The 7th GLOBAL STONE CONGRESS, organized by “CLUSTER PORTUGAL MINERAL RESOURCES,” “UNIVERSIDADE DE ÉVORA,” and “ASSIMAGRA RECURSOS MINERAIS DE PORTUGAL,” took place in Batalha, Portugal, from June 18 to 23, 2023. It was an important international technical and scientific conference focusing on the field of natural stones.
Speakers delivered lectures on topics such as the exploration and extraction of natural stones, the use of natural stone in architecture, circular economy, innovation and sustainability, the effects of climate change on geomaterials, environmental management, occupational health and safety, and other issues related to the stone industry. The conference also included technical visits to quarry sites in Portugal, companies manufacturing mining technology equipment, guided tours of major stone-built structures, and a visit to the Natural Monument Pegadas de Dinossáurios da Serra de Aire, known for its dinosaur footprints.
EAGME, and in particular the “LITHOS” Laboratory, participated through Dr. Konstantinos Laskaridis (Director of the Directorate of Mineral Resources and Mining) and Dr. Angeliki Arapakou, presenting the paper titled “Promotion of ornamental stones quarried in the North and South Aegean regions of Greece used in local architecture.” The presentation was based on the EAGME publication “Building Stones of the Aegean,” prepared by the scientific and technical staff of the “LITHOS” Laboratory in collaboration with other EAGME laboratories, within the framework of the “OPYGEK” Project, funded by the Operational Programme “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation” of the NSRF 2014–2020 (2023).
It was proposed that the next 8th GLOBAL STONE CONGRESS be held in Greece in 2025, in collaboration with the Association of Marble Enterprises of Macedonia–Thrace (S.E.M.M.TH.).