Portugal is one of the world's leading producers of ornamental stones and, in the last 50 years, this economic sector registered an annual national average growth of 4%. However, the lack of land-use policies that effectively safeguard... more
Portugal is one of the world's leading producers of ornamental stones and, in the last 50 years, this economic
sector registered an annual national average growth of 4%. However, the lack of land-use policies that effectively
safeguard the access of extractive industry to the places where these resources occur, current and foreseen
production is at risk, compromising the contribution of this sector to the national economy and to the supply of
forthcoming generations.
The multi-dimensional methodology reported in Mateus et al. (2017) was applied to describe the present-day
situation, allowing to objectively identify the tracts hosting ornamental stone resources whose access should be
safeguarded, therefore avoiding their sterilisation when confronted to other land-use options. A database on the
available geological information concerning 65 ornamental stone tracts, covering 0.43% of mainland Portugal,
was built. Among the 54 active exploitation centres and 11 potential areas (for which there is no production
data), only 21 tracts (0.07% of mainland Portugal) were classified as of “public importance”, meaning they have
an intrinsic value that should by itself support a safeguarding decision on their current and future access.
According to the weighed criteria used, several promising tracts were not included in this short group. However,
these promising tracts do not overcame the threshold due to the shortage of data about regional exploration
surveys or on the resource itself, which reflects difficulties in gathering harmonised geological information for all
the listed tracts. Thus, two simulation scenarios were completed, corresponding to an increase in knowledge
resulting from regional exploration or local, comprehensive geological studies. As a result of these simulated
scenarios, the total number of tracts qualified as of “public importance” increased to 41 (0.24% of mainland
Portugal). These results highlight the urgent need to supplement the available geological information, contributing
to the establishment of a credible and stable mining plan for the Portuguese ornamental stones sector,
thus strengthening its sustainability in the short and long term.
sector registered an annual national average growth of 4%. However, the lack of land-use policies that effectively
safeguard the access of extractive industry to the places where these resources occur, current and foreseen
production is at risk, compromising the contribution of this sector to the national economy and to the supply of
forthcoming generations.
The multi-dimensional methodology reported in Mateus et al. (2017) was applied to describe the present-day
situation, allowing to objectively identify the tracts hosting ornamental stone resources whose access should be
safeguarded, therefore avoiding their sterilisation when confronted to other land-use options. A database on the
available geological information concerning 65 ornamental stone tracts, covering 0.43% of mainland Portugal,
was built. Among the 54 active exploitation centres and 11 potential areas (for which there is no production
data), only 21 tracts (0.07% of mainland Portugal) were classified as of “public importance”, meaning they have
an intrinsic value that should by itself support a safeguarding decision on their current and future access.
According to the weighed criteria used, several promising tracts were not included in this short group. However,
these promising tracts do not overcame the threshold due to the shortage of data about regional exploration
surveys or on the resource itself, which reflects difficulties in gathering harmonised geological information for all
the listed tracts. Thus, two simulation scenarios were completed, corresponding to an increase in knowledge
resulting from regional exploration or local, comprehensive geological studies. As a result of these simulated
scenarios, the total number of tracts qualified as of “public importance” increased to 41 (0.24% of mainland
Portugal). These results highlight the urgent need to supplement the available geological information, contributing
to the establishment of a credible and stable mining plan for the Portuguese ornamental stones sector,
thus strengthening its sustainability in the short and long term.
Research Interests:
A multi-dimensional methodology is proposed to delimit areas hosting mineral resources of public importance (MRoPI). The assessment procedure considers the Level of Geological Knowledge (LGK) along with the Economic (Ec), Environmental... more
A multi-dimensional methodology is proposed to delimit areas hosting mineral resources of public importance (MRoPI). The assessment procedure considers the Level of Geological Knowledge (LGK) along with the Economic (Ec), Environmental (Ev) and Social Development and Acceptance (SDA) dimensions. Different sets of independent, but complementary and variably weighed, criteria support the appraisal of each dimension , and a final score (MRoPI r) results from a reasonable balance between LGK and (Ec + Ev + SDA). A ranking based on MRoPI r will fall in the [1, 10] interval, as imposed by the scaling normalising factor, but only specific tracts having MRoPI r ≥ 4 display LGK values confident enough to be covered by a safeguarding decision at a given time. Adequate MRoPI r mapping can also be done, interpolating within the kriging formalism and evaluating thoroughly the modelling results until achieving the final map. The methodology application shows in addition that the combined use of LGK, Ec, Ev and SDA allows to address suitably two overlapping and coexisting, although different, issues: (1) safeguarding the future access to mineral resources and (2) planning the mineral development in the short-medium term, recognising the need of assigning specific areas to mining activities.
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Resumo O Anticlinal de Estremoz-Borba-Vila Viçosa, situado em Portugal na região do Alentejo, está integrado na denominada Zona dos Mármores e é o grande centro da actividade extractiva dos mármores. Esta zona tem características... more
Resumo O Anticlinal de Estremoz-Borba-Vila Viçosa, situado em Portugal na região do Alentejo, está integrado na denominada Zona dos Mármores e é o grande centro da actividade extractiva dos mármores. Esta zona tem características excepcionais de exploração mineral. No entanto, existem alguns condicionalismos geológicos, uma desorganização do espaço devido ao material não comercializado e acumulado em escombreiras, e a preocupação cada vez maior na exploração sustentada deste tipo de recurso mineral, fazendo desta zona uma área preferencial para o estudo de metodologias que auxiliem o reordenamento do sector extractivo. Tendo em mente a necessidade de compatibilização da actividade mineira com a preservação ambiental nas políticas de ordenamento territorial, este trabalho visa apresentar alguns indicadores geológicos e ambientais, imprescindíveis a um reordenamento das explorações de mármore permitindo a melhoria do uso e organização do espaço, a protecção do ambiente e o aumento da ...
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A exploração da “Brecha Algarvia” assume especial relevo no panorama da indústria extractiva das rochas ornamentais carbonatadas, na região do Algarve, devido à sua singularidade mas também à reduzida dimensão deste sector industrial... more
A exploração da “Brecha Algarvia” assume especial relevo no panorama da indústria extractiva das rochas ornamentais carbonatadas, na região do Algarve, devido à sua singularidade mas também à reduzida dimensão deste sector industrial naquela região. ...
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Synopsis Cabeça Veada is the name of a relatively small exploitation cluster for ornamental limestones occupying an area of 98 ha in the Portuguese Natural Park of Serra de Aire e Candeeiros, which is also a Natura 2000 Network protected... more
Synopsis Cabeça Veada is the name of a relatively small exploitation cluster for ornamental limestones occupying an area of 98 ha in the Portuguese Natural Park of Serra de Aire e Candeeiros, which is also a Natura 2000 Network protected area. Supported by comprehensive geological, mining and environmental studies, a specific methodology was developed in order to address the compatibility between the long term sustainability of this industry with the preservation of existing protected natural values. The obtained land use map should allow the Cabeça Veada mineral resources to be adequately included in the municipal land use planning process.
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RESUMO No âmbito da cooperação entre Portugal e Timor Leste, o Instituto Geológico e Mineiro de Portugal executou um trabalho de avaliação dos recursos geológicos de Timor Leste. Este trabalho focou essencialmente a avaliação das... more
RESUMO No âmbito da cooperação entre Portugal e Timor Leste, o Instituto Geológico e Mineiro de Portugal executou um trabalho de avaliação dos recursos geológicos de Timor Leste. Este trabalho focou essencialmente a avaliação das potencialidades em rochas ornamentais e rochas e minerais industriais que numa perspectiva de curto prazo possam vir a ser alvo de exploração tendo em vista o fornecimento de matéria prima para a construção civil e tendo em conta as carências humanas e técnicas do território timorense. Neste contexto foi possível a demarcação de algumas áreas com potencialidades para a indústria extractiva, das quais se apresenta uma caracterização genérica. ABSTRACT In the cooperation context between Portugal and East Timor the Portuguese geological survey – Instituto Geológico e Mineiro – carried out an evaluation study of the geological resources of East Timor. This assessment was focused on the occurrence areas of ornamental stones and industrial minerals that can lead to a short-term supply of raw materials for the industry, taking on account the lack of human and technical capacities of East Timor. The work carried out led to the definition of some interesting areas, which are briefly presented here.
The Portuguese territory has many rich in Li-rich mineral occurrences that are mainly associated with aplite-pegmatite dykes and sills intruded in granitic and metasedimentary rocks of the Central Iberian and Galicia – Trás-os-Montes... more
The Portuguese territory has many rich in Li-rich mineral occurrences that are mainly associated with aplite-pegmatite dykes and sills intruded in granitic and metasedimentary rocks of the Central Iberian and Galicia – Trás-os-Montes geotectonic zones. Some of those occurrences have a higher economic potencial value, as is the case of the Gonçalo region in the Guarda district and the Barroso-Alvão region near Boticas in the Vila Real district. Geological studies carried out by the Geological and Mining Institute of Portugal (IGM) showed this areas as attractive targets for Li-rich raw material for the ceramic and glass industries of the Iberian market or even for Li-rich standard ore concentrates.
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This work presents the main Portuguese productive areas of ornamental limestones in terms of geographical and geological setting, main commercial types and global resources. They are the Serra do Sicó, Maciço Calcário Estremenho, North of... more
This work presents the main Portuguese productive areas of ornamental limestones in terms of geographical and geological setting, main commercial types and global resources. They are the Serra do Sicó, Maciço Calcário Estremenho, North of Lisbon – Pêro Pinheiro and the Algarve Basin. A distinction is made between ornamental limestones and marbles because it expresses a marked differentiation on the physical and mechanical properties of both types of rocks. In terms of the ornamental systematics the Portuguese ornamental limestones can be grouped according to their colour and physics-mechanics characteristics. Chemical and mineralogical features reveal a high degree of purity. On account of the detailed geological studies made by Instituto Geológico e Mineiro on the present day main exploitation centres, Portugal as a large potential for ornamental limestones. In addition, the large extensive outcrops in Maciço Calcário Estremenho and Serra de Sicó regions further contribute to increase the resources. To correctly evaluate such potential it is necessary to carry out detailed thematic geological studies, as they are the basis for a sound rationale development of this activity.