43 – A descoberta do jazigo de Neves – Corvo, na Região de Castro Verde – Almodôvar. 7.ª parte

O motivo pelo qual não foram publicados os meus comentários ao artigo de Delfim de Carvalho, sobre a descoberta de Neves – Corvo, inserido em "Economic Geology Monograph 8 – Historical Perspectives of Genetic Concepts and Case Histories of Famous Discoveries” está exposto nas cartas que, a seguir transcrevo:

1 – Carta subscrita por Brian J. Skinner, Editor of “Economic Geology”, com data de 25-2-1002, que recebi em 2-3-1992:

I am sorry to have to disappoint you, but we do not publish discussions of material in monographs. We view monographs as books and as separate and different from Economic Geology. We do, of course publish the discussions of articles in the journal, but only of journal articles.

The monograph to which you refer contains papers presented at a special symposium organized by the Geological Society of America. Responsibility for gathering those papers, and for review, was in the hands of the two convenors designated by the Society, Please understand that Economic Geology is printed and owned by the Economic Geology Publishing Co., not by the Society of Economic Geologists. We do, of course, cooperate closely on many ventures, but in a case like this we do not try and influence the Society’s choice of speakers or paper content. I have therefore sent your discussion to Professor Richard Hutchinson, who was an organizer of the symposium and editor of the monograph.

Sincerely
(a) Brian J. Skinner
Editor


2 – Carta em papel timbrado da Colorado School of Mines, subscrita por H. W. Hutchinson e R. I. Grauch, com data de 5-3-1992, que recebi em 18-3-1992:

Dr. Brian J. Skinner, editor of Economic Geology, has forwarded to us, a copy of your letter of January 31, 1992, together with your critical review of the paper by Delfim de Carvalho that was published in monograph 8 of Economic Geology. As organizers of the symposium held here in Denver in the fall of 1988, at which Dr. de Carvalho presented his paper, and as co-editors of Monograph 8, we understand your sharp differences of opinion with Dr. d Carvalho over detailed aspects of the Neves – Corvo discovery. It has been our experience with one other of the papers presented at that symposium, that such differences of opinion arises, perhaps inevitably, over major mineral discoveries, because of their great scientific and commercial importance.

We also have seen a copy of the letter that Dr. Skinner wrote to you in which he explained that it was not his editorial policy to publish criticisms of papers published in the Monograph Series. These monographs are initiated and edited by the Society of Economic Geologists working in conjunction with Dr. Skinner. Unfortunately and regrettably, the Society has no other publications in which your criticism might be published.

We note also, that your very similar criticism of a second case history paper of the Neves - Corvo discovery by Xavier Leca has already been published by IMM. Your criticism of Dr. de Carvalho’s paper makes essentially the same points as does your criticism of the Leca paper. In this regard, your comments and criticisms have already been aired publicly and published in a journal accessible to all interested readers.

We appreciate your interest through prior experience in this matter. We hope that you will understand the difficult situation which arises because the Society of Economic Geologists has no suitable publication in which your comments might be published. Nevertheless, your views are clearly and strongly stated in your IMM discussion of the Leca paper and interested readers will be aware of them through that journal.

Thank you for your interest and comments

Sincerely yours,

(a) R. H. Hutchinson (a) R. I. Grauch.