ABSTRACT: The Cercal Volcano-Sedimentary Complex (Cercal VSC) structure is the westernmost sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) giant metallogenic province and was explored since Roman times for volcanogenic massive sulphides (VMS) and Fe–Mn (Ba) deposits. However, presently only a single deposit is known, the Salgadinho Cu-Ag-Au stockwork/disseminated deposit. Nevertheless, according to several mining compa...
ABSTRACT: A steady supply of mineral raw materials is vital for the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy. The number of active mines in Europe has severely declined over the last century and half, giving rise to many abandoned mining waste sites and corresponding geological heritage. Also, the rise in minerals demand for large-scale deployment of renewable energy requires the continued and steady availa...
ABSTRACT: The Cercal Volcano-Sedimentary Complex (Cercal VSC) structure is the westernmost sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) giant metallogenic province and was explored since Roman times for volcanogenic massive sulphides (VMS) and Fe–Mn (Ba) deposits. However, presently only a single deposit is known, the Salgadinho Cu-Ag-Au stockwork/disseminated deposit. Nevertheless, according to several mining compa...
ABSTRACT: Muon tomography is one of several fields of applied physics that have witnessed the successful use of particle detection based on Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC). In this work, we report on an innovative project concerning transmission muography for geological characterization. For this purpose, a muon telescope built of four RPC planes was mounted on an adjustable structure and the telescope's respons...
ABSTRACT: This research examines palynomorph assemblages preserved in sediments of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) that host the Neves-Corvo massive sulfide deposit and its importance for mineral exploration. The sediments belong to the Neves Formation, characterized by black shales and minor occurrences of siltstones and cherts, indicative of reduced environmental conditions, favorable to sulfide deposition in a...
SUMMARY: The fast energetic transition in the world needs large amounts of mineral resources that are currently scarce. For the suppression of these needs, new mineral deposits must be found, demanding the development of new exploration techniques. Currently, in several metalogenetic provinces, surface deposits are rare. In the Iberian Pyrite Belt, geophysical techniques, namely gravimetry and electromagnetics,...
SUMMARY: Since 2018 the LNEG’s Aljustrel drill core shed is dedicated to the southern Portugal collections distributed by Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) and Ossa-Morena Zone (OMZ). The archive includes exploration drill hole cores, soil, stream sediments and rock samples, technical reports, and a complete and detail map collection (1/5.000 and 1/25.000 scales), all organized in databases. Drill hole relog allow a be...
SUMMARY: The unification of the two main geosites inventories developed in Portugal (University of Minho and LNEG) is important for the Portuguese geological community, for land use planning and nature conservation procedures. This task aims to reinforce the need of continuing the efforts for a geoconservation strategy in Portugal, stressing the need of the protection of the Portuguese geoheritage and its recog...
SUMMARY: New U-Pb geochronological data (SHRIMP/LA-ICP-MS) is presented for zircons of volcanic rocks and dark shales of the Salgadinho deposit, located in Cercal, Iberian Pyrite Belt. Results show that the main magmatic event was placed between 387-392 Ma, indicating the oldest volcanism in the Iberian Pyrite Belt so far. Inherited and detrital zircon ages suggest affinity to Laurussian and Avalonia (s.l.) per...
ABSTRACT: Based on drill hole sampling and sedimentary rock dating by palynology, the present research focuses on the palynostratigraphic events established in the key geological section of Guedelhinha-Lancadoiras-A lgare located in the Portuguese Neves-Corvo mine region, Iberian Pyrite Belt. The age data allow detailing the lithostratigraphic sequence and further understanding the complex structural setting, r...