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Mineral Potential of Portugal (1998)1. PreambleA complex and diversified geology endows Portugal with a considerable mineral potential, leading to the occurrence of considerable number of ore, industrial and ornamental stone deposits. Mineral exploitation has a present considerable high level originated from world class deposits, as Neves-Corvo (Cu, Sn) and Panasqueira (W), but also from a lot of some other deposits producing salt, feldspar, uranium, kaolin, ball clay and fire clay, ornamental stones and some other mineral substances. Portugal is presently the main UE producer of copper, tin and tungsten concentrates and 6th world producer of ornamental stones. Exploration activity is also at a high level considering the relative small extent of the territory (roughly 90 000 Km2). Large international companies and junior international companies conduct exploration mainly focused on base and precious metals. Portuguese territory covers half of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) which is considered the main metallogenic province of the European Union, where occurrences of polymetallic massive sulphide deposits like Neves-Corvo and Aljustrel, in Portugal, Rio Tinto, Sotiel, Los Frailes, Las Cruces, etc., in Spain. The IPB is the main primary source of base metals in the EU. Hesperian granites and associated metamorphics in the north and central part of the country are associated with tungsten and tin mineralisations, Panasqueira being the biggest wolframite mine out R P. China. The potential in precious metals is well known since ancient times and is spread out geographically all over the country, occurring in diverse forms and different geological settings (veins, skarns, shear zones, placers, etc.). The general framework of the activity has favourable characteristics, which is considered one of the reasons, linked with the recognised mineral potential, of the present level of activity. Institutional stability, mineral rights granting mineral property, good infrastructure, incentives to investment, affordable qualified work for European standards, a light fiscal burden are several others reasons why activity is so interesting. This publication lies in the framework of the public mission of the Instituto Geo1ógico e Mineiro (national geological survey) of promoting corporate investment, both national and foreign, which may be complemented to all those interested with the provision of all the basic information about geology, hydrogeology, geophysics, geochemistry and drilling data in archive or assistance in defining exploration targets and strategies. You are welcome! President of the Board Luís Rodrigues da Costa
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