16^th IAGOD Quadrennial Symposium 2026

Join us for a lifetime opportunity to discover some of the most well-kept secrets of Portuguese’s Geology in the Azores islands. We are offering an extended and a shorter version of this field trip that involves a visit to the unique volcanic landscapes of the different islands and access to some cultural aspects of the region.

A unique field trip that brings together science, culture, and sensory experience: Between Granite and Grapes. This excursion will take the participants to the region of Monção, in northern Portugal – a key location along the Vinho Verde Wine Route. This area is characterised by the presence of post-tectonic Variscan granites, whose distinctive physical and chemical properties play a fundamental role in shaping the terroir that supports the cultivation of Alvarinho grapes, one of Portugal’s most renowned wine varieties. The day will begin with a scientific visit to the Monção granite outcrops, including an on-site presentation and open discussion focused on the geological features and their implications for the region’s viticulture. Beyond its geological interest, the day will also offer a rich cultural and social component composed of a guided visit to the Palácio da Brejoeira, including its vineyards and historic wine cellar and a wine tasting at the elegant Palácio de Silva Monteiro, overlooking the scenic Douro River in Porto. This is a unique opportunity to explore the intricate relationship between geology and winemaking tradition, while enjoying a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere in a truly exceptional setting.

Since 2009, Arouca has been classified as a UNESCO Global Geopark due to the high geodiversity of this territory. A total of 41 geosites (sites of geological interest) have been identified here, based on their significance in terms of mineralogy, petrography, tectonics, paleontology, paleogeography, geomorphology, among others. During this visit, you will have the opportunity to explore 7 of the 41 geosites of the Arouca Geopark, which reflect important events in the history of Planet Earth, including two of international relevance: the curious phenomenon of the Pedras Parideiras (Birthing Stones) and the fossil collection at the Trilobite Museum, which features well-preserved trilobite fossils from the Middle Ordovician.

This field trip focuses on the eastern (Spanish) sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), one of Europe's most significant sulfide provinces and an active mining district with over 5,000 years of continuous mining history. Stretching across Portugal and Spain, the IPB hosts nearly 90 known massive sulfide deposits. Despite its long mining tradition, exploration and production activities in the IPB remain dynamic, maintaining its critical role as global demand for raw materials increases.

Our itinerary will be centered on the Spanish side of the IPB, combining geological field observations with visits to major mining operations. The program includes an introduction to the regional geological context and visits to representative mines such as Riotinto, Tharsis, Aznalcóllar, Escacena, and Las Cruces. We will explore key outcrops of the volcanic and sedimentary host sequence and observe mineralization styles in world-class deposits.

Panasqueira mine is the main wolframite mining operation in Europe and one of the most significant in the world, exploring a hydrothermal deposit of the quartz vein type with W(-Sn-Cu). Exploration is underground and the mine continues to play a very important role in the global supply of high-quality wolframite concentrates together with cassiterite and chalcopyrite concentrates as by-products. In addition to its economic importance, the Panasqueira Mine constitutes a geological treasure, providing magnificent and valuable mineral specimens and allowing the analysis of metallogenic processes related to Variscan peraluminous granites. The Argemela intrusion consists of a rare metal granite (RMG) body associated with tin mineralization and minor wolframite veins. The Panasqueira and Argemela mines offer valuable insights into the Variscan processes and mineral formation that will be discussed in this fieldtrip.

Iberian Pyrite Belt, probably the largest VMS district on Earth: geology, stratigraphy, metallogeny, a bit of past and a lot of future. This field trip provides an excellent opportunity to visit the Neves-Corvo and Aljustrel deposits, both essential for EU CRM/SRM and Energy Transition agendas. Participants will acquire a comprehensive understanding of IPB stratigraphy, ore geology, exploration vectors, mining social perception and sustainability, and mine site reclamation (Lousal, Aljustrel). Key volcano-sedimentary and mineralized sequences will be observed at the LNEG drill core shed and in selected outcrops.

During this field trip we will have the opportunity of going through a deep dive in the regional geological history of the Estremoz anticline with opportunities to see detailed regional stratigraphy and deformation features. This area is known for its marble production, a raw material with big impact in the region’s economy, culture, and history. We will visit examples of marble quarries and show case one of the oldest and most productive surfaces of Portugal's marble extraction.

This field trip will be targeting various pegmatites in both Portugal and Spain. We will visit examples from the Lalín-Forcarei pegmatite field, in Galicia, Spain, the Barroso-Alvão pegmatite field in Portugal, and Fregeneda-Almendra pegmatite field in Portugal and Spain. Other locations are also planned but will be selected closer to the date due to active and ongoing exploration work in various pegmatite localities both in Portugal and Spain.