History of research in mineral resources : [35th Conference of the International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences, Madrid y Almadén(España), 1-14 julio 2010]

The study of the research history of geological resources is one of the main objectives of the International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO), which was created in 1967 within the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and was also affiliated with the International Union on the History and Philosophy of Sciences (IUHPS). INHIGEO has many members from about 50 countries and promotes a major annual symposium with associated field activities. This book was born of a joint effort of the INHIGEO Spanish delegation and the Sociedad Española para la Defensa del Patrimonio Geológico y Minero (Spanish Society for the Protection of Geological and Mining Heritage-SEDPGYM), which collaborated w i t h the Geological Survey of Spain in the organization of the 35th International Conference of INHIGEO. The Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (Geological Survey of Spain-IGME) was established in 1849 with the aim of conducting the geological map of Spain and the geological study of all the provinces in order to exploit their mineral resources. Integrated in the Ministry of Science and Innovation, with its modern features as Geological Survey of Spain, IGME is the interlocutor of the IUGS, w i t h which collaborates on many of its programs and commissions, such as the IGCP, ProGEO, Global Geosites, etc. Also, IGME sponsors activities related to teaching and spreading of the geology around the country and contributes t o initiatives and meetings of scientific societies. Mining tradition of Spain starts in the Paleolithic and was particularly intense from the Roman times. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Spain was a global mining output, which was reaffirmed by its vast overseas territories and intense mineral trade w i t h the rest of Europe. Even today our country has an important mining activity and leading the production of various minerals and ornamental stones in Europe. The interest in the conservation of the mining and industrial heritage from inactive mining regions, has resulted in numerous initiatives for protection and restoration of old underground and surface workings in different regions, with the creation of mining parks, museums, archaeological sites, and the enhancement of heritage-related issues in cultural heritage related to mining. The book contains 43 contributions that were given as oral presentations or posters in the Conference program, from 76 authors and coauthors from 16 countries. In collaboration with SEDPGYM and INHIGEO, the Geological Survey of Spain is pleased to contribute to the publication of this selection of key papers presented at the 3 5 t h INHIGEO Conference held in Spain.