announcement also at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/carib/files/

18TH CARIBEEAN GEOLOGICAL CONFERENCE

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 25^th-28^th, 2008

18ava.  Conferencia Geológica del Caribe, Sto. Domingo, Rep. Dom. 2008

18me. Conference Geologique des Caraibes, Saint Domingue, Rep. Dominicaine 2008

First Circular

March 2007

The 18^th Caribbean Geological Conference will be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in March 24^th-29^th, 2008 under the auspices of the Dirección General de Minería, Sociedad Dominicana de Geología and Cámara Minera Petrolera de la Rep. Dominicana.

The Conference is dedicated to the exchange of information on Geology and Tectonics of the Caribbean Region and their impacts on natural resources, natural hazards, and environmental problems. Any legitimate topic in Caribbean Geosciences is welcomed, but we anticipate that conference sessions will be organized around the general themes listed below. The final list of sessions will based on the submitted abstracts.

• Environmental  Geology and Medical Geology
• Economy Geology
• Structural Geology
• Energy Resources Oil and Gas
• Petrology, Metamorphic and Igneous
• General Geology and Regional Geology of the Caribbean
• Geophysics, Geotechnics  and Engineering Geology
• Seismicity and Seismic Risk
• Paleontology and Sedimentology
• Volcanology
• Hydrogeology
• Mineral Resources
• Caribbean Tectonics and Tectonic Evolution
• Earth Sciences Education
• Landslides and Mass Movements
• Other specific topic or themes suggested

Conference Languages:

Official languages of the Conference are English, Spanish and French although we encourage applicants to have English titles on their slides.

Submission of abstracts:

Abstracts may be in any of the official languages of the Conference although English is preferred.  The first paragraph of the abstract is the title of the talk. The second paragraph should consist of  the authors and their affiliations and addresses. Underline the presenting author’s name and include their email in the presenting authors address.  The remaining paragraph(s) is the abstract itself which should be no more than 300 words. Abstracts should be sent electronically in Microsoft Word (.doc)  format or in Rich Text Format (.rtf) to caribgeolconf2008@....  Abstracts may be submitted from July 1^st, 2007 until Dec 31^th 2007.

Conference Site and Facilities:

The Conference will be held at a hotel to be selected in the central area of Santo Domingo, with ample facilities for hosting large conventions, such as overhead projection, slide projection, computer Powerpoint presentation, availables in each of the two conference rooms, full details will be given in the Second Circular to be released in July 2007.

Accomodation:

Accomodation information in the Conference hotel and other hotels and students accommodations in the area will be given in the Second Circular to be released in July 2007.

Travel:

Major USA, Canada, Spain and France carriers offer non stop service to Santo Domingo Las Americas International Airport from Miami, Fort Landerdale, New York, Toronto, Madrid, Paris.

Copa Airlines offer convennient connections through Panama City for travelers from central and South America.

Virgin Island could find convennient connections through San Juan, Puerto Rico, or Martinica (Air France).

Visas & Currency:

The Dominican Peso is the local currency and American or Canadian Dollars and Euros are accepted in exchange offices in airport and major hotels.

Persons traveling to the Dominican Republic should check with their travel agency about visa requirements.

Field Trips:

The following pre and post conference field trips are planned.  Dates may be subject to minor changes.  Costs will be given in the second circular.

Pre conference:

Sunday 23^th  and Monday 24^th: Two days field trip to the San Juan and Enriquillo Basins and also Sierra de Neiba.

Monday 24^th:     One day field trip to the mining areas of Falconbridge (Xstrata Nickel), Cerro Maimón and Pueblo Viejo deposit.

Monday 24^th:     One day field trip to the Cordillera Central areas of Monción and Jánico.

Post Conference:

Saturday 29^th, Sunday 30^th and Monday 31^th Three days field trip to the Eastern part of the Cordillera Central.

Saturday 29^th:   Two days (29^th and 30^th march) field trip to Cordillera Septentrional and Samana (North Coast Belt).

Saturday 29^th:   One day excursion to Boca Chica Beach, Maravillas Caves and Altos de Chavon tourist areas.

Accompanying Persons Program:

Cultural and tourist activities will be arranged for spouses and/or other accompanying persons.

Second Circular:

If you are interested in receiving a Second Circular, please send an email to caribgeolconf2008@... or send mail or fax to the address below indicating theme of interest and if you are considering attending the 18^th Caribbean Geological Conference in March 2008. Please also indicate in which field trips you will be interested in participating.

Correspondence:

All communication should be addressed to: Juan Gil Argelés General Coordinator

18th Caribbean Geological Conference

P.O. Box 587

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Tel. : 809-221-7866 Fax : 809-536-4826

E-mail: caribgeolconf2008@...

Web page: www.sodogeo.org

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

Geography
Area: 48,442 sq. km. (18,704 sq. mi.), about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.
Cities: Capital--Santo Domingo (pop. 2.4 million). Other city--Santiago de los Caballeros (500,000).
Terrain: Mountainous.
Climate: Maritime tropical.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Dominican(s).
Population (2002) census: 8.562 million.
Annual growth rate: 2.6%.
Ethnic groups: European 16%, African origin 11%, mixed 73%.
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%.
Language: Spanish.
Health: Infant mortality rate--54/1,000. Life expectancy--65 years for men, 70 years for women.
Work force: Services and government--31% (includes parastatal corporations); agriculture--28%; industry--12%; unemployment--about 16%.

Government

President: Leonel Fernández
Type: Representative democracy.
Independence: February 27, 1844.
Constitution: November 28, 1966.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state and head of government, vice president, cabinet. Legislative--bicameral Congress (Senate and Chamber of Deputies). Judicial--Supreme Court of Justice.
Subdivisions: 31 provinces and the National District of Santo Domingo.
Political parties: Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), and several others.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory, over 18 or married.

ECONOMY

The Dominican Republic is a middle-income developing country primarily dependent on agriculture, trade, and services, especially tourism. Although the service sector has recently overtaken agriculture as the leading employer of Dominicans (due principally to growth in tourism, energy, telecommunications, and Free Trade Zones), agriculture remains the most important sector in terms of domestic consumption. Tourism accounts for nearly $1.5 billion in annual earnings. Free Trade Zone earnings and tourism are the fastest-growing export sectors. Remittances from Dominicans living in the United States are estimated to total more than $1.5 billion per year.

Economy (2005)
GDP: $ 67.410 billion.
Growth rate (2005): 9.3 %.
Nonfuel minerals (2% of GDP): Nickel, gold, silver.
Agriculture (12% of GDP): Products--sugar, coffee, cocoa, bananas, tobacco, rice, plantains, beef, flowers.

Exchange Rates   RD $ 32.60 for 1 US $

HISTORY
The island of Hispaniola, of which the Dominican Republic forms the eastern two-thirds and Haiti the remainder, was originally occupied by Tainos, an Arawak-speaking people. The Tainos welcomed Columbus in his first voyage in 1492, but subsequent colonizers were brutal, reducing the Taino population from about 1 million to about 500 in 50 years. To ensure adequate labor for plantations, the Spanish brought African slaves to the island beginning in 1503.

Correspondence:

All communication should be addressed to: Juan Gil Argelés General Coordinator

18th Caribbean Geological Conference

P.O. Box 587

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Tel. : 809-221-7866 Fax : 809-536-4826

E-mail: caribgeolconf2008@...

Web page: www.sodogeo.org