As part of the international congress IAGOD 2026, held at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, LNEG researcher João Xavier Matos was part of the organizing team for the thematic session “Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide Deposits: The Iberian Pyrite Belt and beyond”. The session also included Professor Jorge Relvas (Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon) and researcher André Cravinho (University of Lisbon).
IAGOD 2026, one of the leading international congresses in economic geology, brought together world-renowned specialists to discuss the genesis and exploration of metallic mineral resources. The session dedicated to Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposits hosted scientific communications focused on the study of these deposits at local and regional scales, covering topics such as geochemistry, petrogenesis of host rocks, mineral exploration and exploitation, and modern analogues of massive sulphide systems found on ocean floors.
VMS deposits are a crucial source of base metals in the Earth's crust, with particular relevance in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, located between Alentejo and Andalusia. Mining activity in these regions focuses on the exploration of resources rich in copper, zinc, lead, silver, and gold, notably at the Neves-Corvo (Boliden Somincor), Aljustrel (Almina), Rio Tinto/Cerro Colorado (Atalaya Mining), and Aguas Teñidas (Sandfire Matsa) mines.
LNEG has been developing several research programs dedicated to the geological, geophysical, and geochemical study of VMS mineralizations, including the analysis of deep boreholes, some over 1,500 meters long, integrated into the Aljustrel Lithotheque. Recent discoveries of new strategic metal reserves in the Iberian Pyrite Belt confirm the high mining potential of this metallogenetic province, considered one of the most important in Europe.
The field trip dedicated to VMS deposits concluded IAGOD 2026, with the participation of geologists from mining companies Almina, Boliden, and Sandfire Matsa, and support from the Parque Mineiro de Aljustrel and the Centro Ciência Viva do Lousal. Over four days, boreholes were examined at the LNEG, Almina, and Boliden lithotheques, and the Aljustrel, São Domingos, and Lousal mines were visited, along with important outcrops in the Guadiana river valley.
This tour allowed for the observation and discussion of different metallogenetic models associated with mineralizations rich in strategic and critical materials, essential for energy and digital transition agendas. The initiative provided geologists from four continents a unique opportunity to learn about the Portuguese sector of the Pyrite Belt and deepen their knowledge of its stratigraphy, the volcano-sedimentary horizons bearing VMS mineralizations, key mineral exploration vectors, and issues related to the sustainability of mining activities and environmental rehabilitation best practices.
The initiative also served as a privileged opportunity to disseminate the scientific and technical contribution of LNEG's Mineral Resources and Geophysics Unit to the knowledge of mineral resources, the sustainable valorization of geological and mining heritage, and the development of solutions aligned with European challenges related to critical raw materials and the energy transition.
