The deposits of wolfram integrate a set of filonianas deposits of tungsten and tin distributed from Galicia to Castile (Spain) across the northern and central Portugal, and defining the designated "tin-volframítica Iberian Province." These mineralized veins are particularly abundant in the Arouca region, particularly in the area of Pena Amarela. Here we find dozens of mouths of mines that testify ancient illegal explorations. These can be observed from a panoramic point or traversing a route along the same (PR8 " Rota do Ouro Negro” (Route of the Black Gold"). They were exploited by the "pilhas" (people, who were nor miners, without a contract in search of volfram), mainly from Arouca, during the so-called "Fever of Wolfram." At the peak of World War II, men and women ventured to open, with the hammer and the pick, the hard rock in hopes of finding the "black gold" that would allow them to make a small fortune (Vilar, 1998). Later, in 1953, these mines were concessioned having been obtained the license for the so-called Pena Amarela No. 1 and Pena Amarela No. 2. The lack of flow of the product led, like all other mines of wolfram in Arouca, to its abandonment in 1988. In addition to all the historical and mining charge, the scenic arrangement of the surrounding landscape is breathtaking, strongly marked by deep and trenched valleys, where run crystal clear waters as the Ribeira da Cobela and Ribeira da Pena Amarela, that join nearby. Ribeira da Cobela forms a waterfall that arrests the pedestrianist` glance.
The change of the landscape caused by the mouths of the mines and the ruins of an old "tavern" used by miners, give to this geosite a high interest at the level of the cultural landscape, medium interest at the level of mining archeology and high tourist interest. The morphology of the sudden slopes of the rivers, and all observable ways caused by river dynamics were still untouched by man and are valuable from the point of view of geomorphology. The educational nature of the site is undeniable, not only relatively to aspects related with the mining, but also for many other geological features. The presence of wolframite also guarantees an average interest at the level of collections for museums. Thus, this geosite assumes great importance at regional level.
Location: Arouca
