PORTUGUESE ORNAMENTAL STONESPotential and Perspectives
LNEG Board of DirectorsMachado LeiteNovember 2016
LENLaboratory of
EnergyMember of
European Energy Research Alliance
>2.000 Professionals
EERA
>10.000 Geologists
EGS
MISSION – Research and Knowledge transfer for the Society and Economy
42
LNEGNational Laboratory for
Energy and Geology
LGMLaboratory of Geology
and MiningMember of European
Geological Surveys
VISION – networking, seeking excellence and recognition by Society
NationalGeological Survey
LNEG MonographsGranites and Similar Rocks of Portugal
Portuguese Ornamental Marbles and Limestones
http://www.lneg.pt/download/7255/index.htmlhttp://www.lneg.pt/download/7310/index.html
Chapters:
Geology, Petrography and Chemistry Physic-mechanical properties Mining and sustainability Application and Architecture Protection and restoration Catalogues
54 marbles 37 limestones 52 granites 6 Schists
List of Producers
Subject this presentation:
1. Igneous Stones2. Limestones3. Metamorphics Rocks
STRECKEISEN classification
IUGS – International Union of Geological Sciences
Modal composition:Q - QuartzA – Alkaline FeldsparP - PlagioclaseF – Feldspathoidal minerals
Simplified classification– Tonality– Texture
1- Igneous StonesTonality
Visible crystals(plutonic rocks)
Very small crystals
(volcanic rocks)
TonalityGranitesSyenites
RyolitesTraquites
LeucocrateGabbrosDiorites
BasaltesAndesites
MesocratePeridotitesAnphibolitesPiroxenites
QUARTZ
ALKAL.
FELDS.
ACIDIC
PLAGIO.
CALCIC
PLAIO.
INTERM.
PLAGIO
AC
IDIC
RO
CK
SIN
TER
MED
IATE
R
OC
KS
BA
SIC
R
OC
KS
GRANITE
GRANODIORITE
DIORITEGABBRO
Re
sist
ance
to
Ab
rasi
on
We
ar
Resistance to Atmospheric Weathering
OTHERS
OTHERS
OTHERS
OTHERS
Petrography and technological
properties
More stable minerals
Mo
re Q
uar
tz
1- Igneous Stones
Geographical distribution of
Portuguese Ornamental
Granites and similar stones
Rosa Monção
Cinzento Claro
Grande Cristal
Cristal Amarelo
Cinzento S. Torcato
Cristal Azul
Cinzento Cinfães
Branco Coral
Cinzento Antas
Pórfiro Ácido
Sienito Monchique
Verde Donai
Cinzento Claro
Cinza Telões
Amarelo Vila Real
Amarelo Figueira
Cinzento de Pinhel
Cinzento Claro
Rosa Arronches
Rosa Monforte
Rosa Sta. Eulália
Rosado Claro
Branco Vimioso
Cabo Verde
Cinzento
Diorito
Granite
Acidic Porphiry
Diorite
Gabbro
Syenite
Serpentinite
Portuguese
Igneous Stones
2 - Limestones
Simplified classification - FOLK, 1972
Alochemical Rocks
Carbonate sediments coming from outside the sedimentary basin
Ortochemical Rocks
Carbonate material chemically precipitated in place
Coral Reefs carbonates
Detrital material
Clastic
Fossils
Oolites
Pellets
g
Geographical distribution of production centers:- Codaçal
- Moleanos
- Pé de Pedreira
- Cabeça Veada
- Salgueiras
- Fátima
Mármores e Calcários Ornamentais de Portugal – Casal Moura, INETI, 2007
Portuguese Limestones
Mármores e Calcários Ornamentais de Portugal – Casal Moura, INETI, 2007
Textures and Petrographic fabric – some examples- Carbonate breccia
- Compact limestones
- Good mechanic properties
- Homogenous textures
Portuguese
Limestones
Mármores e Calcários Ornamentais de Portugal – Casal Moura, INETI, 2007
3 - Metamorphic Rocks
Petrographic classification
of Portuguese
Metamorphic rocks:
Marbles
BlackSlate
• Good quality Marbles
• Good quality Black Slate
• Dark Serpentinite
Mármores e Calcários Ornamentais de Portugal – Casal Moura, INETI, 2007
Portuguese Marbles
Textures and Petrographic fabric – some examples- Calcitic marbles - > 90% calcite
- Fine grained
- Whitish, pinkish, greenish, violetish marbles
Mármores e Calcários Ornamentais de Portugal – Casal Moura, INETI, 2007
Geographical distribution of production centers
Estremoz-Borba-Vila Viçosa geological anticline
Portuguese Marbles
Bluisk grey to dark grey homogeneous, compact, finely grained and clear cleavage Slate
Valongo Canelas
Foz Côa SchistFine grained dark-grey layered schist, showing deformation and irregular cleavage
Barrancos SchistMicaceous schist, greenish tonality, sometimes yellowish, reddish ,showing bioturbations
Mourão SchistGreyish or bluish-grey schist, with spots and dark-grey punctuations
Portuguese Slate and Schist
ROP – LNEG portal for Ornamental Stones -http://rop.lneg.pt/rop/?&lg=pt
Search EngineExpert system supports the decision
Selection of the adequate
lithotypes for a given purpose
Technical constraints choosen by the operator
…
Encreasingqualityexigency
Technological Properties
A good choice implies: Selection of the lithotype that better fits the fundamental use… but also Dimensioning the construction elements according to its structural expected behavior
Especificações para a Pedra Natural(Contributos para a Selecção e para o Dimensionamento)A. Casal MouraBoletim de Minas, 41 (2) - 2006
Example:Recommended thickness (calculated) for slabs and cubes
Final RemarksPortuguese know-how and tradition using Ornamental Stones
Lisbon – the City of Lioz Limestone
The extensive use of Lioz limestone in the reconstruction of the down-town of Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake has proved to have been a good choice:• It is a raw-material from the region (Pero Pinheiro
quarries)• Its remarkable aesthetical and physico-mechanical
capacities - one of the most resistant limestones to atmospheric weathering and to abrasion wear
Monuments – D. José I statue; Basílica da Estrela
(ROP - Casal Moura – LNEG)
Photos - https://pt.wikipedia.org/wki
José Saramago, the Portuguese Literature Nobel Prize, in his masterpiece the “Memorial do Convento”, immortalized Baltasar, a former wheel barrow carrier who was promoted to “ox commander” of more than 400 oxen that pulled the wagon with the stone from Pero Pinheiro (Sintra, Lisbon) to Mafra (15 km away)
Story of the transportation of a big Lioz piece for the balcony of the
Mafra Convent,weighing about 37 tones
(7 x 6 x 0,64 m)sentirportugus.blogspot.com
Lioz Limestone
… this fictional romance will keep Lioz limestone to last for the times to come
Final RemarksPortuguese know-how and tradition using Ornamental Stones
Porto – the City of Granite
Colonnades and arcades of different styles
Final RemarksPortuguese know-how and tradition using Ornamental Stones
Porto – the City of Granite
Dimension stone and other facade elements
Final RemarksPortuguese know-how and tradition using Ornamental Stones
Portuguese ornamental stones are demanded from different parts of the World
Portugal is the second ranked Ornamental Stone country in volume/capita, with rock reserves computed as:• 270 Mm3 granites• 76 Mm3 limestones• 51 Mm3 marbles• 9 Mm3 slates
Can Portugal increase competiveness as exporter of manufactured ornamental stone?
Final Remarks
Portuguese ornamental stones are demanded from different parts of the World
Good and modern equipment and technologies to increase adding-value (high to low thickness)
Importing high quality ornamental stones from other countries to enlarge national trade palettes
Good infrastructures for internal transports and exportation• Fluvial route of Douro River serves the triangle Viseu-Guarda-Mogadouro
where there are huge reserves of high quality granites, adequate for several purposes
• The Atlantic border is a bridge to other Continents• Portuguese Speaking Countries is a challenging market
Final Remarks
Can Portugal increase competiveness as exporter of manufactured ornamental stone?