Utilización de técnicas mineralógicas y geoquímicas para la caracterización de cerámicas arqueológicas

Poster presentat a la Sessió 11 : "Estudios arqueométricos"La utilización de técnicas químicas y mineralógicas en Arqueología está mostrando grandes avances a la hora de conocer la procedencia de las arcillas utilizadas para su elaboración. En este trabajo se pretende poner de manifiesto la importancia del uso de dichas técnicas, por lo que se ha manejado como muestra varios fragmentos cerámicos recogidos en prospección de un yacimiento Vettón de la provincia de Salamanca.The use of chemical and mineralogical techniques in Archaeology is showing great progress in order to know the origin of the clays used in its manufacture. This paper is intended to highlight the importance of using these techniques. For this reason, several ceramic from Vettón's site in Salamanca province have been studied

Gamification tools for learning earth sciences

El porcentaje de abandono escolar en España es superior al de otros países de la Unión Europea, lo que hace necesario fomentar el rendimiento del alumnado y su motivación. En este contexto, la gamificación tiene un futuro prometedor ya que promueven la participación del alumnado y su deseo por aprender. Se han desarrollado tres actividades de gamificación (trivial, Kahoot y Socrative) para el estudio de ciencias de la tierra. Se ha observado que los alumnos prefieren las actividades de gamificación con soporte informático ya que crean un ambiente divertido que fomenta la participación y motivación. Sin embargo, también generan un aumento en la competitividad y los resultados obtenidos no son tan altos como los esperados inicialmente.The percentage of school dropouts in Spain is higher than in other countries of the European Union, which makes it necessary to encourage student school marks and motivation. In this context, gamification has a promising future since it promotes the participation of students and their desire to learn. Three gamification activities (trivial, Kahoot! and Socrative) have been developed for the study of Earth Sciences. It has been observed that students prefer gamification activities with computer support since these activities create a fun environment that encourages participation and motivation. However, they also generate an increase in competitiveness and the results obtained are not as high as initially were expected

Análisis de la difusión de lixiviados de residuos urbanos en arcillas compactas

Tesis doctoral inédita. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Geología y Geoquímica. Fecha de lectura: 01-07-201

Flipped Classroom como herramienta para fomentar el trabajo colaborativo y la motivación en el aprendizaje de geología

Vivimos en una sociedad global y multicultural, lo que hace necesario que el profesorado se adapte a esta nueva realidad y asuma cambios profundos en sus prácticas educativas. En este contexto, las TIC pueden ayudar a los educadores a construir este tipo de sociedad y en concreto las flipped classroom presentan un futuro prometedor. Se ha desarrollado una actividad de flipped classroom en un módulo de Formación Profesional con el fin de facilitar el aprendizaje de la materia de geología. En este estudio se ha observado que esta metodología ha fomentado una actitud activa de los alumnos en el aula, un trabajo colaborativo y la motivación del alumnado lo que permite el desarrollo de competencias clave como trabajo en equipo y gestión de proyectos. Además de aumentar su rendimiento académico

Archaeometric study of Roman tesserae from Salamanca (Spain). Archaeology and geochemical analysis

In this study an analysis was made of 37 samples of tesserae of different shades and colours from Roman archaeological sites in the province of Salamanca (Spain), where pavements of opus tessellatum have been located. The tesserae were characterized by Mass Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Spectrometry, in order to determine their origin, composition and technique of manufacture. Results could reveal to us the local production of certain tesserae and the existence of a commercial network through the Via de la Plata and its main roads in the Iberian Peninsula

Geo-chemical Analysis of Opus tesselatum from Ávila, Spain

Se han estudiado diversas muestras de Opus tesselatum procedentes de excavaciones arqueológicas de urgencia en Ávila (España) para determinar su origen y las tecnologías de producción utilizadas en su fabricación. Las teselas se han caracterizado por Espectrometría de Masas con fuente de Plasma de Acoplamiento Inductivo (ICP-MS), Difracción de Rayos X (XRD) y Espectrofotometría. Las muestras se corresponden con diferentes materiales con orígenes dispares (vidrios y rocas de varias áreas de aprovisionamiento). El color rojo en algunas teselas se debe principalmente a la presencia de cinabrio en su composición, lo que indica un movimiento comercial de materiales desde otras zonas de España ya que este mineral no está presente en las rocas de la provincia de ÁvilaSeveral Opus tesselatum samples from an emergency archaeological excavation in Ávila (Spain) have been studied in order to gather their origin and the production technologies used in their manufacture. Inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and spectrophotometry were used to characterize the samples. The samples were made with different materials of different origin (glasses and rocks from different Spain areas). Red color in some Opus tesselatum samples is mainly due to cinnabar presence in their composition. It could be indicative of commercial movements between different Spanish sites, since this mineral is not present in rocks from Ávil

Evolution of metakaolin thermal and chemical activation from natural kaolin

In the present paper, we study the combined effect of thermal activation (600 °C/2 h and 750 °C/2 h) and chemical activation with 1% ZnO on the reactivity of metakaolinite (MK) obtained from natural kaolin. The phases are identified by chemical (ICP/MS), mineralogical (XRD), and morphological (SEM/EDX) characterization of all products, as well as the evolution and stability over time of the hydrated phases generated during the reaction, to determine their use as pozzolan in the manufacture of cements. The stability analysis for the kaolin/lime system activated chemically and thermally at 600 °C/2 h shows that the C-S-H gels are thermodynamically stable after one day of reaction, evolving the system to the stability field of stratlingite for the other analyzed times. At 750 °C/2 h, the thermodynamically stable reaction phases are C-S-H gels. Calcination at 600 °C/2 h and the addition of 1% ZnO are the optimal conditions for thermal and chemical activation, to improve the pozzolanic reaction and promote the replacing part of the cement for developing secondary reaction products

Recognizing the importance of an urban soil in an open-air city museum: An opportunity in the city of Madrid, Spain

This article examines the presence of urban soil buried under anthropogenic debris in an air-museum park in the Madrid city center (Spain), and highlights the particularities of this singular urbanized setting to indicate ecological evaluation options for soils. The study of a soil profile (with a thickness of about 2.30 m), classified as Urbic Technosols, allowed us to devise that it is formed by a series of filled-in amounts of artifacts (construction debris and other anthropogenic waste) of about 10–30%, plus organic and mineral materials. These soils’ composition and morphology depend on the natural conditions of the territory and also on anthropogenic activities. The soil properties (analyzed by conventional techniques) are moderate in acidity reaction and have relatively higher organic matter content. The Pb, Cu and Zn concentrations in anthropogenic horizons do not exceed the approximate permissible concentrations by 1.5–10-fold. Over the course of time, the soil profile has been transformed as a result of the impact of pedogenetic processes developing under the Mediterranean climate and man’s hand. Although urban environments present a certain complexity, at least the role of soil should be recognized regarding flood mitigation, recycling of wastes and toxins, filtering of nutrients or carbon storage and GHG regulation. The analysis of our results concludes the need to better perceive this soil profile and its green space to improve the urban ecosystem and to ensure better citizen well-bein

Ailanthus Altissima (Mill.) swingle, bioacumulated specie of contaminated soils

Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle) is one of the most widespread invasive alien species on a global scale. Its current distribution is clearly linked to anthropized environments, where concentrations of heavy metals or trace elements in their soils can reach levels of toxicity to other plant organisms. The present research carried out in environments of the Community of Madrid (Spain) focuses on the relationship between the presence in soil components such as arsenic (As), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), boron (B), vanadium (V), cobalt (Co), etc., harmful to some plant organisms, and the existence of Ailanthus altissima. The results obtained identify that the species modifies the content of some minority elements, a fact that must be taken into account for future soil fertility studies. Secondly, ailanto is capable of absorbing toxic elements present in the soil environment, which shows its value as a phytoremediator of contaminated soil