Master Thesis presented by Maria Fernanda D. Lages de Lima, 1997

Abstract
The region of the Alto - Minho is claimed by some authors to be "the most one": the most mountainous, the wettest, the rainiest, the most vegetated. the greenest and the most populated. The NW of Minho, exhibits a mainly granite rocky substract, although metasedimentary formations can also occur within a certain amount, mainly from the Silurian period. It is marked by the fractures and moved by the tectonics, exposing itself like an amphitheatre giving to the ocean.

The structural features of the geological material, noticed over there, are the result and the testimony of the different phases of the Hercynian orogeny and, besides, of the several tectonical deformations, which have been recently caused by the reactivation of the fragile late Hercynian lineaments, in particular the Pliocene Quartenary tectonics.

In this context, a lot of structures and / or unusual mineralogies occur frequently, and sometimes their outcrops are so unique that must be preserved.

Those places, which represent well of geological process in the interface between the granite and the host-rocks, should be safeguarded for future evaluation.

So the procedure was to characterize and make an inventory of the several occurences, having in mind a selective inclusion in classified itineraries, as well as giving to those sites a quality-rate, either when setting them in reservation or just by their representativeness.

It is also a fact that the Minho is remarkably scenic, making one feel the need to inform about those esthetic values of rare beauty. Therefore, they were classified as sites in the sphere of the geomorfology, making them available for cultural touristic tours. In the first half of the century, granted areas for mining exploitation were set up in many slopes of the mountains of the NW of Minho, mainly of tin and wolfram.

Marks coming out of this activity can be seen on the soil, being a valuable patrimony in terms of mining archeology.

Because of this fact, it was done a research on those archeological values. After the most important abandoned mines have been characterized, they were also classified as sites of geological interest in the sphere of the mining archeology.

It was done a study of inventory of SGI (Sites of Geological Interest), identification, classification and characterization within a frame of proposals for good use.

For further, contact Prof. Carlos Leal Gomes.