Minning Culture

Abstract: This paper focuses on the report produced by Ernest Fleury (1878-1958), professor
at the “Instituto Superior Técnico” of Lisbon, following an early invitation of the concessionaire and a visit in April 1923 to the clay pits and quarries opened near Buarcos,
Tavarede and in the mining district of Cape Mondego (Figueira da Foz). These open-pits
supplied raw materials to the local ceramic, hydraulic lime and cement factories, which
manufactured flagship products well received on the national market, but faced a serious
and growing competition. The report describes the main characteristics of the explored
deposits and gives an expert opinion about their potential, as part of a long collaboration
that this important geologist had with the Cape Mondego industries. In this scope, besides
its technical aura, this document should be read within a temporal context and as a
contribution to the history of Applied Geology in Portugal, in which Fleury was a pioneer.
Keywords: Ernest Fleury; coal; quarries; industry; Cape Mondego (Portugal).
Introdução

RESUMO: Situadas no extremo sul da “bacia carbonífera” do Vale do Lena, entre as vilas de Mendiga e Alcanede, as minas de carvão de Cabeço do Veado e de Valverde tiveram uma história marcada por sucessivas mudanças de concessionário, a par de tentativas mal sucedidas de exploração industrial. Foram, na região, das primeiras concessões a serem objeto de pesquisas, tendo sido, depois de longos períodos de abandono, das últimas a encerrar.
Carlos Ribeiro, engenheiro do Estado ali enviado em meados de 1854 para o reconhecimento oficial dos jazigos, confirmou as ocorrências registadas na Câmara Municipal por Raymundo Lacerda, oficial do exército e proprietário lisbonense, presumindo a sua continuidade em profundidade. No entanto chamou a atenção para a presença de pirites que, em sua opinião, poderiam restringir as aplicações industriais do carvão. Contudo, em sua opinião, o maior obstáculo à exploração destes jazigos do “oolite médio” (Jurássico Superior) era o do transporte do carvão até aos lugares de consumo, dependendo o sucesso do empreendimento da construção de um intricado sistema de canais fluviais a abrir para Sul, assegurando uma ligação barata ao rio Tejo, por onde as barcaças carregadas desceriam até Lisboa.
Embora muitas esperanças se tenham depositado nestas minas, nunca foram atingidos valores de produção expressivos, nem mesmo durante as duas guerras mundiais, quando a atividade do Couto Mineiro se intensificou. Contudo, embora intermitentes, os trabalhos, foram sendo retomados repetidamente até meados de 1954, atingindo uma profundidade de cerca de 180 m, na vã esperança de se virem a encontrar camadas que pudessem garantir uma exploração rentável, produzindo carvões de fácil aceitação no mercado. Nada afinal, que as sondagens de 1941 do Instituto Português de Combustíveis, não deixassem antever.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Minas; carvão; Couto Mineiro do Lena; Porto de Mós; Portugal.


ABSTRACT: Located on the southern part of the "coal basin" of the Lena valley, between the villages of Mendiga and Alcanede, the mines of “iron and coal” of Cabeço do Veado and coal of Valverde had a history marked by successive changes of dealership and unsuccessful attempts of exploitation, alternating with long periods of abandonment or reduced activity, even after its integration in the "Couto Mineiro do Lena" (mining-field of Lena), in 1929. Captain Carlos Ribeiro, the state engineer sent there in mid-1854 for official recognition of the deposits, confirmed the occurrences registered at the City Council by Raymundo Lacerda, army officer and "owner" from Lisbon, assuming its continuity at depth. but calling attention to the frequent presence of iron pyrites which, in his opinion, could restrict industrial applications of that coal. However, the biggest obstacle to the exploitation of these deposits from the "Oolitic Period" (Upper Jurassic) was, the coal transportation to the places of consumption,  and the mining success as conditioned to the opening of a southward interwoven system of canals (never built) which could ensure a cheap connection with the Tagus river, where loaded barges could descend easily to Lisbon.Although many hopes have been deposited in these mines, the production never achieved expressive values, even during the two World Wars, when the activity was intense. However, these intermittent works were repeatedly being resumed till mid-1954, reaching a depth of approximately 180 m in the vain hope of coming to find layers that could guarantee a profitable operation, producing coals easily acceptable in the market. Nothing at all, that the drillings made in 1941by the Portuguese Institute for Fuels, not left guessing.

KEYWORDS: Mines; coal; Mining field of Lena; Porto de Mos; Portugal.