Author(s): Matos, João Xavier ; Dias, Ruben Pereira ; Pereira, Zélia ; Ressurreição, Ricardo ; Soares, S. ; Mendes, Márcia ; Albardeiro, Luís ; Gonçalves, Pedro ; Santos, Sara ; Piçarra, José Manuel
Date: 2023
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.9/4116
Origin: Repositório do LNEG
Subject(s): Geological and mining heritage; Iberian Pyrite Belt; Ossa-Morena Zone; Geossites; Geoparks; Património geológico e mineiro; Faixa Piritosa Ibérica; Zona de Ossa-Morena; Geossítios; Geoparques
SUMMARY: The region of Mértola, Serpa, Moura and Barrancos, located in the middle section of the Guadiana River presents a distribution of geosites of great scientific value, constituting the argument to a future Geopark. The studied territory includes the Ossa-Morena (OMZ) and South Portuguese (SPZ) geological sequences, the tectonic boundary between these two variscan domains, the geomorphology conditioned by Alpine tectonics, the Guadiana, Ardila and Chança rivers incision and differential erosion of quartzites, dolomites and marbles. Significant geological heritage is also present in the SPZ Iberian Pyrite Belt VMS and OMZ copper deposits. The Guadiana territory presents a typical landscape and exceptional geosites in a natural habitat (e.g. Pulo do Lobo waterfalls). In total, 50 geosites were considered in 6 regions: Barrancos-Ardila, Ficalho, Serpa-Pias-Moura, Alcaria, Guadiana and São Domingos. The future project of Geopark will be planned by the four municipalities considering geoconservation plans and regional sustainable policy.
