In this ITN we investigate the mechanism of mineral re-equilibration (phase transformation) in the presence of a fluid phase in a wide range of minerals and rocks, under a range of chemical and physical conditions, using both natural and experimental samples. Interface-coupled dissolution-re-precipitation is a recently defined mechanism which applies to a wide range of mineral transformation phenomena. We apply these principles to individual projects to better understand the mechanisms of processes important in earth sciences and in industry, including metasomatic reactions in rocks, chemical weathering, mineral replacement mechanisms in CO2 sequestration, the aqueous durability of nuclear waste materials, remediation of contaminated water by mineral reaction, and the preservation of stone-based cultural heritage. The research methods bring together a range of complementary expertise, from field-related studies to nano-scale investigations of reaction interfaces using state-of-the-art high-resolution analytical methods. The application of fundamental principles of mineral re-equilibration to a wide range of applications, together with industrial involvement at all levels will ensure that the project provides a strong platform for training.

Research objectives 1) Application of the mineral replacement concept to preservation of cultural heritage I : The origin of enhanced weathering through salt crystallisation. 2) Application of the mineral replacement concept to preservation of cultural heritage II: the mechanism of replacement of calcite Training objectives Recruitment and training of two ESR

1st year Establishment of DELTA-MIN Website DELTA-MIN publicity initiated on major talk-lists First Network Newsletter Recruitment started 2nd year Network newsletter at 12 months Website update Summer training school combined with 2nd Network Workshop Network newsletter at 24 months Website update Second summer school Mid-term report sent to EU Presentation of first results at international conferences 3dr year Network newsletter at 36 months Website update 3rd and 4th Summer School Presentation of results at international conferences 4th year Final Report sent to EU DELTA-MIN symposium at EGU Vienna Special journal issue on Mineral Replacement 12 ESR and 2 ER Marie Curie Fellows trained

1. Improving career prospects The major benefit of the DELTA-MIN ITN is to offer the best learning environment for all participants. Our philosophy is to provide a balance of theoretical, pragmatic, practical and reflective learning environments to ensure that all Fellows achieve their full potential. The transfer of knowledge and know-how across borders of laboratories and countries and the additional aid by the workshops and summer schools will overcome fragmentation and foster collaboration. DELTA-MIN training will place great emphasis on the development of communication skills, how to give oral presentations and to write scientific papers. A central aim of DELTA-MIN is to produce a scientifically mature and confident group of students who will be well prepared for the next stage in their careers. 2. Developing long-term collaborations One of the main motivations for the creation of this ITN is to formalize collaboration among the DELTA-MIN hosts leading to the first formal research and training platform able to study mineral replacement processes from the atomic to the macroscopic scale and to apply this understanding to a diverse range of problems. Future collaboration will be motivated by the unique capabilities of this platform and strengthened by the co-direction of PhD students, exchanges of DELTA-MIN fellows and technical staff, jointly authored research publications, and jointly developed summer schools/training courses, which can be continued on a European-wide basis after completion of the DELTA-MIN ITN project. DELTA-MIN will not only benefit the participants directly involved. We will promote a sense of European community by hiring ERs and ESRs from institutions not represented in the Network, especially trying to recruit from the new European Community countries, and to encourage them to work in other European institutions at the end of their tenure. By opening the Summer Schools to external research students, we will also broaden the impact of DELTA-MIN as well as create opportunities for future collaborations among a wider sphere of researchers. 3. Overcoming fragmentation in European research The DELTA-MIN project has been specifically designed to help to overcome fragmentation by defining a central scientific theme, which has recently emerged as widely applicable concept, and then choosing a multisectoral, interdisciplinary and geographically distributed group of participants with a common goal. 4. Improved pan-European Research Training Graduate training within Europe is still fragmented due to differing degree requirements and inconsistent international recognition of degrees. DELTA-MIN will attempt to address this fragmentation by establishing a single set of requirements for attaining a PhD within the ITN (thus equilibrating the graduate program) and by having all degrees awarded to ITN-fellows either officially co-directed or ‘European’ degrees, depending on regulations in place at each host University. The criteria for a "European Ph.D." match the training and research plans of the DELTA-MIN Network, with students co-supervised by one scientist from the Host Institution and one from another DELTA-MIN partner, and conform to the mobility requirements. 5. Benefits of DELTA-MIN to the objectives of the European Research Area The main objectives of the activity are to generate a diverse, mobile, skilled workforce. DELTA-MIN will train young scientists for the challenges of future careers, particularly providing interdisciplinary skills enabling greater flexibility in future employment. The overall training package provided will ensure that the Fellows have the flexible skills and motivation to continue research careers across Europe, in both public and private sectors. 6. Training events and external participants The project will benefit external doctoral students in the following ways by opening the 4 summer schools organized in DELTA-MIN: -Increasing the impact and visibility of DELTA-MIN by involving doctoral students and their Supervisors from other Institutions -Creating more opportunities for future collaborations and networking -Spreading the concept and applications of DELTA-MIN to a wider community -Giving more students from new European Countries an opportunity to be involved.

Mineralogía y Geoquímica de los ambientes Sedimentario y Metamórfico

Code PAIDI: RNM 179

Carlos Rodríguez Navarro. Socio. 

Universidad de Granada

Budget of Andalusian group: € 374,846.00

http://www.ugr.es/~monument/

• Universidad de Muesnter (Alemania)
• Universidad de Granada
• CNRS/Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse (Francia)
• Natural Science Museum (Londres, UK)
• Universidad de Patras (Grecia)
• Universidad de Oslo (Noruega)
• AMPHOS (Barcelona)
• University of Iceland, Reykjavik (Islandia)
• Stockholm University, Sweden
• GEM Consulting, Norway