Seismic structure and composition of the southern central Iberian crust: The ALCUDIA wide angle seismic reflection transect

The authors thank the Associated Editor and the anonymous reviewers for their thoroughly valuable suggestions and comments that improved the manuscript. Seismic data were collected in 2012 with funding provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grants: CGL2004-04623/BTE, CGL2007-63101/BTE, CGL2011-24101, CSD2006-00041). Instrumentation was provided by the IRIS-PASSCAL instrument center, Socorro, New Mexico, USA. The seismic data, including experiment geometry are stored in the IRIS-PASSCAL facilities and can be accessed through the IRIS-PASSCAL data management center. I.P. is funded by the Spanish Government and the Universidad de Salamanca with a Beatriz Galindo grant (BEGAL 18/00090). S.A. Ehsan is funded by the European Commission grant Marie Curie Actions (264517-TOPOMOD-FP7-PEOPLE-2010-ITN). We thank Instituto Geologico y Minero de Espana for providing the logistic help and an academic crew for data acquisition. GMT was used to prepare some of the figures shown in the paper.The nature of the crust beneath central Iberia was estimated by a wide-angle seismic reflection/refraction transect, ALCUDIA-WA, which sampled the southern half of the Variscan Central Iberian Zone, covered in the north by the Cenozoic Tajo Basin. The shot gathers recorded by vertical component sensors revealed well defined P- and S-wave phases. These arrivals were modeled by an iterative forward approach providing 2D crustal models showing variations in the velocity distribution with upper crustal P- and S-wave velocities increasing northwards. The lower crust P-wave velocities are homogeneous along the profile while the S-wave velocities slightly increase northwards. The Moho is placed at 32 km depth in the southern edge of the profile, deepening northward down to 35 km beneath the Tajo Basin. The Poisson's ratio, calculated from P- and S-wave velocities, varies along the profile at upper crustal depths. The highest values are located below the Mora and Pedroches batholiths. These resulting physical properties can serve to constrain the crustal composition by comparing them with laboratory measurements on rock samples. Our results suggest that the upper crust in the southern and central segments of the ALCUDIA profile is made up of low-grade metasedimentary rocks, while the northern segment is dominated by igneous rocks, in agreement with the surface geology. Separated by a sharp boundary located between 12 km (south) and 18 km (north) depth, the lower crust is more homogeneous and shows low Poisson’ ratios compatible with a rather felsic composition. However, outstanding lamination described in coincident vertical incidence data indicates some degree of intercalation with mafic components.Spanish Government CGL2004-04623/BTE CGL2007-63101/BTE CGL2011-24101 CSD2006-00041Spanish GovernmentEuropean Commission BEGAL 18/00090Universidad de Salamanca BEGAL 18/00090European Commission grant Marie Curie Actions 264517-TOPOMOD-FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IT

Hubs and clusters approach to unlock the development of carbon capture and storage – Case study in Spain

Many countries have assigned an indispensable role for carbon capture and storage (CCS) in their national climate change mitigation pathways. However, CCS deployment has stalled in most countries with only limited commercial projects realised mainly in hydrocarbon-rich countries for enhanced oil recovery. If the Paris Agreement is to be met, then this progress must be replicated widely, including hydrocarbon-limited countries. In this study, we present a novel source-to-sink assessment methodology based on a hubs and clusters approach to identify favourable regions for CCS deployment and attract renewed public and political interest in viable deployment pathways. Here, we apply this methodology to Spain, where fifteen emission hubs from both the power and the hard-to-abate industrial sectors are identified as potential CO2 sources. A priority storage structure and two reserves for each hub are selected based on screening and ranking processes using a multi-criteria decision-making method. The priority source-to-sink clusters are identified indicating four potential development regions, with the North-Western and North-Eastern Spain recognised as priority regions due to resilience provided by different types of CO2 sources and geological structures. Up to 68.7 Mt CO2 per year, comprising around 21% of Spanish emissions can be connected to clusters linked to feasible storage. CCS, especially in the hard-to-abate sector, and in combination with other low-carbon energies (e.g., blue hydrogen and bioenergy), remains a significant and unavoidable contributor to the Paris Agreement's mid-century net-zero target. This study shows that the hubs and clusters approach can facilitate CCS deployment in Spain and other hydrocarbon-limited countries

Metal-organic framework based mixed matrix membranes: a solution for highly efficient CO2 capture?

The field of metal-organic framework based mixed matrix membranes (M(4)s) is critically reviewed, with special emphasis on their application in CO2 capture during energy generation. After introducing the most relevant parameters affecting membrane performance, we define targets in terms of selectivity and productivity based on existing literature on process design for pre- and post-combustion CO2 capture. Subsequently, the state of the art in M(4)s is reviewed against these targets. Because final application of these membranes will only be possible if thin separation layers can be produced, the latest advances in the manufacture of M-4 hollow fibers are discussed. Finally, the recent efforts in understanding the separation performance of these complex composite materials and future research directions are outlined.European Commission FP7 608490 ERC 33574

RawMatCop: Developing Skills at the intersection between Earth observation and the raw materials community

The RawMatCop programme was launched in 2017 and aims to develop skills, expertise, demonstrations, and applications of Copernicus data to the raw materials sector. It is co-funded by the European Commission (DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs) and the EIT RawMaterials (RawMaterials Academy). Raw materials have become increasingly important to the European Union's economy, growth, and competitiveness. In this context, the EU aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices among its member states to improve the sustainable and safe supply of raw materials to the EU economy and society. Thus, monitoring of mining activities and environmental impact of waste and residue management are key issues of that strategy. With state-of-the-art spaceborne imagery, Copernicus has a strong potential in contributing to EU’s requirements and expectations. The aim of RawMatCop is to illustrate the usefulness of Copernicus data through three 'Research & Application Areas’ relevant for the raw materials sector: (1) multi-scale and multi-source exploration, (2) spatiotemporal mapping of dust dispersion around mining sites, (3) monitoring of surface/subsurface deformation. Multispectral data proves to be an incredible tool for regional scale mapping of surface alterations associated to mineralization or mining activities. One clear advantage of Sentinel-2 data over other sensors is that it has a good coverage of the visible and near infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which makes it an ideal tool for mapping iron-oxides. The current activities of RawMatCop include mapping alterations and iron features associated to Volcanic Hosted Massive Sulfides (Iberian Pyrite Belt, Spain) as well as mapping the weathering of lateritic profiles and iron-oxide associated to active mining in New Caledonia. For this purpose, several workflows based on downscaling from satellite-based to in-situ observations are being tested. Furthermore, RawMatCorp is also contributing to the consistency assessment of popular atmospheric correction approaches used for Sentinel-2 processing (iCOR, Sen2Cor, MAJA) and the influence of the mining setting on their performance. Moreover, ground deformation is one of the most important hazards related to mining activities, and RawMatCorp is also addressing this topic through monitoring the Riotinto mine (SW Spain). This monitoring utilizes SAR and passive seismic techniques to develop a joint Early Warning System aiming to reduce risks on ground mechanical integrity.RAWMatCop - minEOdus

Copernicus data to boost raw material source management: Illustrations from the RawMatCop programme

Earth Observation (EO) data can become an essential tool in the transformation of a raw materials sector that aims to reconfigure its model of operation. The high demand for the mineral resources necessary for the transition to a carbon neutral and circular economy conflicts with the increasing difficulties of finding new deposits. As the sector heads towards embracing circularity and reducing the environmental impacts, a clear focus has been set on developing appropriate tools to boost the efficiency of mineral resource management, both technologically and economically. In this scenario, the Sentinel satellites of the European Copernicus program come into play. Despite being satellites considered medium resolution, they provide great temporal and spatial coverage in a continuous record, which makes them tools with great potential for the raw materials sector. However, the lack of applications in the raw materials sector suggests that these technological advances have remained underrated by sectoral actors. The RawMatCop program was designed to bridge this gap. This program, co-funded by the European Commission and EIT RawMaterials, aims to develop applications and promote the use of Copernicus data in the raw materials sector to contribute to a safe and sustainable supply of mineral resources. The presented applications can be grouped into three categories covering the whole mining cycle from exploration to exploitation and post-mining. Two of the presented case studies cover the study of primary sources including exploration of Iron Oxide Copper Gold mineralisations to identify high-potential mining areas and mapping of informal gold mining and its environmental impacts. Another project focused on secondary sources tackled data applications for grade mapping and sample optimisation in mining residues. And the forth project focused on monitoring ground stability related to mining activity. The results demonstrate the high cost-effectiveness of Sentinel 1 and 2 in extending ground-based measurements to larger areas, especially when these are hard-to-reach areas. Finally, the presented projects examine the industrial and social impacts of technological innovations, as well as contribute to the achievement of prominent European Union policy objectives and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.This paper includes four research projects related to the RawMatCop Programme (2018-2019), funded by the European Commission and EIT RawMaterials. Special thanks to Serge Monturet, the LifeLong learning manager for his support. The authors would like to thank Dr. Rima Dapous, Wesley Crock, Dr. Patrick Nadoll, Ms. Eliane Furuyama and Sven Kreigenfeld from EIT RawMaterials and supervisors: Professor Roberto Bruno and Professor Emanuele Mandanici from University of Bologna, Dr. Efthymios Balomenos from Mytilineous S.A, Professor Thorkild Maack Rasmussen from Lulea University of Technology, Professor Eric Pirard from University of Liege, Dr. Pierre Lacroix from the University of Geneva and UNEP/GRID-Geneva, Mr. David Jensen, Ms. Inga Peterson, Mr. Juan Bello, and Ms. Luisa Lema from UNEP, Mr. Rafael Sanchez the secretary of mines at El Bagre, Ms. Janneth Zoraida Duque Quintero and Ms. Ana Castana from Corantioquia, Professor Jose Fern ' andez and Mr. Joaquin Escayo from IGEO-CSIC, Professor Ramon Carbonell and Dr. Martin Schimmel, for their important feedback and suggestions; and the Atalaya Mining company for their support. Finally we would like to thank Dr.Francesco Tinti for the encouragement behind the paper creation.Peer reviewe

Standards for public libraries in Wales A consultation paper

>Text in English/Welsh on inverted pagesAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:m01/16731 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo