new method for groundwater recharge has been developed. The protection of water was an objective of the IGCP 448 Project, and for this reason we have develovep a method for vulnerability assessment and mapping taking into account pilot experiences carried out in different Spanish carbonate aquifers. Concerning to karst landforms, we have investigated on exokarstic features (particularly karren) and endokarstic (caves). Just in karst cavities such as Nerja cave (Málaga) and Altamira cave (Santander) we have done investigations on the environmental parameters and the impact produced in the underground environment because of the visits. In other caves we have investigated the fauna of this ecosystems. All these results were published in more tha one hundred papers and communications in congress, both national and international.

GTE 448 home page

Project no. 458: 'Triassic/Jurassic Boundary Events'
Project no. 467: 'Triassic Time and Trans-Panthalassan Correlations'

Dr. Ana Márquez; Depto. de Geología; Facultad de Biología, Univ. de Valencia;C/ Dr. Molines, 50; E-46100 Burjasot

Abstract
During 2004 researches of the Spanish Working Group (SWG 458 and 467) have been engaged on several topics, which are directly related to the different working areas of the Triassic basins in the Iberian Peninsula (Iberian Chains, Betic Cordillera, Catalonian Coastal Ranges, Pyrenean Basin and Basque-Cantabrian Basin). All these areas have been studied from a palaeontological and stratigraphical viewpoints, with major focus on the Permian/Triassic boundary, marine and continental Triassic facies-type and the Triassic/Jurassic boundary. Regarding this point, main efforts have been devoted to fieldwork, as it is an essential basis for solving the biostratigraphical problems previously identified. In attaining this task, it is necessary to make progress in the knowledge of the different taxonomic groups mainly Mollusca and Conodonts that have to be analysed within their biostratigraphical, taphonomic and paleobiological context. This analysis will help to characterize the model, as well as the processes, that took place around the Permian/Triassic extinction event, the biotic Triassic recovery and the Triassic/Jurassic biotic crisis. All this topics are actually in big discussion.
Commissioned by the Spanish Group of the Mesozoic Era and the Spanish Group of Sedimentology (Geological Society of Spain, Stratigraphy Commission), the SWG projects no. 458 and 467 coordinator with some of their members, in collaboration with the Department of Geology of the University of Valencia (UVEG), the Department of Earth Sciences and the Environment of the University of Alicante (UA) and Palaeontological Museum of Elche (MUPE), have assumed the joint responsibility of organising the XVth National Conference on Sedimentology, IVth Symposium on Stratigraphy and Palaeography of the Permian and Triassic Systems in Spain, and IVth SWG Workshop PICG 458 and 467, which is to be held in Elche (Alicante) from 11 to 14 September 2005: www.cidarismpe.org
The organization of this Research-Meeting was a part of our 2004 task.

Project no. 464: 'Continental Shelves during the Last Glacial Cycle: Knowledge and Applications'

Prof. Federico Vilas; Depto. de Geociencias Marinas; Facultad de Ciencias; Apartado 874; E-36200 Vigo


Abstract
The project will focus on continental shelves during the last glacial cycle and will carry out comparisons around the world and establish workshops. The project will also address understanding of the geometry and palaeogeography of shelves, of palaeoclimate investigation of the imprint of higher frequency climatic events on continental shelves; application of seismic methods to identify the palaeomorphology of shelf deposits and the testing of sequence stratigraphic methods/models from ancient materials to younger sediments. Data acquisition by surveying and mapping will result in a ‘world map’ of the extent and character of continental shelf sediments (particularly at 20 ka BP). A synthesis of the results will be published during all the project, which will provide: (1) an understanding of the various styles of relict and modern continental shelf, (2) an estimate of the carbon budgets and storage of carbon at the Last Glacial Maximum that will be compared to modern shelves, and (3) an aid in economic and resource development of coastal zones. Among the societal benefits are: training of participants from less developed countries; studies of the resource assessment and genesis of shallow marine placer deposits and sand.

GTE 464 home page

Project no. 495: 'Quaternary Land-Ocean Interactions'

Prof. Caridad Zazo; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales; c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2; E-28006 Madrid

Abstract
The Spanish Working Group had its first meeting on September 23rd 2004, during the VIIIth National Geomorphology Meeting at Toledo. The SWG IGCP project 495 has 31 members. Two members of the SWG attended the First International Meeting of the project held in Maine University, USA, October 14 to 17, 2004. In 2005 the SWG activities will focused on:
Co-sponsor of the Workshop "Costa Norte del Estrecho de Gibraltar y Bahía de Cádiz", in collaboration with INQUA, as a part of the VIth Iberian Quaternary Meeting, Gibraltar, September 2005.
Co-sponsor of the Workshops A4 "Geomorphology of the South-Atlantic Spanish Coast", and A7 "Majorca Island: Geomorphological Evolution and Neotectonic", which will be held at Zaragoza, September 2005, during the Sixth International Conference of Geomorphology.
Members of the SWG will participate in the IInd International Meeting of the project, which will be held at Kuala-Bandung, Indonesia.

Project no. 499: 'Evolution of Ecosystems and Climate in the Devonian'

Dr. José I. Valenzuela; Depto. de Geología; Facultad de Biología, Univ. de Valencia; C/ Dr. Moliner, 50; E-46100 Burjasot

Abstract
The IGCP 499 was approved on February 2004, and the official constitution of the Spanish Working Group took place on October 22nd; during this interval the group has been acted in a provisional way. The main activities of the Spanish Working Group are summarised below:
Participation on the first IGCP 499 business meeting held at the University of Göttingen (Germany) on October 6th. This meeting was included within the annual meeting of the German Palaeontological Society. The Spanish coordinator (Dr. José Ignacio Valenzuela Ríos) reported about planned and on-going activities and "human-craft" of the Spanish group. The formal constitution of the Spanish working Group, in connection with the annual meeting of the Spanish Palaeontological, held at the University of Alcalá de Henares. Five oral presentations related to the IGCP were given at this meeting.

c) Other IGCP project in which Spaniard scientifics participated

Project no. 503: 'Ordovician Palaeogeography and Palaeoclimate'

Dr. Enrique Villas; Depto. de Ciencias de la Tierra; Facultad de Ciencias, Univ. de Zaragoza; c/ Pedro Cerbuna, 12; E-50009 Zaragoza

Abstract
This is not a formal working group, but several Spaniards interested in topics of this IGCP project keep contact with it, as their current researches are related to the Ordovician Period in southern Europe, northern Africa and South America. This reporter and two colleagues attended the Ist International meeting of the project at Erlangen (Germany) in last September, where five contributions on Ordovician topics were presented, e.g., the Hirnantian glaciation, Late Ordovician bryozooan biostratigraphy and palaeogeograhy, the Ordovician/Silurian boundary, etc.

3. National Committee activities

The Spanish National Committee (SNC) had a meeting during 2004. This regular meeting was held at Madrid on July 8th, Spanish National Commission UNESCO headquarters with Prof. M. Lamolda in the chair. This meeting was attended by 5 participants, who were welcame by the General Secretary of the Comisión Nacional Española de Cooperación con la UNESCO, Excmo. Sr. D. Tomás Solís Gragera. The Secretary General announced to this committee (SNC, IGCP) that the Comisión Española UNESCO had not an approuved budged for this year. This outstanding situation seems to arrive to its end, but it would be for the next year 2005.

The committee reviewed the projects newly adopted by the IGCP Scientific Board during its last session in early February 2004 at Paris. Six proposals were provisionaly approuved: project no. 486 "Au-Ag-Telluride-Selenide Deposits", project no. 495 "Quaternary Land-Ocean Interactions", project no. 497 "The Rheic Ocean", project no. 499 "Evolution of Ecosystems and Climate in the Devonian", project no. 502 "Global comparison of Volcanic-hosted Massive Sulphide Districts" (with a Spaniard co-leader), and project no. 503 "Ordovician Palaeogeography and Palaeoclimate". This year there are a total of 11 working groups, but only 7 are active, according to reports received by this chairmanship. At the end of the year, two SWG left the committee once their projects are finishing in 2004 (projects no. 448 and 453). This is one of the lower participation of Spanish scientifics in the IGCP since its constitution in 1975, except last year 2003 with 5 working groups.

The Chairman on behalf of the SNC IGCP has send a letters of support for the proposal of a new project (Dr. Chris Groves, Dr. Bartolomé Andreo et al., Global Study of Karst aquifers and water resources), to be presented during the next IGCP Scientific Board meeting. This proposal is of particular interest to Spain, in fact the topic is the continuation of two previous IGCP projects with a relevant Spanish participation. Furthermore one of the proposers, Dr. B. Andreo, has been during the last five years the Spanish representative of the successful IGCP project no. 448 ' World correlation on Karst Ecosystem'.

As results of working group activities, three monographies have been published:
* Boletín Geológico y Minero, 115(1), 115-168. 2004. It include three contributions presented during the annual meeting of the SWG, project no. 453, held at Alhama de Granada on October 1st, 2002.
* Boletín Geológico y Minero, 115(2), 175-274. 2004. This is a ontribution of the SWG, project no. 448, (B. Andreo and J.J. Durán, edits.), held at Huesca, July 18 and 19 de julio, 2002. Nine contributions in total.
* Investigaciones en sistemas kársticos españoles (B. Andreo and J.J. Durán, edits.). 2004. Contribución española al Proyecto 448 del PICG de la UNESCO "Correlación mundial de ecosistemas kársticos". Instituto Geológico y Minero de España. Madrid.
All the three publications have been possible with the kind support of the Spanish Geological Survey.

The SWG of IGCP project no. 448 held its annual meeting at Oviedo, in last May, with contributions of participants. Contributions have been published in the journal Geogaceta of the Spanish Geological Society.
The SWG of IGCP project no. 458 and 467 had its annual meeting at Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), October 2004, during the XXª Jornadas de Paleontología, regular meeting of the Spanish Paleontological Society. Two contributions were presented about topics of IGCP projects 458 and 467. The Spanish representative, Dr. Ana Márquez, was invited to address the IInd Meeting of the Young Spaniard Researcher on Paleontology, held at Macastre (Valencia), April 23-25, 2004, with the topic: The marine Triassic.
The SWG of IGCP project no. 464 had its annual meeting during the VIº Congreso Geológico de España, Zaragoza, July 12-15, 2004, where three contributions were presented. Furthermore, there had participation in a Meeting of the IGCP project 437 at Rome, August 2004, and other international meetings.
The SWG of IGCP project no. 495 had its first meeting on September 23rd 2004, during the VIIIth National Geomorphology Meeting at Toledo. Two members of the SWG attended the First International Meeting of the project held in Maine University, USA, October 14 to 17, 2004.
The SWG of IGCP project no. 499 had its first meeting on October 22nd 2004, at Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), during the XXª Jornadas de Paleontología, annual meeting of the Spanish Paleontological Society. Members of SWG attended the first International meeting of the project, held at Göttingen (Germany), as a part of the annual meeting of the German Paleontological Society. The Spanish representative, Dr. José I. Valenzuela reported about the SWG activities and future tasks.
The SWG of IGCP project no. 502 had its first meeting on November 21st 2004, at Huelva. Members of the SWG attended the first International meeting of the project held at Trabzon (Turkey), October 1st to 8th 2004.
The Spanish correspondent, Dr. Enrique Villas, of IGCP project no. 503 attended the first International meeting of the project at Erlangen (Germany), September 2004, together other Spaniards, who presented five contributions.

The Geological National Commission (SNC) has been constituted (again after a long period of stand-by) on February 9th, 2004. It is expected that the Spanish National Committee, IGCP, is a Scientific Sub-commission in the near future according to hopeful news from the Chairman of the SNC, Prof. José Pedro Calvo-Sorando.

Finantial support received for the activities of your National Committee, and given to IGCP projects and their activities

Sponshorship of meeting continues dramatically reduced as no financement has been available this year to those activities by the Spanish National Commission UNESCO. All our activities have been financed with the support of the Geological National Commission (Spanish Geological Survey). It allow to this committee the amount of 2313.90 euro, for the following actions:
- Spanish National Committe meeting
- Spanish Working Group meeting, proyect no. 448 at Oviedo
- Spanish National Committee, IGCP, "Boletín Informativo" no. 27-28. June 2004.

Publication of results has been possible with the kind support of the Spanish Geological Survey (the three monographies above mentioned).
Most of the activities related to Spanish Working Groups have been financed directely by research projects of the participants, granted by the Spanish government, Regional governments and other institutions.

Statement of any recommendation or other points that you consider important

The new arrangement of the Earth Sciencies Division is not welcome, and on behalf of this Spanish National Committee and myself I am concerned with the future of the IGCP. In the XXIth Century is not easy to understand such a decision by UNESCO, when our knowledge on Earth has been proved esential to our existence. I ask to the Scientific Board to consider this extremely important topic and produce a memorandum supporting both the Earth Sciencies Division and the IGCP. I am sure most if not all IGCP National Committes will support this action, in addition to Geological Societies, Geological Surveys, IUGS, and other Earth Sciencies Institutions around the World.

4. Forthcoming events available in connection with the Programme

* Symposium of the Spanish Working Group, projects nº 458 and 467 during the IVº Coloquio de Estratigrafía y Paleogeografía del Pérmico y Triásico de España, to be held at Elche (Alicante), September 11-14, 2005. Information at www.cidarismpe.org
* Annual Meeting during the XXIª Jornadas de Paleontología, annual meeting of the Spanish Paleontological Society, at Sevilla, October 2005.
* The SWG of IGCP project no. 495 will be Co-sponsor of the Workshop "Costa Norte del Estrecho de Gibraltar y Bahía de Cádiz", in collaboration with INQUA, as a part of the VIth Iberian Quaternary Meeting, Gibraltar, September 2005.
* The SWG of IGCP project no. 495 will be Co-sponsor of the Workshops A4 "Geomorphology of the South-Atlantic Spanish Coast", and A7 "Majorca Island: Geomorphological Evolution and Neotectonic", which will be held at Zaragoza, September 2005, during the Sixth International Conference of Geomorphology.
* The SWG of IGCP project no. 499 will held its annual meeting in October 2005, during the XXIª Jornadas de Paleontología, annual meeting of the Spanish Paleontological Society. A special session will be organized by the SWG with topic of IGCP project 499.
* The SWG of IGCP project no. 502 will attend the Meeting of the Spanish National Commission on Tectonic, at Huelva (date to be confirmed), with topics on regional and massif sulphide ore tectonic in the Iberian Pyritic Belt.

Spanish National Committee
* Annual Meeting. Madrid, Spring 2005
* 30th Anniversary Spanish National Committee meeting, September 2005

Granada, January 26th 2005

Marcos A. Lamolda
Chairman, Spanish National Committee, IGCP

[Comité Nacional Español, PICG] [Memoria 2004]