Preface — A special issue (Part-I): Mafic-ultramafic rocks and alkaline-carbonatitic magmatism and associated hydrothermal mineralization — Dedication to Piero Comin-Chiaramonti

Abstract

Awarded with the degrees of a B.Sc. in Human Sciences (1961) and a Ph.D. in Petrology (1967) by the University of Trieste in Italy, Piero Comin-Chiaramonti (Figure 1) eventually spent most of his academic career in this institution, holding the positions of Assistant Professor (1967-1983) and Associated Professor (1983-1986). He was inducted as a full Professor in the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Palermo in 1986, where he remained until assigned to the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Trieste in 1993. There he initially worked as a Professor of Petrology (Faculty of Sciences) and later as a Professor of Environmental Geology and Environmental Geochemistry (Faculty of Enginnering). It was through the efforts and innovations of Professor Comin-Chiaramonti, both in the teaching process and in the development of research facilities, that the Engineering Department of the University of Trieste has ∗E-mail: lgwalani@gmail.com, http://lggwalani.jimdo.com/ †E-mail: cgomes@usp.br today attained world-wide recognition. In 2009, he was granted the award of "Eminent Scientist" by the Faculty of Engineering, and retired from active service in the following year. He is now devoting part of his time to research activites. With his remarkable skill, greater efficiency, resolute determination and untiring efforts, Professor CominChiaramonti nursed and actively participated as a member and critical reviewer of several international scientific journals and as a consultant reviewer of some organizations such as COFIN (Co-Financial support from the Italian Ministry for University and Scientific Research), CNR (National Research Council, Italy), MIUR (Ministry of University and Research) and the Georgian National Science Foundation. We take this opportunity to assure him that we shall keep his example always before us "duty before self" and shall do everything possible to keep up the progress he has initiated. Professor Comin-Chiaramonti has always been a strong proponent of international collaboration in research and the transfer of knowledge and skills in geosciences. He