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- Litoteca do LNEG Aljustrel, um espólio científico fundamental para a investigação da Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e da Zona de Ossa-MorenaPublication . Matos, João Xavier; Morais, Igor; Santos, Sara; Gonçalves, Pedro; Batista, Maria Joao; de Oliveira, Daniel Pipa Soares; Dias, Ruben PereiraSUMMARY: 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 better understanding of the subsurface being essential in stratigraphy, structural mapping, mineral exploration and metallogeny. Following the regional Smart Specialization Strategy defined by CCDR Alentejo to Geological Resources, the LNEG Aljustrel develops R&D programs dedicated to thematic mapping and mineral resources. Critical Raw Materials mineralizations are present at the archives like IPB VMS Cu-Zn-Pb(Au-Ag-Sn-Sb) and Fe-Mn deposits and OMZ sulphide-magnetite (Zn-Pb,Cu(Au)), magnetite and Cu(Au) veins. The preservation of the subsurface geological heritage is critical to the IPB and OMZ research and an institutional LNEG mission.
- Geological correlation of Neves-Corvo Mine and Pomarão Antiform sequences (Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal)Publication . Albardeiro, Luís; Matos, João Xavier; Mendes, Márcia; Solá, A. Rita; Pereira, Zélia; Morais, Igor; Salgueiro, Rute; Pacheco, Nelson; Araújo, Vítor; Oliveira, José TomásABSTRACT: A geological correlation between Neves-Corvo (NC) and Pomarão antiforms is attempted. These regional scale major sequences are easily correlated but, at local scale, facies and age differences stand out. Stratigraphy includes: i) the Phyllite-Quartzite Group with identical paleogeography setting and similar late Famennian ages for uppermost levels (LL to LN miospore biozones in Pomarão and NC respectively). ii) the Volcano-Sedimentary Complex shows some discrepancyconcerning the age distribution of the felsic volcanic rocks (ca. 356-330for Pomarão and ca. 365-346 Ma for all NC area) while sediments rangefrom mid-Famennian to late Visean age (VH to NM Miospore Biozonefor NC). iii); the Baixo Alentejo Flysch Group (late Visean NM MiosporeBiozone onwards in NC), covering the previous sequences and beingslightly older than the uppermost volcanic rocks of Pomarão. Thecorrelation between these two structures is supported by geology andisotopic/biozone ages and favours exploration scenarios in both regions.
- Geophysical surveys in the Portuguese sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt: a global overview focused on the massive sulphide exploration and geologic interpretationPublication . Matos, João Xavier; Carvalho, João; Represas, Patricia; Batista, Maria Joao; Sousa, P.; Ramalho, Elsa; Marques, Fábio; Morais, Igor; Albardeiro, Luís; Gonçalves, Pedro; Dias, P.ABSTRACT: The application of geophysical techniques to massive sulphide deposits exploration has proven to be a success in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) metallogenetic province, both in Portugal and in Spain. Several hidden deposits were discovered through the interpretation of geological models, supported by geophysical data collected in land and airborne surveys, as well as applied using down hole techniques in selected drill holes. This paper presents an overview of the methodologies applied in Portugal in the South Portuguese Zone (SPZ) geological domain, where the IPB is included, mostly by the LNEG and mining companies, with emphasis on the interpretation of the regional gravity, magnetometry and radiometry surveys, published in 1/400 000 scale by the EXPLORA/Alentejo2020 Project. In this regional mapping program, the large volume of data collected by LNEG and mining companies since the 1960’s was compiled and processed. The integrated interpretation and correlation between these methods will enable a better planning of new IPB exploration investments. IPB Volcano-Sedimentary Complex (VSC, Famennian to Late Visean age) lineaments are well defined in the gravity and magnetic fields along the IPB western region (e.g. Alcoutim/Neves-Corvo/Montinho/Sesmarias/Lousal/Caveira). Aeromagnetic data also reflect deep and large anomalies related with the SPZ basement. A rock density database is presented and used to interpret the gravity data. Radiometric map (Natural Radioactivity), based mostly in airborne radiometric surveys, show contrasts between rocks in Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic formations and correlations with geological and hydrothermal mapping are highlighted. The use of geophysical techniques is particularly critical in areas where VSC is concealed by younger sediments (e.g. Baixo Alentejo Flysch Group and/or Cenozoic formations), allowing the selection of target areas. Case studies are discussed based on electromagnetic, seismic and magnetotelluric methods and on the high mineral potential of defined targets. Multilayered data correlation (geophysics including petrophysical data, geochemistry and stratigraphic high-resolution models) is a key prospecting methodology and is essential for the accurate modelling of ore horizons and geological structures. Considering the IPB potential for VMS deposits, including the possible discovery of new giant (> 200 Mt) deposits, an increase of investment in new geophysical methods can be predicted. LNEG development of R&D projects such as EXPLORA/Alentejo2020 and SmartExplorationTM/H2020 also contribute to a favourable setting in the province, both in near mining and green fields scenarios. Thus, new discoveries are expected, like others made in the recent times in the IPB Portuguese sector, such as Lagoa Salgada (SFM, 1992, SFM; Redcorp/EDM, 2011; Redcorp/Ascendant/EDM, 2017), Semblana (Somincor-AGC-Lundin Mining, 2010), Monte Branco (Somincor-Lundin Mining, 2012) and Sesmarias (Maepa/Avrupa, 2014). The importance of these data goes beyond the mineral exploration purpose. Since some of them use rock and mineral physical properties that can be related with environmental contamination (e.g. radiometry and magnetics) they can also be used in geochemical background studies, acid mine drainage and metal dispersion. Therefore, they can also promote a deeper knowledge in other areas of research related with environment preservation.
- Geophysical characterization of the Cercal Paleozoic structure, Iberian Pyrite Belt, from a mineral exploration perspectivePublication . Feitoza, L. M.; Carvalho, João; Represas, Patricia; Ramalho, Elsa; Sousa, Pedro; Matos, João Xavier; Albardeiro, Luís; Morais, Igor; Santos, Telmo M. Bento DosABSTRACT: 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 companies that operated in the area during the last two decades, the Cercal area keeps a high potential for the discovery of new massive and stockwork mineralization deposits hosted in VSC felsic volcanic rocks. The lack of seismic data and deep drill holes (> 800 m), has been limiting the discovery of possible deep seated massive/stockwork deposits. The goal of this work is to provide new insights into the Cercal deep and near surface structure through the integrated interpretation of geophysical and geological data and contribute to the discovery of new stockwork or massive sulphide deposits. For this purpose, we reprocessed ground gravity, airborne magnetic/radiometric and electrical resistivity/induced polarization data which was interpreted and integrated with geological data. Data interpretation included 2.5D forward gravimetric modeling constrained by i) a new rock density database (from outcrops and drill-holes) built under the scope of this work, ii) the scarce available drill-holes and iii) geological information. A small magnetic susceptibility/conductivity database based on drill-hole core samples was also built to assist the magnetic and electrical/chargeability data interpretation. The integrated interpretation agrees with some of the expected geological scenarios predicted by surface mapping and exploration drill-hole logs in the IPB and provides further details on the deep structure of the Cercal Anticline, a NNW-SSE oriented VSC unrooted structure, controlled by variscan SW verging thrust faults and discordant strike-slip Late-Variscan faults. This geological scenario favors the possibility of new findings at relatively shallow depths (200–900 m), and a few sites for further exploration are indicated based on the integrated interpretation. Therefore, this work contributes to the understanding of the Cercal deep structure from a mineral exploration perspective and confirms the proposed structural models for the IPB’s westernmost region.
- Geology of the recently discovered massive and stockwork sulphide mineralization at Semblana, Rosa Magra and Monte Branco, Neves–Corvo mine region, Iberian Pyrite Belt, PortugalPublication . Pereira, Zélia; Matos, João Xavier; Solá, A. Rita; Batista, Maria Joao; Salgueiro, Rute; Rosa, Carlos; Albardeiro, Luis; Mendes, Márcia; Morais, Igor; de Oliveira, Daniel Pipa Soares; Pacheco, Nelson; Araújo, Vítor; Castelo Branco, José M.; Neto, Rodrigo; Lains Amaral, João; Inverno, Carlos; Oliveira, José T.Abstract The recently discovered massive and stockwork sulphide mineralization of Semblana-Rosa Magra and Monte Branco, situated ESE of the Neves–Corvo volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) is presented. Geological setting and tectonic model is discussed based on proxies such as palynostratigraphy and U–Pb zircon geochronology. The mineralization is found within the IPB Volcano-Sedimentary Complex (VSC) Lower sequence, which includes felsic volcanic rocks (rhyolites) with U–Pb ages in zircons of 359.6 ± 1.6 Ma, and black shales of the Neves Formation of late Strunian age. Massive sulphides are enveloped by these shales, implying that felsic volcanism, mineralization and shale sedimentation are essentially coeval. This circumstance is considered highly prospective, as it represents an important exploration vector to target VMS mineralization across the IPB, in areas where the Lower VSC sequence is present. The Upper VSC sequence, with siliciclastic and volcanogenic sedimentary rocks of middle–late Visean age, shows no massive mineralization but a late Tournaisian (350.9 ± 2.3 Ma) volcanism with disseminated sulphides was also identified. Nevertheless, stratigraphic palynological gaps were found within the Strunian and in the Tournaisian sediments, between the Lower and Upper VSC sequences, reflecting probable erosion and uplift mechanisms linked with extensional tectonics. The Semblana and Monte Branco deposits and the Rosa Magra stockwork are enclosed by tectonic sheets that dismembered the VSC sequence in a fold-and-thrust tectonic complex, characteristic of the NE Neves–Corvo region. The methodologies used allow a geological comparison between Neves–Corvo and other IPB mine regions such as Lousal–Caveira, Herrerias, Tharsis and Aznalcollar.