Conversion of mining heritage into a new life-cycle: an example of the ancient
Aveleiras wolfram mine (NW Portugal)
Meixedo, J.P.1,2; Lopes, M.E.1; Dias Costa, M.J.3; Trigo, J.F.C.1 & Chaminé,
H.I.1,4
1 Laboratório de Cartografia e Geologia Aplicada (LABCARGA), Instituto Superior
de Engenharia do Porto. Rua do Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 431; 4200-072
Porto, Portugal. E-mail: [email protected]
2 Centro de Investigação em Geo-ambiente e Recursos (CIGAR), Universidade do
Porto, Portugal.
3 Mosteiro de S. Martinho de Tibães, Direcção Regional de Cultura do Norte, Mire de
Tibães, Portugal.
4 GeoBioTec Centre (Georesources, Geotechnics & Geomaterials group),
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal.
Abstract
This work emphasizes the importance of the recovering of abandoned mining heritage
into geomining museums, as an example of the transformative process of an
organization towards a second life-cycle. Such interventions represent important
measures for sustainability, to both the organization itself and the surrounding
environment. At a social-economic level, the main advantage is the promotion of
regions where the economy depended heavily on the exploitation of the mineral
resources, and where huge investments of capital have been made for the extraction of
raw materials, which range from the opening of tunnels and underground galleries to
the installation of railway lines, roads and buildings. The Aveleiras Mine is an old
wolfram mine (ca. 1940-1962), belonging to the Monastery of St. Martin of Tibães,
near Braga (NW Portugal). The latter was the motherhouse of the Benedictine order in
Portugal. By initiative of the Tibães Monastery this mine will be reconverted,
partially, into a geosite and, in the near future into a geomining museum. This study
aimed at carrying out the assessment of geological, geotechnical, geomechanical and
structural features of the jointed metasedimentary rock mass of the galleries’ mine, in
order to facilitate future cultural and scientific tours promoted by the Monastery of St.
Martin of Tibães. Based on these studies, a stabilization project is suggested towards
the protection and security of the former Aveleiras Mine, to be defined in accordance
with the materials, tools and equipment used during the construction of the mine.
Subsequently, specific actions will be developed to rehabilitate the spaces, in order to
facilitate their inclusion in selective classified itineraries.