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Analysis of institutional authors

Cuevas JAuthorRuiz AAuthorFernández RAuthorGonzález-Santamaría DAuthorAngulo MAuthorOrtega AAuthor
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Authigenic clay minerals from interface reactions of concrete-clay engineered barriers: A new perspective on MG-clays formation in alkaline environments

Publicated to:Minerals. 8 (9): - 2018-09-01 8(9), DOI: 10.3390/min8090362

Authors: Cuevas J., Ruiz A., Fernández R., González-Santamaría D., Angulo M., Ortega A., Torres E., Turrero M.

Affiliations

Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas - Author
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Author

Abstract

© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Artificial and singular geochemical environments are created around the engineered barrier systems (EBS) designed to isolate high level nuclear wastes in deep geological repositories. A concrete-bentonite interface takes place within the EBS and it builds a significant chemical gradient (pH), approximately from pH 8 (bentonite) to pH 12 (low alkali concrete), in a few millimetre thickness. This disequilibrium triggers dissolution and precipitation reactions and form a thin altered region. In this area, poorly ordered authigenic clay minerals, mainly hydrated magnesium silicates, are formed adjacent to hydrated calcium silicates and calcite precipitates adhered to the interface with concrete. This paper presents the development of this authigenic mineral layer comparing 6–18 months to 13 years interfaces. Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) morphological and chemical characterization with the aid of ternary plots, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared (IR) data show the young to old interface evolution from single brucite layers to stevensite-saponite silicates composition. Geochemical calculations indicate that this layer acts as a pH~11 buffer useful to minimize bentonite alteration and to favour the retention of amphoteric metal ions.

Keywords
Concrete-bentonite interactionDeep geological repositoryEngineered barrier systemMg-claysNuclear waste

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Minerals due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2018, it was in position 6/19, thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Mining & Mineral Processing. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q2 para la agencia Scopus (SJR) en la categoría Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 2.87, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions May 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-05-12, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 13
  • Scopus: 15
Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-05-12:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 26.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 26 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 5.08.

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (CUEVAS RODRIGUEZ, JUAN CARLOS) .