The Marine Geological Reference Collections (CGMR) at the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) represent a unique scientific asset within the CSIC network. The CGMR originate from seafloor samples collected in various seas and oceans (Mediterranean, Atlantic, Pacific, and Antarctica), obtained as part of national and international research projects focused on the exploration and exploitation of the seafloor from the 1980s to the present day.
The collections are divided into two main groups of samples and data:
A set of over 1,800 sediment cores from the seabed and sub-seafloor, along with associated data and documentation such as photographs, X-rays, sub-samples, SEM and binocular microscope images, textural records, and more.
A set of seismic records, including more than 200,000 km of seismic lines, primarily acquired by the Continental Margins Group, with varying resolutions and formats (analog—paper prints, cassette tapes—or digital—CDs, DATs, hard drives). These records, along with location maps and cartographic products, are stored in a comprehensive database.
Metadata for the CGMR can be accessed via the geoportal: http://gma.icm.csic.es/en/data. The service also includes dedicated instrumentation, mainly aimed at handling and analyzing sediment samples. A fully equipped laboratory is available with instruments for opening and sampling cores, a binocular microscope, sieves, and other complementary equipment.
The aim of this service is not only the preservation of sediment cores and seismic records, but also to provide the scientific community and society with a high-value scientific and socioeconomic resource. The CGMR are intended to support new research in fields such as global climate change, marine geological hazards, pollution monitoring and assessment, ecosystem mapping, resource exploration, and the development of marine engineering projects, among others.
The CGMR are part of DiSSCo, a pan-European Research Infrastructure included in the ESFRI Roadmap 2018, which brings together natural history scientific collections from across Europe. CSIC serves as the central node for the Spanish National Node (DiSSCo-ES).
This service offers several features that are included in CSIC’s catalogue of scientific and technical services:
https://apps.csic.es/grupos/pages/prestacionesServicio.html?idGrupo=823652
Contacts:
Director: Gemma Ercilla
Database and infrastructure: Ferran Estrada (lead), Carlos Martín (service operations technician)
Multisensor Core Logger: David Casas
Contact email: cgmr@icm.csic.es
- Laboratory to split lengthwise the sediment cores, sample and analysis
- Cold chamber rooms and workstation computer
LINK TO THE SEISMIC PROFILES AND SEA BOTTOM SAMPLES COLLECTION