Geological Survey of Spain (Instituto Geológico y Minero de España)

Geological Survey of Spain (Instituto Geológico y Minero de España)
Name	Geological Survey of Spain (Instituto Geológico y Minero de España)
Native name	Instituto Geológico y Minero de España
Formed	1849
Jurisdiction	Kingdom of Spain
Headquarters	Madrid

Geological Survey of Spain (Instituto Geológico y Minero de España) is the Spanish national agency responsible for geological, geophysical, mineralogical, hydrogeological, and geochemical mapping and research, operating within the framework of the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain), the Spanish National Research Council, and Spanish national legislation such as the Law of Natural Resources and the Mining Act of Spain (1973), while interacting with regional authorities like the Junta de Andalucía and international bodies including the European Commission, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the International Union of Geological Sciences.

History

The institute traces origins to the 19th century under the auspices of the Isabel II of Spain era and administrative reforms involving the Consejo de Ministros (Spain), evolving through connections with the Spanish Academy of Sciences, the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain), and the Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro, and later restructuring during the periods of the Second Spanish Republic, the Francoist Spain administration, and the restoration under the Constitution of 1978 (Spain), with notable historical figures such as Faustino Pérez-Moreno and collaborations with institutions like the Museum of Natural Sciences of Madrid and the Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid.

Organization and Governance

The institute functions under the purview of ministries including the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain) and interfaces with the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, adhering to frameworks set by the European Parliament directives and coordinating with agencies such as the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET), the National Geographic Institute (Spain), and the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), while governance is overseen by a board comprising representatives from the Autonomous Communities of Spain, academic institutions like the University of Barcelona, the Complutense University of Madrid, and research bodies such as the Basque Country University and the Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera.

Functions and Activities

Core activities include creation of geological maps in cooperation with entities like the European Geological Surveys network, assessment of mineral resources with stakeholders such as Repsol and Iberdrola, hydrogeological studies relevant to the Segura River basin and the Tagus-Segura Water Transfer, seismic hazard assessment in concert with the National Seismic Network (Spain) and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain), landslide inventories referencing work in the Picos de Europa and the Sierra Nevada (Spain), and geochemical baseline studies linked to sites such as the Rio Tinto (river) and the Iberian Pyrite Belt, while supporting policymaking for the European Green Deal and national strategies like the Spanish Strategy for Geology.

Research and Publications

Research outputs encompass stratigraphic studies of formations like the Duero Basin and the Ebro Basin, palaeontological findings associated with the Atapuerca Sites, tectonic analyses of the Betic Cordillera and the Pyrenees, and mineralogical investigations into deposits such as the Almadén mercury mine and the Nerva mining district, with publications appearing in collaboration with journals and organizations including the Spanish Journal of Geology, the Geological Society of London, the European Geosciences Union, and academic publishers affiliated with the University of Salamanca and the University of Granada.

National Geoscience Infrastructure and Databases

The institute maintains national datasets and infrastructures such as geological maps covering the Iberian Peninsula, geochemical atlases for regions like Catalonia, hydrogeological databases for the Guadalquivir Basin, mineral resource inventories including entries for the Rio Tinto and Córdoba (Spain), geophysical datasets tied to the Alboran Sea and the Gulf of Cádiz, and a national borehole registry compatible with European initiatives like INSPIRE (directive), interoperating with systems from the National Geographic Institute (Spain) and the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET).

International Collaboration and Projects

The institute participates in multinational consortia and projects with partners such as the European Commission, the World Bank, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, contributing to programs like the Horizon 2020, the Copernicus Programme, cross-border initiatives with the French Geological Survey (BRGM), the Portuguese Geological Survey (LNEG), and the British Geological Survey, and bilateral research with universities including the University of Lisbon, the Sorbonne University, and the ETH Zurich.

Outreach, Education, and Public Services

Public engagement includes exhibitions at institutions like the National Museum of Natural Sciences (Madrid), educational programs for schools coordinated with the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (Spain), citizen-science projects addressing hazards in the Cantabrian Mountains and the Balearic Islands, technical assistance to regional authorities such as the Diputación de Barcelona and the Gobierno de Aragón, and provision of services used by industries including Naturgy, Acciona, and heritage agencies like the Spanish Historical Heritage Institute.

Category:Scientific organisations based in Spain Category:Geology of Spain Category:Government agencies of Spain