Biography

Current position: Full Professor at the Department of Petrology and Geochemistry of the University Complutense of Madrid since 23 April 2001. 
Address: Room 17-5, Dept. Petrology & Geochemistry, 7th floor, Faculty of Geological Sciences, Universidad Complutense, c/ José Antonio Novais, 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain Tel.: +34 91 394 4902; Fax: +34 91 544 2535 
e-mail:jpcalvo (at) geo.ucm.es 

Specialty in petrology and geochemistry of continental carbonate and evaporite deposits. Ph.D. thesis work (1978) on the Miocene marine carbonate deposits from the External Zone of the Betic Ranges, SE Spain. Further research until now was devoted to fossil lake systems of the Madrid, Prebetic, Calatayud and Teruel basins, supplemented by studies in Neogene continental basins from the hinterland and several islands in Greece. Some of this research was focused on diatomite deposits and other sedimentary materials of economic interest, e.g., special clays, sulfate, magnesite, dolomite,..). Scientific international collaboration dealt mainly with research groups from US Geological Survey, Universitá di Palermo, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle – Paris, National University of Athens, and ETH – Zurich. Leadership and participation in both Spanish and international research projects (e.g. IUGS – IGCP projects on fossil and recent lake systems – since 1986 to 1998). Member of the UCM Research Group GI-BSCH- UCM910607, sponsored by the Regional Government of Madrid.

President of the Geological Society of Spain (SGE) from 2001 to 2004; formerly Secretary and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the SGE. Director General of the Spanish Geological Survey (IGME) from 2004 to 2010. President of the Association of European Geological Surveys in 2008. After that period of stressing and vanities, he recovered teaching and research activities at the University of Madrid. Most pleasant recent readings are those from Paul Auster’s and Petros Márkaris’ novels as well as from Tony Judt’s political essays. Musical attraction keeps on rock songs by AC DC and enjoying some themes by Rod Stewart and Michael Franks (in particular, a couple of songs as duets with fantastic female voices). Interest remains in most of the old and recent movies by Clint Eastwood. At the Spanish realm, movies by Francisco Albadalejo and González-Iñárritu are quite enjoyable.

Research interests 

Petrology and geochemistry of continental carbonate and evaporite rocks; sedimentology of continental formations and basin analysis; sedimentary mineral deposits; industrial rocks.

 

Teaching 

   -Principles of Geology I – First year of Degree in Geology
   -Industrial Minerals and Rocks – Fourth year of Degree in Geology
   -Industrial Rocks – Fifth year of Studies in Geological Sciences/Master of Geological Resources and Environmental Geology
   -Sedimentary Mineral Deposits – Fifth year of Studies in Geological Sciences
   -Exploitation and Restauration of Mining Operations – Fifth year of Studies in Engineering Geology