Location
São Domingos Mine is located in southern Portugal, Alentejo region, in the Iberian Pyrite Belt.
37°43′23″ N, 7°30′28″ W
Description
The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) extends from southern Portuguese Alentejo province along Spanish Andalucía near Seville. It is one of the most significant metallogenic provinces for Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposits globally, including world-class and medium-sized deposits like São Domingos Mine.
The volcanic sequence in the mine area is complex and poorly exposed. The site contains a unique vertical mass of cupriferous pyrite associated with zinc and lead sulphides. It was mined via open pit and underground methods from the surface down to 420m.
Mining began in the 19th century using incineration, cementation tanks, and later raw leaching. Waste materials such as slags, dumps, and tailings are enriched in hazardous elements like Zn, Pb, Sb, Cu, As, Hg, and Cd. These residues are highly reactive and pose risks for environmental contamination through acid drainage and metal mobility.
Present-day dumps cover large areas and remain environmentally critical. Historical exports included copper concentrate and nodules treated in the UK for copper, gold, and silver. Infrastructure like the Pomarão railway and harbour supported extensive mining logistics.
Objectives
The functional requirements for this pilot aim to enable more precise, efficient, and sustainable mining operations through the integration of advanced remote sensing technologies and underground mapping tools.
Extraction
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Remote monitoring and prospecting
Implementation of SLAM-LiDAR, hyperspectral drone inspection, and satellite-based InSAR techniques. These technologies enhance mine face evaluation and mine planning in complex mineralized environments by providing accurate, real-time spatial and compositional information. -
Digital technologies for energy-efficient mining and GHG reduction
The use of advanced sensors such as MWD dataloggers reduces the extraction of sterile rock, improving the operational efficiency and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. -
Conventional mining in difficult environments
Mapping and monitoring of abandoned mines, remote tailings, and underground locations require fast and safe precision methods where GPS is not available. This is achieved through real-time positioning and monitoring sensors specifically adapted for underground conditions.
Available Data Layers
This pilot site integrates a wide range of geospatial data sources, including thematic WMS services, remote sensing products, interferometric ground motion monitoring, and high-resolution datasets from various sensors.
WMS Layers
A wide variety of data acquired through in situ and airborne surveys has been processed and published as WMS layers for São Domingos. These include:
- LiDAR scans – digital elevation and surface models
- Photogrammetry – high-resolution orthophotos and 3D reconstructions
- Magnetometry – geophysical mapping of subsurface magnetic anomalies
- Multispectral imaging – vegetation and material discrimination
- Thermal imaging – surface temperature anomalies related to mine waste and activity
The platform also includes Soil Pollution layers from the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC). These highlight topsoil concentrations of trace elements exceeding established thresholds:
| Layer | Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Excess | P(X > 45 mg kg⁻¹) > 5% |
ESDAC - Arsenic |
| Copper Excess | > 100 mg kg⁻¹ |
ESDAC - Copper |
| Mercury Excess | > 500 μg kg⁻¹ |
ESDAC - Mercury |
| Zinc Excess | > 100 mg kg⁻¹ |
ESDAC - Zinc |
| Cadmium Excess | > 1 mg kg⁻¹ |
ESDAC - Cadmium |
Ground Motion Monitoring
The European Ground Motion Service (EGMS), part of the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service, is integrated into this pilot to support monitoring of ground deformation. EGMS uses Sentinel-1 data to detect millimetric vertical motion across Europe.
In addition, independent interferometric studies have been carried out specifically over São Domingos. The resulting ground motion layers and time series graphs are included as WMS services and support deformation analysis and environmental risk assessment.
Satellite Products (via Calendar)
On-demand satellite imagery from Sentinel-2 (Level 2A) and Landsat 8 (Collection 2, Tier 1) can be explored using the calendar interface. These layers are generated dynamically and support the monitoring of vegetation, water, mining activity, and soil conditions.
| Product | Group | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ferric Iron | Mining Index | Present in iron-oxide minerals such as hematite and goethite. These minerals often result from the oxidation of transition metals on the surface of soils and rocks. Detects Fe³⁺ions in general. |
| Ferrous Iron | Mining Index | Commonly found in weathered surfaces and its lattice environment determines its specific spectral behavior. It is associated with ferrous silicates and is an indicator of specific oxidation states in mineralized zones. |
| Ferrous Silicates | Mining Index | This group includes minerals like biotite, chlorite, and amphibole. They are often associated with iron-oxide copper-gold (IOCG) alteration systems. |
| Alteration (Clays, Carbonate, Hydroxyl Minerals, Kaolinite, Epidote, Laterite) | Mining Index | A broad category representing mineral replacement by hydrothermal fluids or intense weathering. It includes: - Clays: Indicators of argillic or phyllic alteration. - Carbonate: Key components of limestones and reservoir rocks. - Hydroxyl Minerals: Secondary minerals containing OH groups, such as micas and clays. - Laterite: Iron and aluminum-rich soil formed by intense chemical weathering in tropical/arid environments. |
| Ferric Oxides | Mining Index | Similar to the Ferric Iron index but more focused on specific oxides with an emphasis on red. |
| Ferrous Oxides | Mining Index | Similar to the ferrous iron index, but with an emphasis on reduced oxides in general. |
| Iron Oxide Index | Mining Index | Includes minerals like hematite, goethite, and jarite. They are products of the oxidation of ferromagnesian minerals or the hydrothermal alteration of sulfides, forming a critical part of "red beds" and weathered surfaces. |
| Gossan | Mining Index | An iron-oxide and hydroxide-rich cap (such as limonite) that forms by the weathering and oxidation of underlying sulfide deposits. Its presence is a key surface indicator for locating volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits. |
| Chlorite | Mining Index | A phyllosilicate typical of low-sulfidation epithermal and propylitic alteration environments. It often replaces original mafic minerals in volcanic rocks. |
| NDVI | Vegetation Index | Normalized Difference Vegetation Index |
| SAVI | Vegetation Index | Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index |
| NDWI | Water Index | Normalized Difference Water Index |
| MNDWI | Water Index | Modified NDWI for better water detection |
| TI | Water Index | Turbidity Index |