GEOtransfer. Geology for Science and Society – IUCA – Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Ambientales

Presentation

The main aim of the group GEOtransfer. Geology for Science and Society is to study in depth the application and transfer of geological knowledge to society and the productive sector.

It is a reference research group (E32_17R), recognized by the Government of Aragon in March 2018, is made up of 20 researchers from the Dept. of Earth Sciences.

Specific aims:

Prospection of natural resources, hydrogeological or geothermal; the storage of substances (CO₂); and knowledge of past or present climate changes.
Determining the 3D geometry of rocky structures and bodies and contributing to knowledge of the formation and development of sedimentary basins and mountain chains.
Recognizing tectonic structures and active (sedimentary and tectonic) geological processes as major generative sources of risks in Aragon.
Contributing to the assessment of the cultural heritage of Aragon.
Fostering the transfer of the results to ensure the sustainable development of society.

Lines of investigation

The group GEOTRANSFER pursues its investigations in a series of exceptional natural laboratories mainly in the Iberian Range, the Pyrenees and the Ebro Basin.

The main lines of investigation are as follows:

Integrated (tectono-stratigraphic) analysis of Cretaceous and Cenozoic sedimentary basins.
Regional tectonics, 3D reconstruction of structures and of their kinematics, and elaboration of models of tectono-magmatic evolution.
Study of active faults (neotectonics and palaeoseismology) and the determination of seismic hazard.
Identification and delimitation of caves and natural or anthropic rocky bodies by means of the methods of geophysical prospection and its application to the analysis of geological hazards.
Identification and delimitation of cavities and natural or anthropogenic rock bodies through geophysical prospecting methods and their application to geological risk analysis.
Geotechnical characterization of the land and petrophysical characterization of construction materials and their alteration.
Present-day and ancient carbonate sedimentary systems, with emphasis on microbialites and their contribution to the study of the evolution of the climate.

Projects undertaken

The current GEOTRANSFER brings together the consolidated groups (since 2002) Geotransfer and Análisis de Cuencas Sedimentarias Continentales (‘Analysis of Continental Sedimentary Basins’).

In the course of its long trajectory, it has collaborated with numerous national and international researchers, contributing in particular to the understanding of stratigraphy, sedimentology, magmatism, tectonic structure, force fields, and the Mesozoic and Cenozoic evolution of the NE of the Iberian Peninsula, of its sedimentary basins (Iberian, Ebro, Montalbán, Aliaga, Teruel, Jiloca) and its mountain chains (Iberian Range, Pyrenees), to the application of magnetic techniques to the tectonic study of basins and ranges (including the Moroccan Atlas Mountains), and to the characterization of seismic hazard (Teruel) or risks associated with collapses and karst subsidence (Zaragoza).

The results have been published in prestigious scientific journals, but also in numerous books and didactic guides. The group has also co-organized national and international conferences.

Infrastructure

The group enjoys the use of the infrastructure and equipment of the stratigraphy, tectonics, hydrogeology, petrology and mineralogy laboratories of the Department of Earth Sciences.

This apparatus includes:

Transmitted and reflected light microscopes;
Mirror stereoscopes;
Drone for vertical and oblique photography;
Equipment for content analysis of carbonates or organic matter;
Levigation machine, magnetic susceptibility analyser;
Thermomagnetic curves
Software for analysis of sedimentary cyclicity;
Geophysical prospection equipment (magnetometers, georadar with four antennae, electromagnetic prospection, hammer seismics, equipment for seismic wave propagation measurement, gravimeter)
Specific software for the processing, modelling and interpretation of the results, devices and materials for analogue modelling, drilling equipment (AMS sampling, palaeomagnetism).

Technological Offer/Services

Studies in basic geology, geological cartography and geological consultancy.
Well logging and sampling.
Textural characterization and granulometry of sediments.
Studies of the properties of subsoil by means of geophysical prospection.
Cartography and assessment of geological hazards (seismic, karstic).
Study of the physico-chemical properties of natural and artificial materials.
Study of alterations in natural rock in monuments.
Basic gemological studies.
Assessment of water resources (riverbed appraisal, pumping tests, piezometry).
Characterization of magnetic properties of rocks.
Analogue modelling of tectonic processes.
Elaboration of didactic material (guides and information panels) for cultural parks and information centres.

Noticias del Grupo

IBERFAULT 2022 – Scientific Congress
(Zaragoza. Wednesday, September 1, 2022). IBERFAULT is a scientific congress on geology that is held every four years in a different part of Spain. This 2022 edition, which will be held from September 7 to 10 in the town of Teruel, will bring together people dedicated to the study of active faults, paleoseismology and other […]
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The Government of Aragon awards the 2022 Aragon Environment Award to the geologist José Luis Simón
(Zaragoza. Friday, June 3, 2022). The Government of Aragon has delivered this Friday, June 3, the Aragon Environment Award 2022 to José Luis Simón, professor of Dynamic Geology at the University of Zaragoza and researcher of the GEOTRANSFER group. With this award, the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and the Environment wanted to recognize his career, […]
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55th Edition of the Practical Geology Course
Next July, the 55th edition of the Practical Geology Course entitled “Learning geology in the Aliaga Geological Park and its surroundings” will be held. The course will take place from July 11 to 15, 2022 in Aliaga (Teruel), directed by Carlos Luis Liesa, Professor at the University of Zaragoza and researcher of the GEOTRANSFER-IUCA group. […]
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Rodenas and Peracense will be the protagonists of Geolodía 2022 in Teruel
(Zaragoza. Thursday, May 5, 2022). Next Saturday, May 7, the municipalities of Rodenas and Peracense will host the celebration of Geolodía 2022 in Teruel, which will offer an immersion experience in the red landscape of the rodeno. The Geolodía is the largest Geology dissemination event in Spain, which was born in Teruel in 2005 and […]
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The Geolodía Zaragoza 2022 will analyze the urban area of Calatayud from the eyes of geology
(Zaragoza, May 4, 2022). The Geolodía Zaragoza is celebrated this year next Saturday, May 7 in the city of Calatayud. In this edition, which recovers the face-to-face format, four excursions will be held throughout the day (10am, 11am, 4pm and 5pm), with the aim of answering the question: is there geology in the urban area […]
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The study of materials from the Teruel Basin provides clues about climate change over the last 8 million years
(Zaragoza, Wednesday, April 6, 2022). The journal Global and Planetary Change has recently published an article showing that the connection between the dynamics in the Atlantic and the climate in the western Mediterranean area has existed since at least the Miocene (9.8 million years ago). These conclusions are derived from the analysis carried out on […]
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