Granite-pegmatite between Mangualde and Mesquitela, explored for feldspar and beryl.

Note: today, all the mines in this pegmatitic formation have a common name: Cubos. This applies to the following uploaded localities: Cabeço do Seixo, Regada, Rochel, Chão de Castanheiro and Cubos-Mesquitela-Mangualde area with eight shafts split among them.

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See: http://www.mindat.org/mesg-25-299281.html

[Rui Nunes, 17th July 2013]: Here are some explanatory notes about the exact location of these mines and their correct distribution in the mining area.

As part of a group visit to Mangualde, I had the opportunity to talk to owners of certain mines in the region and observe on-site some clarifying situations. There is a significant intersection of interests among various companies that own concessions. However, these are purely administrative issues whose resolution will not change the following information:

Therefore, the pegmatitic formation had a total of eight shafts at its peak, distributed throughout the area: shafts 1+1A+2+3+4+5+6+7+8. Shaft 1A no longer exists, as it has long been grounded.

The pegmatitic formation initially resulted in three shafts 1+2+3 with the technical name, assigned by the “Direcção Geral de Minas (DGM)”, of the "Chão de Castanheiro" mine.

Later, the formation gave rise to five more shafts: 4+5+6+7+8 with the technical name, assigned by the DGM, of the "Cubos" mine.
At some point in the history of the formation, they all became known as Cubos Mine, therefore a single mine whose name has persisted to this day: Cubos Mine — Mangualde.

The names "Rochel" and "Cabeço do Seixo" are names of places, popular names, that are within the mining concession grounds.

— Cabeço do Seixo = property on the upper side of the road that contains shafts 1+2.

— Regada = name of the property/agricultural estate that contains shafts 3+4+5.

— Terrenos da SMC-Sociedade Mineira Carolino = shaft 6.

— Rochel = shafts 7+8.

Today, shafts 1+2+3+4+5+6 are yet to be filled; shaft 7 is currently undergoing complete grounding, while shaft 8 has already been grounded.

Shafts 1+2 are on the upper side of the road (Cabeço do Seixo).

Shafts 3+4+5 are on the property called Regada (there is more than one property named Regada in the area).

Shaft 6 is on the property of SMC-Sociedade Mineira Carolino. SMC now has a 2/3 majority in this company with Felmica.

Shafts 7+8, in Rochel, were grounded due to environmental recovery that is still ongoing by order of the DGM.

Localities in this Region

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References