Exergy evolution of the mineral capital on earth - circe

Acknowledgements
The work with this dissertation has been exciting, instructive, and fun, although
moments <strong>of</strong> hardship and frustration have also existed. Without help, support, and
encouragement from a great number persons, I would never have been able to
finish this PhD. In this long ride <strong>of</strong> almost 5 years, I have had <strong>the</strong> opportunity to
meet exceptional people around <strong>the</strong> world.
In <strong>the</strong> scientific field, many researchers have unselfishly supported me. I should
start to acknowledge <strong>the</strong> Russian geochemist N.A. Grigor’ev, that I discovered by
chance investigating <strong>the</strong> literature about <strong>the</strong> geochemistry <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earth. Through
a quite complicated communication procedure (via ordinary post and in Russian
language), Grigor’ev generously shared with me his not yet published results about
<strong>the</strong> <strong>mineral</strong>ogical composition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earth’s crust. Thanks to <strong>the</strong> translations <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Russian teacher in <strong>the</strong> University <strong>of</strong> Zaragoza Helena Moradell, Grigor’ev’s
exceptional and pioneer work has been <strong>the</strong> base <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> model <strong>of</strong> continental crust
developed in this PhD.
A deep debt <strong>of</strong> thanks is also owed to Gavin Mudd from <strong>the</strong> Institute for Sustainable
Water Resources in Monash University (Australia), who kindly made available and
prior to publication, his excellent and also pioneer study about average <strong>mineral</strong> ore
grades in his country. Thanks to Mudd’s work, a comprehensive case study <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
<strong>mineral</strong> exergy degradation <strong>of</strong> a nation was possible.
This <strong>the</strong>sis has required a high level <strong>of</strong> geological and geochemical knowledge.
Therefore, my chemical engineering background had to be reinforced with earth
science’s fundamentals. Of essential help was <strong>the</strong> continued support <strong>of</strong> Javier
Gómez, from <strong>the</strong> department <strong>of</strong> petrology in <strong>the</strong> University <strong>of</strong> Zaragoza. From
<strong>the</strong> very beginning, he became my un<strong>of</strong>ficial advisor in <strong>the</strong> geological field and his
point <strong>of</strong> view has been very valued for this work. I should also thank <strong>the</strong> “Instituto
Geológico y Minero de España - IGME”, and in particular Miguel Ángel Zapatero,
for making available IGME’s information and <strong>mineral</strong> statistics.
Decisive for <strong>the</strong> accomplishment <strong>of</strong> this PhD, was my 3-month stay at <strong>the</strong> British
Geological Survey (BGS), one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most renowned geological institutions in
Europe. Not only <strong>the</strong> exceptional library and data bases <strong>of</strong> BGS were crucial for this
work, but also <strong>the</strong> good advice <strong>of</strong> many <strong>of</strong> its premium researchers. I would like to
express my deepest gratitude to <strong>the</strong> BGS’s director, John Ludden, who immediately
accepted me in <strong>the</strong> organization and gave me access with no exception to all BGS
available information. Thanks go also to Andrew Bloodworth, head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mineral’s
UK department and to all his team, for <strong>the</strong>ir warm welcome and for treating me as
one more <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> group. I cannot forget Tim Colman, who was always willing to help
me and from which I learnt so many things. I have met at BGS many good friends
that surely will remain in <strong>the</strong> future.
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