Editorial for Special Issue 'Industrial Minerals'

Industrial minerals play an important role in keeping our society running, as they are used in a wide range of industrial and domestic applications. Harben and Bates [1] define the industrial minerals as all those materials that man takes out of the Earth’s crust, except for fuels, metallic ores, water, and gemstones. A commonly used synonym for industrial minerals is non-metallic minerals, and a more precise one is industrial minerals and rocks. Industrial minerals include minerals and rocks that, depending on their physical and chemical properties, are used, directly or with treatment, in the manufacturing of products, such as ceramics, glass, cement, biomaterials, and geopolymers, and even in the recycling of wastes. This definition also includes construction materials and waste products of several bulk industrial processes [2]. Compared with ore minerals, industrial minerals are cheap, as they are generally abundant, widely distributed on the Earth’s surface, and are often simple to process

Delimitación del perfil competencial inclusivo necesario en la formación inicial en los grados de educación primaria

One of the factors that influence the development of inclusive processes in schools is the initial teacher training in the field of inclusive education. The university, as a training center, has chosen to combine the two existing models: a more transversal model of training on inclusive education and a more specific one. The choice of training models is related to the conception of inclusive education. However, it would be relevant to identify what are the necessary competencies so that future teachers can implement inclusive processes in schools. In this sense, the article aims to identify the key skills in inclusive education (CEI competences for inclusive education – acronym in Spanish) for initial training (FI – acronym in Spanish) in elementary education grades. Through the Delphi method, in which experts and professionals from the field of inclusive education have participated, the results are committed to university training in the Elementary Education Degree, where transversal competences related to teamwork, communication, energization of supports, collaboration, leadership, conflict resolution and a critical and positive attitude that allows inclusive educational processes to be achieved    Uno de los factores que inciden en el desarrollo de procesos inclusivos en los centros escolares es la formación inicial del profesorado en el campo de la educación inclusiva. La universidad, como centro formador, ha optado por combinar los dos modelos existentes: un modelo más transversal de la formación sobre la educación inclusiva y otro más específico. La elección de los modelos formativos está relacionada con la concepción que se tenga sobre la educación inclusiva. No obstante, sería relevante identificar cuáles son las competencias necesarias para que el futuro profesorado pueda implementar procesos inclusivos en las escuelas. En este sentido, el artículo tiene como objetivo identificar las competencias en educación inclusiva (CEI) claves para la formación inicial (FI) en los grados de educación primaria. A través del método Delphi, en el que han participado expertos y profesionales del ámbito de la educación inclusiva, los resultados apuestan por una formación universitaria en el Grado de Educación Primaria, donde prevalezcan competencias transversales relacionadas con el trabajo en equipo, la comunicación, la dinamización de los apoyos, la colaboración, el liderazgo, la resolución de conflictos y una actitud crítica y positiva, que permita alcanzar procesos educativos inclusivos.&nbsp

Genome size variation in the Artemisia arborescens complex (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and its cultivars

10 p.[EN] Different wild Mediterranean populations of Artemisia arborescens from diverse locations representing its geographical distribution, as well as some of its well-known cultivars and some specimens cultivated as ornamentals in gardens, streets, roads and nurseries, were analysed for genome size. Other closely related species endemic to Macaronesia, Artemisia canariensis, Artemisia argentea, and Artemisia gorgonum, were also analysed, and their nuclear DNA amount has been related to the biogeography of this group of species. Additionally, 5 populations of the closely related Artemisia absinthium were analysed to establish comparisons. Measurements acquired by flow cytometry ranged from 8.29 to 11.61 pg for 2C values. Statistically significant differences of 2C nuclear DNA amounts with respect to factors such as insularity or domestication have been detected. However, quite a low intraspecific genome size variation has been found in these species. Furthermore, the study also addressed the possible hybrid origins and possible misidentifications of some of the supposed cultivars of A. arborescens.Peer reviewe

Viability of bauxite deposits from Catalonia (Spain) for ceramic applications

This study provides a characterization of materials from wastes and outcrops of twoinactive bauxite mines located close to Sant Joan de Mediona and Peramola, Spain. Mineralogy wasdetermined via powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).Thermal properties were measured via differential thermal analysis–thermogravimetry (DTA-TG) andgresification tests. The crystalline phases are medium-high crystalline kaolinite and variable amountsof illite, quartz, calcite, boehmite, hematite and rutile/anatase. DTA show two endothermic peaksproduced by the dehydroxylation of minerals: the first peak, at 530–538 C, belongs to boehmite; thesecond peak, at 535–568 C, corresponds to kaolinite. An exothermic peak at 950–978 C is associatedwith mullite crystallization. The optimal sintering temperatures obtained from the gresification curves(firing shrinkage and water absorption) were 970 C for carbonate-poor, illite-rich clays; 1100 C forillite- and carbonate-poor samples; and near 1190 C for carbonate-rich materials. The carbonate-poorsamples fired at 1300 C contain sillimanite and mullite, and the carbonate-rich materials are richin gehlenite, anorthite, and hedenbergite. The mineralogy of these materials is sufficient to obtainceramic materials with suitable properties, but not their low plasticity. They could be used in theformulation of bricks or as part of mixtures to produce refractory ceramics.</p

Are patinas of the Mediterranean monuments really related to the rock substrate?

Patinas of different mineralogies and colours occur on most monuments of the Mediterranean area. The origin(s) of the latter have often been related to previous painting and/or protective treatment(s). Microbial and biogeochemical pathways of formation, however, have as well been proposed and discussed. Paintings and photographs make it clear that coatings of changing colours have covered famous monuments in the past 200 years. Also the presence of microbiota has been recorded already 150 years ago. The work recorded here was done on several buildings in the Mediterranean area. A wide variety of localities and rock substrates and the patinas on them have been studied. Among the rocks were marbles, limestones calcarenites, granites and sandstones. In all cases studied patinas, their thickness and colour as well as their mineralogical composition were related to the exposure type. The patinas usually are multi-layered, the individual layers characterized by different crystal size, texture, mineralogy, and colour. Orange to grey layers are characterized by calcium carbonates and oxalates with some phosphates admixed, while the dark grey to black layers are rather characterized by gypsum with some trapped air-borne particles in cases. The petrology and mineralogy of the patinas is practically identical in all cases. Many of the patinas are inhabited by a variated microflora causing pitting and exfoliation in cases of the patina. Sometimes the pitting is only seen in the patina, and it reaches also the bedrock. A relationship between patina formation, preservation, destruction and climatic changes over the past 200 years is derived from these findings

Phosphorus solubility in basaltic glass: limitations for phosphorus immobilization in glass and glass-ceramics

The composition of sewage sludge from urban wastewater treatment plants is simulated using P-doped basalts. Electron microscopy analyses show that the solubility of P in the basaltic melt is limited by the formation of a liquid-liquid immiscibility in the form of an aluminosilicate phase and a Ca-Mg-Fe-rich phosphate phase. The rheological behavior of these compositions is influenced by both phase separation and nanocrystallization. Upon a thermal treatment, the glasses will crystallize into a mixture of inosilicates and spinel-like phases at low P contents and into Ca-Mg-Fe phosphate at high P contents. Hardness measurements yield values between 5.41 and 7.66 GPa, inside the range of commercial glasses and glass-ceramics. Leaching affects mainly unstable Mg2+-PO43- complexes

Taxonomic and nomenclatural rearrangements in Artemisia subgen. Tridentatae, including a redefinition of Sphaeromeria (Asteraceae, Anthemideae)

[EN]A recent molecular phylogenetic study of all members of Artemisia subgenus Tridentatae, as well as most of the other New World endemic Artemisia and the allied genera Sphaeromeria and Picrothamnus, raised the necessity of revising the taxonomic framework of the North American endemic Artemisia. Composition of the subgenus Tridentatae is enlarged to accommodate other North American endemics and is organized into 3 sections: Tridentatae, Nebulosae, and Filifoliae. This paper deals with the combination of one section, the amendment of 2 more sections, and the combination in or the reversion to Artemisia of some Sphaeromeria and Picrothamnus species. The new names given for previous Sphaeromeria species are Artemisia macarthurii (for S. argentea), A. albicans (for S. cana), A. constricta (for S. compacta), and A. inaequifolia (for S. diversifolia). The other Sphaeromeria we studied (S. capitata, S. potentilloides, S. ruthiae, and S. simplex) had been formerly considered Artemisia (respectively, A. capitata, A. potentilloides, A. ruthiae, and A. simplex), and their previous nomenclature is therefore recommended[ES]Un estudio reciente sobre la filogenia molecular de todos los miembros del subgénero Tridentatae de Artemisia, así como de la mayoría de las otras especies de Artemisia endémicas del Nuevo Mundo y los géneros afines Sphaeromeria y Picrothamnus, hizo ver la necesidad de revisar el marco taxonómico de las especies de Artemisia endémicas a Norteamérica. La composición del subgénero Tridentatae se ha ampliado para dar cabida a las otras especies endémicas de Norteamérica, y está organizado en 3 secciones: Tridentatae, Nebulosae y Filifoliae. El presente artículo trata sobre la combinación de una sección y la enmienda de 2 más, y propone la incorporación o reversión a Artemisia de algunas especies de Sphaeromeria y Picrothamnus. Los nuevos nombres de las especies previamente asignadas a Sphaeromeria son Artemisia macarthurii (para S. argentea), A. albicans (para S. cana), A. constricta (para S. compacta) y A. inaequifolia (para S. diversifolia). Las otras especies de Sphaeromeria estudiadas (S. capitata, S. potentilloides, S.ruthiae y S. simplex) habían sido previamente consideradas como miembros de Artemisia (A. capitata, A. potentilloides, A. ruthiae y A. simplex, respectivamente), por lo quese recomienda utilizar su nomenclatura anteriorThis work was subsidized by projects CGL2007-64839-C02-01/BOS and CGL2007-64839-C02-02/BOS of the Spanish government. SG was granted a JAE-DOC contract from the CSIC and a short stay in the Shrub Sciences Laboratory (USDA) in Utah, also from the CSIC.Peer reviewe

Evaluation of Sentinel-1, SMAP and SMOS surface soil moisture products for distributed eco-hydrological modelling in Mediterranean forest basins

[EN] Reliable distributed hydrological modeling, especially in semi-arid areas, must consider the inclusion of surface soil moisture (SSM) spatial information during the calibration process. This variable plays a key role in the evapotranspiration processes that determine the hydrological cycle. The coarse resolution of the SSM estimates by satellite remote sensing has restricted the application of this approach to only large basins, focusing most of the studies in the consideration of simply the temporal dynamics of this variable. The growing efforts in providing higher spatial resolution through disaggregating methodologies or new sensor estimates facilitates the application of this spatial approach to small basins. This paper explores the applicability of the currently available satellite surface soil moisture estimates for distributed eco-hydrological modelling in Mediterranean forest basins. On one hand, this study contributes to fill the existing research gap on the use of remote sensing SSM spatial patterns within the distributed hydrological modelling framework in small basins. On the other hand, it serves as an indirect validation method for the spatial performance of satellite SSM products. To achieve this goal, we implemented the eco-hydrological model TETIS in three case studies named: Hozgarganta (southern Spain), Ceira (western Portugal) and Carraixet (eastern Spain). The SSM estimates selected for comparison were Sentinel-1 SSM provided by the Copernicus Global Land Services (CGLS), SMAP SSM disaggregated using Sentinel-1 (SPL2SMAP_S) provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), SMOS SSM provided by the Barcelona Expert Center (BEC), and SMOS and SMAP SSM disaggregated using the DISPATCH algorithm provided by Lobelia Earth. The methodology employed involved a multi-objective and multi-variable calibration in terms of remote sensing SSM spatial patterns and in-situ streamflow, using the Spatial Efficiency Metric (SPAEF) and the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency index (NSE) respectively. Before model calibration a sensitivity analysis of the most influent variables was performed. The temporal and spatial comparison of the reference SSM products revealed inconsistencies amongst products. The disaggregating methodology determined the spatial agreement to a greater degree than the sensor itself (i.e. SMAP, SMOS). In spite of the differences amongst products, the multi-objective calibration approach proposed increased the robustness of the hydrological modelling.This study was founded by the Spanish AEI within the program WaterJPI through the project iAqueduct (PCI2019-103729) , by the EC Life project ResilientForests (LIFE17 CCA/ES/000063) , and by the project Water4Cast funded by Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2021/074) . We also acknowledge the following hydrometeorological data providers institutions: SiAR, SAIH-HIDROSUR, SAIH Jucar and SNIRH.Gomis-Cebolla, J.; Garcia-Arias, A.; Perpinyà-Vallès, M.; Francés, F. (2022). Evaluation of Sentinel-1, SMAP and SMOS surface soil moisture products for distributed eco-hydrological modelling in Mediterranean forest basins. Journal of Hydrology. 608:1-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.12756911960