The Aljustrel mines are located in the Iberian pyrite belt between the south of lower Alentejo (Portugal) and Andalusia (Spain), one of the richest areas of metallic ore in the world. The exploration of the Aljustrel Mines (São João and Algares deposits) initiated in the pre-Roman and Roman periods with the exploration of copper, silver and gold. Metal explortaion, mining and metallurgy began in Aljustrel began in the late 3rd millenium before Christ, during the Copper Age. It is owned and operated by ALMINA - MINAS DO ALENTEJO, S.A.  It produced a copper-silver concentrate until 2018, before the mill was changed over to treat zinc ore and produce a zinc-lead-silver concentrate.

(Credit: www.almina.pt website 2024)

Lunch will be at Aljustrel. In the late afternoon, we will return to Castro Verde. 30 minute Q and A wrap about the day upon our return to the hotel, followed by some rest and relaxation and then a group dinner.

Overnight in Castro Verde.

Day 5. Field day 4: Wednesday Nov 12: Early breakfast. Then a short-presentation of the day ahead. Then we will travel by air-conditioned coach bus taking again the opportunity during travel time to describe the local geology and metallogeny of the Iberian Pyrite Belt.  

We will visit the world-class massive sulphide Neves Corvo Mine:
 
Neves Corvo is a cluster of seven massive sulfide lenses exhibits strong metal zoning into copper, tin and zinc zones, as well as barren massive pyrite. The massive sulfide deposits are typically underlain by stockwork sulfide zones, which form an important part of the copper orebodies. It is owned and operated by Lundin Mining's Portuguese subsidiary, Somincor. Located in the Alentejo district of southern Portugal, the operation is situated approximately 15 km southeast of the town of Castro Verde and approximately 200 km southeast of Lisbon.  The mineral deposits at Neves-Corvo are classified as volcano-sedimentary massive sulphide. They typically occur as lenses of polymetallic (copper, zinc, tin, lead) massive sulphides that formed at or near the seafloor in submarine volcanic environments. Seven massive sulphide lenses have been defined comprising Neves, Corvo, Graça, Zambujal, Lombador, Semblana and Monte Branco. The base metal grades are segregated by the strong metal zoning into copper, tin and zinc zones, as well as barren massive pyrite. The massive sulphide deposits are typically underlain by stockwork sulphide zones, which form an important part of the copper orebodies.


(Credit: www.lundinmining.com website 2024)

Lunch will be on-site or near-by.

Then we will visit the abandoned Sao Domingos Copper Mine:

The now abandoned Sao Domingos Copper Mine was one of the long-term activity mines of the Iberian Pyrite Belt dating back to pre-Roman times. Mining activities there have produced thousands of tons of mine wastes. The mining district is located in the northern sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), one of the largest metallogenetic provinces of massive sulfides in the world with original reserves over 1,700 Mt.

(Credit: https://www.gwrarchive.org/site/sitel2pg/Portugal/ng/minadesd/minadesd.php)

In the late afternoon, we will return to Castro Verde.

Then a 30 minute Q and A wrap about the day upon our return to the hotel, followed by some rest and relaxation and then a group dinner.

Overnight in Castro Verde.

Day 6. Field day 5: Thursday Nov 13: We will start with an early breakfast. Then a short-presentation of the day ahead.  Then we will travel by air-conditioned coach bus taking again the opportunity during travel time to describe the local geology and metallogeny of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. We will visit the coreshed and office of PorMining Lda., the joint venture company that operates the Sesmarias*/Alvalade Copper-ZInc Massive Sulphide Project or the nearby regional tectonic contact outcrops if we are not able to visit.

Sesmarias* is a joint venture project between MAEPA Lda. (subsidiary of Avrupa Minerals) and Sandfire Mineira Portugal (subsidiary of Sandfire Resources).  It is an ongoing advanced exploration project to discover a significant massive sulphide system. It is located within the north-western section of the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal, southeast of Lisbon and is accessible by national highways and roads.

Credit: Avrupa Minerals PDAC 2017 presentation)

Lunch will be at Sesmarias or nearby. In the late afternoon, we will travel and stay in Lisbon/Lisboa. Upon arrival to the hotel, we will have a quick 30 minute Q and A wrap up of the day. Then check in, followed by some rest and relaxation and then a group dinner.  

A short wine tour of the Portuguese regional wine is planned, possibly before returning to our hotel, or after around dinner time.

Overnigt in Lisbon/Lisboa.  

Day 7 Friday morning, Nov 14: Breakfast. Wrap-up short presentation. Say thank yous and good-byes. Finished by 10am.

(Credit: Wikipedia 2024)(Credit: Wikipedia 2024)

Who should attend: This course is intended for geologists engaged in, or interested in, regional- or deposit-scale mapping or in drilling programs in volcanic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits for the purpose of mineral exploration. No prior VMS geology training is required.   

The course is presented and taught in English.

Dr. William X. Chávez, Jr.  is a Professor of Geological Engineering and Economic Geologist at the New México School of Mines, since 1985. He received B.Sc. degrees in Geology (1977) and Mine Engineering (1977) from the New México School of Mines; he has M.A. (1980) and Ph.D. (1984) degrees in Geology from the University of California at Berkeley. He is fluent in English and Spanish. Bill is a renowned leader of international field trips and an expert mapping instructor. He has inspired decades of students who have risen to prominence, or at least unsung but crucial participation, in discoveries all over the world. Bill has a special affinity for supergene alteration processes and products and is one of the few humans on earth who can tell you the difference between atacamite and brochantite with the naked eye, and then explain why the difference is important. Going from micro mineralogy to phase diagrams to outcrop to regional tectonic context, Bill tells a holistic story of ore genesis and relates it back to economics in a singular and inimitable style. We can all expect a lively, thought provoking, and stimulating trip.

Ms. Meghan Jackson is the Principal at Ossifrage Exploration Consulting, LLC, living in Andalusia, Spain . She received B.Sc. degrees in Geology (2002) from the New México School of Mines and a Masters degree (2008) from the University of British Columbia. As an exploration geologist with experience in both geology and engineering, she bring an unusual combination of skills to the mine finding and developing process. She also has experience in geological modeling, underground drilling, reserve development and feasibility studies. She has assisted in the past, with several tours to the Iberian Pyrite Belt. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

$5,597 CAD early registration (to September 5, 2025)  |  $5,897 CAD  late registration (after September 5, 2025)
(Approximately $3,970 USD for the early price & $4,185 USD for the late price)

Fee includes: Five (5) full days and two (2) half days of instruction, 6 nights double-occupancy lodging (November 8 to 14), all meals, wine tour, ground transportation to field sites, fuel, permits, tuition fees, field deposit and mine fees, guidebook with pre-selected relevant papers, and participation certificate. 

Space is limited for all Courses. Register early to avoid disappointment.
KLS Geological reserves the right to cancel Short Courses that do not meet minimum attendance requirements by the early fee date.

Minimum of 14 participants required by the early registration date
Maximum of 20 participants overall

Payments accepted by cheque, wire and bank transfers, and all major credit cards

Register here by filling in the attached registration form, and sending it back by email, fax or by mail

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Please contact Karie Smith at karie@klsgeo.com for more information....