The Geology as an indispensable tool for optimizing the exploration of dimension Stones

Like any Geological Resource, the Dimension Stones can only be exploited where they occur. How they occur is a reflection of geological history that presided over its formation. Their nature determines the mode of deposit and therefore it’s potential to be exploited as ornamental stone. The geological setting of the Portuguese marbles became a key factor in the optimization of its exploitation, two ductile deformation phases must be consider, which originates the complex folded metamorphic layering. At least three fracturing systems are responsible for the high segmentation of the marbles in fragile deformation conditions and that must also be considered. Together these geological constraints lead to a really low production ratio (3% - 12%). These low efficiency productions emphasized the emergence of the geological knowledge of individual quarries in order to optimize is exploitation. Until recent years, with high prices for the Portuguese marbles the companies haven’t been concerned with the geological knowledge of its quarries, but now that an economic crisis is installed in the sector, basic geological studies in the quarries are mandatory and could save thousands of euros for each company

Recursos Geológicos e Desenvolvimento Sustentável: Rochas Industriais e Ornamentais

Mais do que nunca, no Século XXI a dependência em georrecursos é um factor de desenvolvimento crucial em qualquer Sociedade. Em todas as economias emergentes e apesar da na maior parte dos casos o seu crescimento económico estar associado à riqueza em determinado recurso geológico, de um modo geral, a demanda destas matérias-primas é largamente superior à oferta, o que acaba por condicionar o seu próprio desenvolvimento. Deste modo os projectos de cartografia geológica e mineira, com o reconhecimento, inventariação, classificação e quantificação de georrecursos, são factores cruciais para o desenvolvimento sustentável de qualquer País. Só se pode desenvolver uma indústria em torno de um georrecurso se já houver um conhecimento do território que permita elaborar um plano integrado envolvendo o território, as populações e os interesses económicos quer do País quer das empresas que o pretendam explorar. Nas Sociedades onde existe uma grande ocupação do território, a ocorrência de determinado georrecurso frequentemente causa conflitos de interesses entre populações e a Indústria. Por outro lado, em locais isolados pode constituir um pólo de desenvolvimento e gerar oportunidades de negócio com impacto directo na economia local ou mesmo regional, no entanto reforçamos que é fundamental haver um correcto conhecimento geológico e envolver desde a primeira hora as comunidades locais a todos os níveis. Nesta apresentação iremos debruçar-nos sobre os recursos minerais não metálicos que são usualmente divididos em: i) minerais industriais; ii) rochas industriais e iii) rochas ornamentais. Estas últimas estão associadas a um conceito de dimensão (Dimension Stones na terminologia anglo-saxónica) que permita a obtenção de blocos, normalmente de forma paralelepipédica com dimensões até 3m x 2m x 2m pelo facto de se lhe associar a ideia de transformação industrial em chapas com espessuras variáveis a partir de 12mm, que posteriormente são transformadas em ladrilhos de várias dimensões padrão e outras peças por medidas

Portuguese Ornamental Stones: Identity and Cultural Heritage in Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP)

Portugal has established itself as an independent state on 5 October 1143 being confined to the south-eastern tip of Europe, with sealed land access to the rest of the continent by the others Iberian Peninsula kingdoms, enemies at the time who did not accept Portuguese autonomy. From the fourteenth century, the history of Portugal reports a period of epic discoveries. New commercial maritime routes have been established. Those routes sailing around Africa, passing through India, drove Portuguese people to Macao and Timor. To the East other routes reach the South American continent. Besides commercial interest, and because the church also financed these trips, they had the mission to evangelize the native peoples that were found. In every formed captaincies numerous churches, hospitals and fortifications were built. Combining a long tradition and mastery of monumental stone building and stonemasonry, which dates back to the Roman Period, Portuguese were able to combine the need to provide ships stability, using already worked stone as ballast. When arrived to these remote locations, quickly and with few local resources could erect towering and admirable structures that still prevail today. Most of these regions were colonized and gave rise to independent countries in the 70’s of the 20th Century, in all of them Portuguese is the official language constitutes the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). This work shows that in addition to the language, traditions, customs, and architecture, there’s also a very rich Portuguese Natural Stones monumental heritage building record, which constitutes a very strong link that binds this so special community. References Casal Moura, A., 2000. Granitos e Rochas Similares de Portugal, Instituto Geológico e Mineiro, Lisboa, ISBN 972-98469-5-2. 179. Casal Moura, A.; Carvalho, C.; Almeida, I.; Saúde, J. G.; Farinha Ramos, J.; Augusto, J.; Rodrigues, J. D.; Carvalho, J.; Martins, L.; Matos; M. J.; Machado, M.; Sobreiro, M. J.; Peres, M.; Martins, N.; Bonito, N.; Henriques, P. & Sobreiro, S., 2007. Mármores e Calcários Ornamentais de Portugal. INETI (National Institute of Engineering, Technology and Innovation), ISBN 978-972-676-204-1. 383. Lopes, L., Carrilho Lopes, J. C., CABRAL, J. P. & Sarantopoulos, P. (2000) – Caracterização Petrográfica dos Monumentos Romanos de Évora. Revista “Cidade de Évora”, II Série, Nº4. 129-142. Silva, Z. C. (2007) – O Lioz Português de lastro. De navio a arte na Bahia, Edições Afrontamento, Porto, ISBN 978-972-36-0924-0, 156

Recursos Geológicos e Desenvolvimento Sustentável: Rochas Industriais e Ornamentais

Mais do que nunca, no Século XXI a dependência em georrecursos é um fator de desenvolvimento crucial em qualquer Sociedade. Em todas as economias emergentes e apesar de muitas, o seu crescimento estar associado à riqueza em determinado recurso geológico, de um modo geral, a demanda de matérias-primas é largamente superior à oferta, o que acaba por condicionar o seu próprio desenvolvimento. Deste modo os projetos de cartografia geológica e mineira, com o reconhecimento, inventariação, classificação e quantificação de georrecursos, são fatores cruciais para o desenvolvimento sustentável de qualquer País. Só se pode desenvolver uma indústria em torno de um georrecurso se já houver um conhecimento do território que permita elaborar um plano integrado envolvendo o território, as populações e os interesses económicos quer do País quer das empresas que o pretendam explorar. Nas Sociedades onde existe uma grande ocupação do território, a ocorrência de um georrecurso frequentemente causa conflitos de interesses entre populações e a Indústria. Por outro lado, em locais isolados pode constituir um pólo de desenvolvimento e gerar oportunidades de negócio com impacto direto na economia local ou mesmo regional, no entanto reforçamos que é fundamental haver um correto conhecimento geológico e envolver desde a primeira hora as comunidades locais a todos os níveis

AS PEDRAS PORTUGUESAS DOS EDÍFICIOS E MONUMENTOS BRASILEIROS

Resumo: A utilização de rochas ornamentais portuguesas nos países da CPLP (Comunidade do Países de Língua Oficial Portuguesa), desde o Séc. XVI é historicamente conhecida e encontra-se profusamente documentada. Por exemplo, consultando a base de dados do SIPA (Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, disponível em http://www.monumentos.pt) encontramos quase 33.000 referências à utilização da “pedra” em monumentos. Infelizmente, na maior parte dos casos não se refere especificamente que pedra, ou pedras, foram utilizadas em determinado monumento, pelo que algo ainda haverá a fazer para completar esta enorme e muito importante base de dados. Concretamente e no que concerne ao Brasil, são referidos 163 monumentos e edifícios onde pedra de origem portuguesa foi utilizada. Partindo do exemplo concreto da cidade de Évora, neste curto ensaio apresentamos os principais tipos litológicos, de origem portuguesa, que podemos encontrar em edifícios e monumentos históricos no Brasil. Palavras Chave: rochas ornamentais portuguesas, lioz, mármore, monumentos Abstract: PORTUGUESE DIMENSION STONES AND BRAZILIAN MONUMENTS. The use of Portuguese Dimension Stones in the countries of the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries) since the 16th century is historically known and widely documented. For example, by consulting the SIPA database (Architectural Heritage Information System, available at http://www.monumentos.pt) we find almost 33,000 references to the use of "stone" in monuments. Unfortunately, in most cases it does not specifically refer to what stone or stones were used in a given monument, so there is still something to be done to complete this huge and very important database. Specifically, as far as Brazil is concerned, 163 monuments and buildings where Portuguese origin stone of was used are mentioned. In this short essay, taking as example the stones used in the city of Évora, we present the main lithological types of Portuguese origin, which can be found in historical buildings and monuments in Brazil

Lioz: The Stone that made Lisbon reborn – A Global Heritage Stone Resource Proposal

Lioz: The Stone that made Lisbon reborn – A Global Heritage Stone Resource Proposal Explored since the Roman Period, the Lioz (Cenomanian age microcrystalline fossiliferous limestone) is the main stone used in the buildings and monuments of Lisbon. After the great cataclysm of 1755 (earthquake, tsunami and fire) of 1755, the already known great quality and the near occurrence of these limestones were wisely used in the great reconstruction of the “Capital do Império” (Capital of the Empire). At the time, Lisbon was one of the largest European cities and great business center of the World, so the necessary and urgent reconstruction was not so difficult to start. Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, better known as "Marquês de Pombal", Secretary of King José I, successfully took up the challenge of rebuilding Lisbon. Inside the actual Portuguese capital geographical limits, several quarries of the Cretaceous limestone were explored; some still exist and are classified as geomonuments (i.e. Rio Seco Geomonument, 38 42’21 .67”N; 9 11 ’30.37”W). As the City boundaries expanded, the quarries stopped and now there is no one asset in Lisbon. The most important exploitation and processing Lioz stone center was situated in Pêro Pinheiro, 20 km NW of Lisbon. Most of the stones used in the National Palace-Convent of Mafra (1717) belongs to the four main types of Lioz (the cream/white “Abancado”, the pink/dark pink “Encarnadão”, the yellow “Amarelo de Negrais” and the blueish grey “Azulino”), either cut “against” (perpendicular to the bedding plane) or “along” (parallel to the bedding plane). The orientation stone cut deeply controls texture and mechanical properties of the rocks that behaves as different ones were considered. In the last two decades, the Lioz extraction was almost extinguished. However, some of the old quarries was reactivated and produces first quality blocks needed both for new works and restoration of historic buildings and monuments. The importance of this stone goes beyond borders since it was profusely used during the Portuguese maritime expansion from the 16th century and there are several examples of application in Brazil and in the African countries of Portuguese official language, but not only. Taking in account the historical and widely use of this stone, its mechanical properties several times determined, many scientific published papers, etc. the Lioz full fill the criteria to be part of the GHSR Interim list and a reference paper to promoted it as “Global Heritage Stone Resource” is proposed. Este trabalho é cofinanciado pela União Europeia através do Sistema de Apoio a Ações Coletivas (Internacionalização), enquadrado no PORTUGAL 2020 através do projeto com a referência POCI-02-0752-FEDER-014739

Metabolism of primary astrocytes studied by NMR: metabolic trafficking and neuroprotection

Dissertation presented to obtain a Ph. D. degree in Biochemistry by Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica.The human brain is the product of 600 million years of evolution and it is by far the most complex structure in the known universe. The vertebrates’ brain is composed of several different cell types, which perform the different functions required. The two most abundant cell types are neurons, which are the brain function unit, and glial cells, which are responsible for a myriad of housekeeping, homeostatic and structural functions. Glial metabolism is so far interconnected with the neuronal metabolism, that it is difficult to state where one finishes and the other starts. Trafficking between the two compartments include metabolites of almost all metabolic pathways (glycolysis, TCA, amino acids, ketone bodies, etc) and also ions.(...)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia – PRAXIS XXI, for the financial support that made this doctoral work possible (PRAXIS XXI/BD/21532/99)

Global Heritage Stone: Estremoz Marbles from Portugal

The Estremoz Anticline is a Variscan structure that has a Precambrian core and younger rocks aged Devonian Period. The marbles exploited as dimension stone occupy an intermediate stratigraphic position in the Cambrian age Volcano Sedimentary Sequence. The Variscan Orogeny was performed twice with different intensities under ductile and brittle tension fields. The Alpine Cycle also acts and causes more fracturing of the marbles. The geological features imprinted in the marbles are beautiful aesthetic patterns highlighted when used as Dimension Stone. A long term continuous exploitation have been carried out since the Roman period. Pieces of art made with Estremoz Marbles were exported abroad and can be found in Museums and Archaeological Sites throughout Europe and North Africa countries. Present day Estremoz Marble’s production can be found all over the World. The marble based built heritage is omnipresent in the cities region. The historical and widespread application of these marbles in National and International Monuments, some of them already part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a condition to propose them as Global Heritage Stone Resource for their international recognition. References Lopes, L. & Martins, R. 2014. Global Heritage Stone: Estremoz Marbles, Portugal. From: Pereira, D., Marker, B. R., Kramar, S., Cooper, B. J. & Schouenborg, B. E. (eds) Global Heritage Stone: Towards International Recognition of Building and Ornamental Stones. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 407, http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP407.1

Estratégias de Desenvolvimento Regional: Geoturismo e Património Industrial na Região dos Mármores em Portugal.

Um passado superior a dois mil anos de atividade extrativa na Região dos Mármores, Alentejo - Portugal (RM - correspondente à estrutura geológica conhecida por anticlinal de Estremoz, entre Sousel, a noroeste, e Alandroal, a sudeste, com destaque para triângulo geográfico entre as localidades de Estremoz - Borba - Vila Viçosa), constituí um legado mineiro demasiado enraizado para que possa ser esquecido. Nos últimos 50 anos o incremento desta atividade modificou de tal modo a paisagem tornando-a irreconhecível até para quem coabita nesse espaço. As pedreiras só por si constituem um pólo interesse onde a geologia, a indústria e o património industrial e intangível, se cruzam num misto de emoções e vertigens (Figura 1). Entre pedreiras ativas, com lavra suspensa, abandonadas, sanjas, valas e poços de prospeção, existem na RM mais de quinhentas cavidades. Apesar disso e graças ao sentido de responsabilidades de algumas empresas ainda é possível encontrar in situ vestígios mineiros que remontam ao Período Romano. São inúmeras as referências à utilização dos «mármores de Estremoz» em monumentos, obras de arte, peças utilitárias e ornamentais assim como elemento estrutural, em antigas cidades romanas por todos os países circum-mediterrâneos. Também os estudos de proveniência de materiais utilizados nessas cidades se têm multiplicado demonstrando o carácter único e excecional dos mármores (rosados) de Estremoz [e.g. Antonelli et al., 2009, Taelman et al, 2013]

Global Heritage Stone: The Excellence of Portuguese Estremoz Marbles

Palaeozoic calcitic marbles are found in the Estremoz Anticline, Ossa-Morena Zone (Southern Branch of the European Variscides in Portugal). The 40 km NW-SE structure present outcrops continuity and intense mining activity since the Roman Period (fourth century BC). The structure has a Precambrian core and the younger rocks aged Devonian Period. The marbles occupy an intermediate stratigraphic position in the Cambrian age Volcano Sedimentary Sequence. The Variscan Orogeny performed twice with different intensities under ductile and brittle tension fields. The Alpine Cycle also acts and causes more fracturing of the marbles. These show spatial-temporal continuity of the deformation where a complete Wilson Cycle can be described. The geological features imprint the marbles beautiful aesthetic patterns that are highlighted when used as Dimension Stone (DS). The marbles exhibit physical properties allowing fabrication of structural and decorative elements. In the Roman period, pieces of art made with Estremoz Marbles were exported abroad and can be found in Museums and Archaeological Sites throughout Europe and North Africa countries. During the maritime expansion, altars, stairways, columns, statues, etc., were carried as ballast in the holds of ships. At the destination the Portuguese had built monuments which can now be found in South America and Africa countries. The Modern DS Industry Global Market allows Portuguese Marbles to be present all over the World. Notice that every variety of marble has enough reserves to sustain the mining activity for several hundreds of years. The Alentejo hallmark whitewashed houses are a landscape that can only have been developed by the availability of marbles to produce quicklime. The marble based built heritage is very rich and is always present. The countryside is marked by intense mining activity living side by side with rural industries, namely wheat fields, groves, orchards and vineyards; therefore the region has unique characteristics allowing the development of integrated industrial tourism routes, promoting sustainable development of industrial, scientific and technological culture opportunities. This work has been financially supported by INOVSTONE: FCOMP-01-202-FEDER-013854 (QREN-Portugal, COMPETE/FEDER) and by the Geophysics Centre of Évora