Millarca_1.jpg_thumb90

Edith Millarca Valenzuela Picón

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DEL NORTE

ANTOFAGASTA, Chile

Líneas de Investigación


1. Flux of extraterrestrial matter to Earth 2. Chondrite meteorites/ micrometeorites/ classification 3. Impact structures and related materials 4. Fireballs detections 5. Desert surfaces

Educación

  •  GEOLOGIST, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE. Chile, 2003
  •  DOCTORA EN CIENCIAS, MENCION GEOLOGÍA, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE. Chile, 2011

Experiencia Académica

  •   Assistant Professor Full Time

    UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DEL NORTE

    Antofagasta, Chile

    2019 - At present

  •   Teaching assistent Part Time

    UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

    Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas

    Santiago, Chile

    2001 - 2006

  •   Associated Instructor Professor Other

    PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE

    Santiago, Chile

    2014 - 2015

  •   HEAD OF GEOLOGY CAREER Full Time

    UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DEL NORTE

    INGENIERIA Y CIENCIAS GEOLOGICAS

    ANTOFAGASTA, Chile

    2021 - At present

Experiencia Profesional

  •   CHIEF GEOHERITAGE UNIT Full Time

    SERVICIO NACIONAL DE GEOLOGIA Y MINERIA

    SANTIAGO, Chile

    2017 - 2018

  •   GEOLOGIST, DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL GEOLOGY Full Time

    SERVICIO NACIONAL DE GEOLOGIA Y MINERIA

    SANTIAGO, Chile

    2011 - 2013

  •   GEOLOGIST Full Time

    INVESTIGACIONES MINERAS Y GEOLOGICAS LTDA.

    MINERA ESCONDIDA, Chile

    2010 - 2010

Formación de Capital Humano


Co-guide PhD students, starting 2019
-Laura Flores UDEC HED meteorites and their relationship with Vesta
-Gabriel Pinto UDA Primitive meteorites

Professional dissertations for Geologist

2019-2020
* Paula Gonzalez, Dp. Geología U. Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Memoria de título “Estudio micrometeoritos sector Calama, Region de Antofagasta, Chile” (Prof. guía: Millarca Valenzuela, co-guía Verónica Oliveros)
* Serena Alvarez, Dp. Geología U. Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Memoria de título “Estudio petrológico y mineralógico con QEMSCAN de los meteoritos Catalina 278 y Paposo”
(Prof. guía: Millarca Valenzuela, co-guía Verónica Oliveros)
* Thania Beltran, Dp. Ciencias de la Tierra U. de Concepción, Memoria de título "Estudio de dos condritos ordinarios H con QEMSCAN" (prof. guía Verónica Oliveros, co-guía Millarca Valenzuela)

2018-2019
• Camila Caviedes, Dp. Geología U. Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Memoria de título “Reclasificación de meteoritos tipo Hierro en la colección del Museo Mineralógico de Copiapó” (Prof. Guía: Dr. Andrew Menzies; Co-guía: Dr. Millarca Valenzuela; Patrocinador: Gustavo Miranda, director Museo Mineralógico de Copiapó)
• Samanta Aravena, Dp. Geología U. de Chile, Geology professional dissertation “Estudio de inclusiones vítreas en tres condritos carbonaceos del desierto de Atacama” (Prof. Guía: Dr. Daniel Moncada; Co-guía: Dr. Millarca Valenzuela)
• Nicolás Amengual Dp. Geología U. de Chile, Memoria de título “Estudio de inclusiones vítreas en condritos ordinarios del desierto de Atacama” (Prof. Guía: Dr. Daniel Moncada; Co-guía: Dr. Millarca Valenzuela)
• Nicole Salazar Dp. Ciencias de la Tierra U. de Concepción, Memoria de título “Clasificación de condritos ordinarios de la expedición 2017 al desierto de Atacama” (Prof. Guía: Dr. Verónica Oliveros; Co-guía: Dr. Millarca Valenzuela)
• Rodrigo Echevarría, Dp. Geología U. Austral de Chile, Memoria de título “Estudio de una brecha fundida de impacto y un condrito ordinario del Desierto de Atacama” (Prof. Guía: Dr. Alexandre Corgne; Co-guía: Dr. Millarca Valenzuela) • Francisco Gómez, Dp. Geología U. Austral de Chile, Memoria de título “Estudio del evento histórico de la bola de fuego de 1734: evidencias geológicas en el archipiélago de Chonos” (Prof. Guía: Dr. Alexandre Corgne; Co-guía: Dr. Millarca Valenzuela).
• Kevin Soto, Dp. Geología U. Austral de Chile, Memoria de título “Clasificación meteoritos del desierto de Atacama” (Prof. Guía: Dr. Alexandre Corgne; Co-guía: Dr. Millarca Valenzuela).

2016-2017
* Laura Flores, Dp. Geología U. de Chile, Geology professional dissertation “Spectral analysis of Parga Chasma area, Venus: evidences of present volcanic activity” (Guide: Dr. Diego Morata; Co-guide: Dr. Patricio Rojo)
• Belén Ulloa, Dp. Geología U. de Cocepción, Geology professional dissertation “Shock metamorphism in three ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert, Chile” (Guide: Dr. Verónica Oliveros; Co-guide: Dr. Millarca Valenzuela)
• Alfonso Reveillard, Dp. Geología U. Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Geology professional dissertation “Chondrule analysis of three ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert and its implications in thermal metamorphism processes” (Guide: Dr. Guillermo Chong; Co-guide: Dr. Millarca Valenzuela)


Difusión y Transferencia


Selected talks and interview (last 2 years)
(full: http://millarca.wixsite.com/meteoritoschile/media-y
http://millarca.wixsite.com/meteoritoschile/outreach)

Important talks and interviews
2019
• Participation in the panel “With the eyes in the Cosmos and the feet in Antofagasta”, Festival Puerto de Ideas, April 2019.
• Participation in documental of Ilicit Traffic in Chile, chapter Meteorites. Glaciar Films, April 2019.
• Participation in the Nerd Nights, May 2019, Santiago, Chile.
• Participation in the TV program Chilenautas, 13C Channel.
* Participation in the documental "La Cordillera de los Sueños" (director: Patricio Guzmán)
2018
• Congreso del Futuro: talk “Meteoritos del Desierto de Atacama: patrimonio astro-geológico para el estudio del origen del Sistema Solar” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_hjnFb2ui8&t=1s )
* Participation and recognition award in the program “Grandes Científicas de la Región de Antofagasta” organized by Proyecto Asociativo Regional Explora – Conicyt Antofagasta.


Premios y Distinciones

  •   Mujeres que dejan Huellas

    COMUNIDAD MUJER - CENCOSUD

    Chile, 2018

    La iniciativa “Mujeres que Dejan Huella” version 2018, impulsada por Alto Las Condes y ComunidadMujer, tuvo como objetivo entregar un reconocimiento a seis destacadas mujeres chilenas que cuentan con un denominador común: fueron las primeras en romper esquemas, atreverse e inspirar a las que siguen. La ganadora por votación del público entre todas ellas fue M.V.

  •   Asteroid 11819 named Millarca

    INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION

    Uruguay, 2017

    Recognition to the efforts done to build a scientific community in Meteoritics in Chile and South America, and for the project CHACANA (Chilean Allsky Camera Network for Astro-geosciences)

  •   Member of the Frontier Science Program

    ACADEMIA CHILENA DE CIENCIAS

    Chile, 2016

    Part of the young researchers of the Chilean Academy of Sciences, for 2 years

  •   Chosen as 1 of the 100 young chilean leaders

    DIARIO EL MERCURIO

    Chile, 2009

    After wining the award For Women in Science given by Unesco and L'Oreal, I was chosen as one of the 100 chilean leaders under 35 years old, for my work in meteorites.

  •   L’Oreal FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE Prize

    L'OREAL - UNESCO

    Chile, 2008

    Prize that recognize outstanding PhD students developing innovative science.

  •   Roberto Araya

    SOCIEDAD GEOLOGICA DE CHILE

    Chile, 2008

    Mejor charla del Ciclo de Charlas Geológicas periodo 2008

  •   An observing night with the ESO VLT

    EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY

    Chile, 1993

    First prize in the national contest with the essay "Finding the dark matter of the galaxy with ESO VLT"

  •   Forbes article about Millarca Valenzuela

    FORBES

    Estados Unidos, 2020

    International recognition for the scientific work done in meteoritics in South America.

  •   Chilean Woman in Science Billboards in Metro de Santiago

    EXPLORA RM NORTE

    Chile, 2021

    Selected as 1 of 12 woman scientist to be part of the campaign "Igualmente Sabias" promoting science to young women and girls, with billboards in the metro stations of Santiago, and a virtual exhibition with videos in an on-line platform.


 

Article (16)

A 650 km(2) Miocene strewnfield of splash-form impact glasses in the Atacama Desert, Chile
FRIPON: a worldwide network to track incoming meteoroids
The meteorite flux of the last 2 Myr recorded in Atacama
Modification of REE distribution of ordinary chondrites from Atacama (Chile) and Lut (Iran) hot deserts=> insights into the chemical weathering of meteorites
Surface vitrification caused by natural fires in Late Pleistocene wetlands of the Atacama Desert
The ungrouped chondrite El Medano 301 and its comparison with other reduced ordinary chondrites
Description of a very dense meteorite collection area in western Atacama=> insight into the long-term composition of the meteorite flux to Earth
57 Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy studies of chondritic meteorites from the Atacama Desert, Chile=> Implications for weathering processes
77th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society September 8-13, 2014
Weathering of ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert, Chile, by Mössbauer spectroscopy and synchroton radiation X-ray diffraction.
Magnetic study of meteorites recovered in the Atacama desert (Chile): Implications for meteorite paleomagnetism and the stability of hot desert surfaces
Magnetic study of meteorites recovered in the Atacama desert (Chile)=> implications for meteorite paleomagnetism and the stability of hot desert surfaces.
The densest meteorite collection area in hot deserts=> the San Juan meteorite field (Atacama Desert, Chile)
Room Temperature 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert (Chile)=> Constraining the weathering processes on desert meteorites.
An integrated geophysical and geological study of the Monturaqui impact crater, Chile
An integrated geophysical and geological study of the Monturaqui impact crater, Chile

BookSection (1)

Meteorites and Craters Found in Chile: A Bridge to Introduce the First Attempt for Geoheritage Legal Protection in the Country.

ConferencePaper (12)

Characterization of 5 ordinary chondrites of the atacama desert using QEMSCAN® and other techniques.
Chilean regulations and laws for meteorites
QEMSCAN® as a new tool for classification: First results in ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert, Chile.
Comisión Mixta de Geopatrimonio Sernageomin-Sociedad Geológica de Chile: avances y desafíos para la convergencia a protocolos para el Inventario Nacional de Geositios en Chile.
Discutiendo la propuesta de ley de protección de meteoritos en Chile.
Hacia la creación de los lineamientos geoéticos de la comunidad professional, académica y científica de Ciencias de la Tierra en Chile. Resumen XV Congreso Geológico Chileno 2018. Pág. 207.
Infrared spectroscopy of ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites from Atacama Desert.
Study of three CO3 carbonaceous chondrites from the Atacama Desert, Chile.
Meteoritos chilenos: resultados obtenidos luego de diez años de búsqueda en el Desierto de Atacama.
Paleomagnetism and Mineralogy of Unusual Silicate Glasses and Baked Soils on the Surface of the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile: A Major Airburst Impact ~12ka ago?
Petrology and magnetic characterization of melt glass samples found at Northern Atacama Desert, Chile: testing their impact origin
Petrology and magnetic characterization of melt glass samples found at Northern Atacama Desert, Chile: testing their impact origin.

ConferencePoster (20)

A bolide atmospheric airburst over Southern Chile during colonial times?
Atete Corona, volcanic activity and relevance in the heat loss on Venus.
Caracterización de inclusions vítreas en condritos carbonaceous del Desierto de Atacama
CHACANA: Chilean Allsky Camera Network for Astro-geosciences.
Clasificación y caracterización del grado de metamorfismo de choque de tres condritos ordinarios del Desierto de Atacama
Comisión mixta de patrimonio geológico Sernageomin-Sociedad Geológica de Chile: de nición de una metodología sistemática para el Inventario Nacional de Geositios en Chile
Depósitos de vidrios de Pica, controversia actual de su origen.
Discutiendo la propuesta de ley de protección de meteoritos en Chile
Fireball origin of the Pica Glasses, Atacama desert, Chile
Hacia la creación de los lineamientos geoéticos de la comunidad professional, académica y científica de Ciencias de la Tierra en Chile
Infrared spectroscopy of ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites from Atacama Desert
Meteoritic microclast and ultra-hight temperature decomposition of refractory phases: confirmation of an impact petrogenesis for Pica Glasses, Atacama desert, Chile
Strewn field and entrance characteristics of the Pampa-A meteor, Antofagasta Region, northern Chile.
The carbonaceous chondrites of the Atacama Desert, Chile
The Chilean meteorite repository: available material for studying the meteorite-asteroid relationship from South America
Validation of the magnetic method for the classification of ordinary chondrites from the Chilean Meteorite Repository
Desierto de Atacama: laboratorio natural para meteoritos y ciencias planetarias.
El Médano 301: A new forsterite chondrite.
New insights in preservation of meteorites in hot deserts: the old hot desert meteorite collection.
Vidrios de Pica: Control topográfico en la formación de fundidos vítreos por posible explosión aérea de un bólido.

ConferenceProceedingWhole (1)

Boletín de la Asociación Argentina de Astronomía

Proyecto (28)

CHACANA: Recovering fresh meteorites via impact zone estimation from their entrance traces
CHACANA=> Recovering fresh meteorites via impact zone estimation from their entrance traces
Improving the scientific geoheritage status of the Atacama Desert Meteorite Collection through the study of different primary, secondary and tertiary processes on remarkable meteorite samples.
Caracterización petrográfica de los meteoritos del Desierto de Atacama=> Una ventana chilena sobre el origen del sistema solar y del planeta Tierra
Construyendo la siguiente etapa de Meteorítica y Cs. Planetarias en Chile: Estudio de procesos de condensación de sólidos en la nebulosa solar y asociados a su evolución proto-planetaria utilizando meteoritos de la colección del Desierto de Atacama, Chile
Construyendo la siguiente etapa de Meteorítica y Cs. Planetarias en Chile=> Estudio de procesos de condensación de sólidos en la nebulosa solar y su evolución proto-planetaria utilizando meteoritos de la colección del Desierto de Atacama, Chile
Improving the scientific geoheritage status of the Atacama Desert Meteorite Collection through the study of different primary, secondary and tertiary processes on remarkable meteorite samples.
Fase piloto de la red de cámaras AllSky para detección de meteoros
Fase piloto de la red de cámaras AllSky para detección de meteoros
Study of the possible origin of melt glasses deposits in the North of Chile
Atacamaites: a new tektite strewnfield
Atacamaites=> a new tektite strewnfield
Study of the flux of extraterrestrial matter to Earth with meteorites from new strewnfield areas at Atacama Desert, Chile
Study of the flux of extraterrestrial matter to Earth with meteorites from new strewnfield areas at Atacama Desert, Chile
Datation of the Monturaqui Impact Crater, northern Chile: constraints from the terrestrial age of the meteorite and the exposure age of the crater using cosmogenic radionuclei.
Datation of the Monturaqui Impact Crater, northern Chile=> constraints from the terrestrial age of the meteorite and the exposure age of the crater using cosmogenic radionuclei.
First study of the San Juan meteorite strewn field in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile: New constrains for the flux of extraterrestrial material and weathering processes in desert environments (CNRS-CONICYT interchange program)
First study of the San Juan meteorite strewn field in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile=> New constrains for the flux of extraterrestrial material and weathering processes in desert environments (CNRS-CONICYT interchange program)
Major chemical elements on ordinary chondrites from Atacama Desert
Major chemical elements on ordinary chondrites from Atacama Desert
Characterization of the weathering mineralogy of ordinary chondrites from Atacama Desert, through the use of Mossbauer Spectroscopy and Synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction.
Characterization of the weathering mineralogy of ordinary chondrites from Atacama Desert, through the use of Mossbauer Spectroscopy and Synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction.
Terrestrial ages of ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert and the ages of some of its surfaces (CNRS-CONICYT interchange program)
Terrestrial ages of ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert and the ages of some of its surfaces (CNRS- CONICYT interchange program)
Weathering characterization of ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert through the use of Magnetic Properties and Mössbauer Spectroscopy (CNRS-CONICYT interchange program)
Weathering characterization of ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert through the use of Magnetic Properties and Mössbauer Spectroscopy (CNRS-CONICYT interchange program)
Geophysical and Geological Study of the Monturaqui impact crater, Antofagasta region, Chile.
Study of the possible origin of melt glasses deposits in the North of Chile
54
Edith Valenzuela

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

CIENCIAS GEOLOGICAS

UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DEL NORTE

ANTOFAGASTA, Chile

1
Eduardo Unda

Director

Universidad de Antofagasta

Antofagasta, Chile