Ingadanais Mines, Vila Velha de Rodão, Castelo Branco District, Portugal

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Minas dos Ingadanais, Vila Velha de Rodão, Distrito de Castelo Branco, Portugal

In the proximity of Vila Vélha de Ródão and close to the train line of Beira Baixa there are located some mines with copper explorations and that presently are contained. Their names are as follows: River Enxarique Mine, River S. Pedro Mine nº 2 and nº 3, S. Pedro Cabeiro Mine, Sítio do Cobre Mine and Vila Vélha de Ródão Mine nº 2. (Locally the whole area is denominated by ruins of Ingadanais Mines). In the proximity of Tojeirinha village and over of Ingadanais Mines area, there are located Vila Vélha de Ródão Mine and Peladas do Cobre/Palheirinhas Mine. They are located in the Complex schist-greywacke and, in agreement with the disposition of the same ones, the mineralized veins seem to have a NE-SW orientation. The minerals are encountered in the inerts [dumps?] to the mouth of the mine (secondary copper sulphates formed due to alteration of the copper ore). Some secondary copper minerals also occur in slags.

The copper ores of Vila Velha de Ródão, Castelo Branco district, represent the main Portuguese copper occurrence north of the Tagus River. The copper mineralization occurs in a NE-SW fault system associated with the Ponsul fault that has an inherited Variscan geometry and an Alpine reactivation. The mineralized veins are sub-vertical running NE-SW and comprise massive and disseminated copper and iron sulphides. The primary mineralization comprises chalcopyrite ± pyrite, arsenopyrite, marcasite, tetrahedrite-tennantite, and pyrrhotite in quartz veins or silicified greywacke breccias. The secondary mineralization results from the oxidation of the sulphide minerals and comprises secondary sulphides, copper oxides and sulphates, and iron hydroxides. Two copper reduction slag deposits were identified, one from the 1950s and other attributed to the Roman period. Roman (?) slags are denser, less vesicular, and more devitrified than those from the 1950s smelting and often contain a considerable amount of copper implying a low-efficiency smelting.

Mindat Articles

Ruins of Ingadanais Mines by Martins da Pedra

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Antlerite Arsenopyrite Atacamite Azurite Brochantite Chalcocite

Chalcophyllite ? Chalcopyrite Clinoclase Connellite Copper Cuprite

Cuprite var: Chalcotrichite Libethenite Malachite Olivenite Paratacamite Pyrite

Romanèchite Tennantite Tetrahedrite

21 entries listed. 20 valid minerals.

Localities in this Region

Portugal Castelo Branco District Vila Velha de Rodão Ingadanais Mines Enxarrique riverside mine Slag dumps S. Pedro-o-Cabeiro mine S. Pedro nº 2 riverside mine S. Pedro nº 3 riverside mine

References