Different types of rocks and minerals | Coastal platforms and sea-level changes
The Local Natural Monument has an approximate area of 27 ha, facing north with the Forte do Cão (Caminha) geosite (Carvalhido, 2012, 2014a, 2014b, 2014d; to be classified). The area corresponds to a coastal stretch of approximately 500 m, developed between the infralittoral zone and the fertile plains that limit the beaches of Afife, to the east. The geosite is essential in understanding the mechanisms of evolution of granitic pavements that often originate granitic landscapes of round granite boulders. The Natural Monument has residual geomorphological interest, preserving the various stages of evolution of the granitic platforms and geomorphic processes, namely those associated with the prefiguration of the round boulders until their complete exhumation. In the geosite there are also outcrops of mineralogical and petrological interest, namely pegmatitic intrusions related to granites of the Santa Luzia massif, with peculiar structures. The most representative ones conserve comb structures of potassium feldspar and Hiddenite, according to Lima (2006) a pyroxene with a rare chromatization (green), considering a variety with gemological potential. The litiniferous pegmatites where these spodumenes occur, are accompanied by characteristic mineralogical processions, namely with associations of quartz, albite, lepidolite, beryl and tourmaline. Finally, it is important to note that this geosite is the only strip on the coast of the municipality of Viana do Castelo, north of the mouth of the Lima River, where the lithostratigraphic unit of Conglomerados e Areias do Forte do Cão (Eemiana beach, MIS5e) is conserved (Carvalhido, 2012, 2014a, 2014b, 2014c, 2014d). The area preserves important anthropic pavements of the pre-Roman age.
References:
Carvalhido, Ricardo (2012). O Litoral Norte de Portugal (Minho-Neiva): evolução paleoambiental quaternária e proposta de conservação do património geomorfológico. Tese de Doutoramento. Universidade do Minho. 562 p.
The Local Natural Monument has an approximate area of 27 ha, facing north with the Forte do Cão (Caminha) geosite (Carvalhido, 2012, 2014a, 2014b, 2014d; to be classified). The area corresponds to a coastal stretch of approximately 500 m, developed between the infralittoral zone and the fertile plains that limit the beaches of Afife, to the east. The geosite is essential in understanding the mechanisms of evolution of granitic pavements that often originate granitic landscapes of round granite boulders. The Natural Monument has residual geomorphological interest, preserving the various stages of evolution of the granitic platforms and geomorphic processes, namely those associated with the prefiguration of the round boulders until their complete exhumation. In the geosite there are also outcrops of mineralogical and petrological interest, namely pegmatitic intrusions related to granites of the Santa Luzia massif, with peculiar structures. The most representative ones conserve comb structures of potassium feldspar and Hiddenite, according to Lima (2006) a pyroxene with a rare chromatization (green), considering a variety with gemological potential. The litiniferous pegmatites where these spodumenes occur, are accompanied by characteristic mineralogical processions, namely with associations of quartz, albite, lepidolite, beryl and tourmaline. Finally, it is important to note that this geosite is the only strip on the coast of the municipality of Viana do Castelo, north of the mouth of the Lima River, where the lithostratigraphic unit of Conglomerados e Areias do Forte do Cão (Eemiana beach, MIS5e) is conserved (Carvalhido, 2012, 2014a, 2014b, 2014c, 2014d). The area preserves important anthropic pavements of the pre-Roman age.
References:
Carvalhido, Ricardo (2012). O Litoral Norte de Portugal (Minho-Neiva): evolução paleoambiental quaternária e proposta de conservação do património geomorfológico. Tese de Doutoramento. Universidade do Minho. 562 p.
Location
Between Gelfa (to the north) and Afife (to the south)
Coordinates
Lat: 41.7910936
Long: -8.8705292
Theme
Point of interest
Themes
Discover all the themes of Granite Pavements of Gatenha
Ecological Recovery
The following proposal was presented by the Mayor of the Chamber:- "PROPOSAL - Cooperation Protocol within the scope of the Progama de Reabilitação de Áreas Classificadas do concelho de Viana do Castelo - Responsabilidade ambiental no âmbito das áreas classificadas do concelho de Viana do Castelo".
In the scope of the Municipal Strategy for Nature Conservation, a plan inscribed in the ongoing Environment and Biodiversity Agenda for the four-year period 2017-2021, the Municipality prepared the Programa de Reabilitação Ecológica das Áreas Classificadas do concelho, in this first phase, focusing on 5 of the 13 Natural Monuments, unique areas for the knowledge of the geological history of the Iberian Peninsula since more than 500 million years ago and which are part of the application that the Municipality is preparing for recognition as a UNESCO World Geopark territory. Viana do Castelo is a rich territory from the point of view of Natural and Cultural Heritage, with about 4,800 hectares specifically designated for the protection of fauna and flora habitats (3 sites of Community importance of Natura 2000 Network), being the only municipality in the country with the geological heritage inventory concluded and duly classified with 13 natural monuments, making up a total area of about 2,832 hectares. The recovery programme that was drawn up supported an application to PO SEUR, with approval of the overall investment amount of 500,000 euros, financed at 85%, with implementation in 2020 and 2021. The ecological recovery interventions that are intended to be carried out include actions to eradicate and control exotic species, mainly Acacia dealbata (Mimosa), Acacia longifolia (Acacia longifolia) and Acacia Melanoxylon (Australia), Carpobrotus edulis (beach weevil), Arundo donax (giant reed), Trandescantia fluminencis (Fortune grass or tradescância) and Cortaderia selloana (pampas grass or plumas). In addition to these actions, supported by an exhaustive inventory carried out by the Municipality for those species, the programme includes actions to promote scientific literacy to the population and the densification of the Municipality's Citizen Science strategy, extending the Bioregisto platform to the cartography of invasive vegetation, in collaboration with the Functional Ecology Centre of the University of Coimbra (invasoras.pt). In addition, planting actions are planned in the areas to be ecologically intervened, namely native species such as oak, pine, hawthorn, holm oak, birch or heather, among others, within the scope of the Municipal Year for the Recovery of Portuguese Native Forests, currently underway. In order to guarantee the perennial success of the intervention and the investment made, the rehabilitation programme foresees the involvement of the social and business fabric, and within the scope of the environmental responsibility of the institutions, so that they may take responsibility for the maintenance of the ecological quality of all or parts of the classified areas of the municipality of Viana do Castelo. The programme for the ecological rehabilitation of the classified areas of Viana do Castelo - 1st phase - was carried out with the collaboration of the Parish Councils of Afife, Carreço, Darque, Vila Nova de Anha and Santa Marta de Portuzelo, and also with the Parish Councils of Mazaferes and Vila Fria and the Parish Councils of Viana do Castelo (Santa Maria Maior and Monserrate) and Meadela. The Associação de Caçadores de Vila Nova de Anha and the Comissão Diretiva dos Baldios da Montaria were also partners.
The following proposal was presented by the Mayor of the Chamber:- "PROPOSAL - Cooperation Protocol within the scope of the Progama de Reabilitação de Áreas Classificadas do concelho de Viana do Castelo - Responsabilidade ambiental no âmbito das áreas classificadas do concelho de Viana do Castelo".
In the scope of the Municipal Strategy for Nature Conservation, a plan inscribed in the ongoing Environment and Biodiversity Agenda for the four-year period 2017-2021, the Municipality prepared the Programa de Reabilitação Ecológica das Áreas Classificadas do concelho, in this first phase, focusing on 5 of the 13 Natural Monuments, unique areas for the knowledge of the geological history of the Iberian Peninsula since more than 500 million years ago and which are part of the application that the Municipality is preparing for recognition as a UNESCO World Geopark territory. Viana do Castelo is a rich territory from the point of view of Natural and Cultural Heritage, with about 4,800 hectares specifically designated for the protection of fauna and flora habitats (3 sites of Community importance of Natura 2000 Network), being the only municipality in the country with the geological heritage inventory concluded and duly classified with 13 natural monuments, making up a total area of about 2,832 hectares. The recovery programme that was drawn up supported an application to PO SEUR, with approval of the overall investment amount of 500,000 euros, financed at 85%, with implementation in 2020 and 2021. The ecological recovery interventions that are intended to be carried out include actions to eradicate and control exotic species, mainly Acacia dealbata (Mimosa), Acacia longifolia (Acacia longifolia) and Acacia Melanoxylon (Australia), Carpobrotus edulis (beach weevil), Arundo donax (giant reed), Trandescantia fluminencis (Fortune grass or tradescância) and Cortaderia selloana (pampas grass or plumas). In addition to these actions, supported by an exhaustive inventory carried out by the Municipality for those species, the programme includes actions to promote scientific literacy to the population and the densification of the Municipality's Citizen Science strategy, extending the Bioregisto platform to the cartography of invasive vegetation, in collaboration with the Functional Ecology Centre of the University of Coimbra (invasoras.pt). In addition, planting actions are planned in the areas to be ecologically intervened, namely native species such as oak, pine, hawthorn, holm oak, birch or heather, among others, within the scope of the Municipal Year for the Recovery of Portuguese Native Forests, currently underway. In order to guarantee the perennial success of the intervention and the investment made, the rehabilitation programme foresees the involvement of the social and business fabric, and within the scope of the environmental responsibility of the institutions, so that they may take responsibility for the maintenance of the ecological quality of all or parts of the classified areas of the municipality of Viana do Castelo. The programme for the ecological rehabilitation of the classified areas of Viana do Castelo - 1st phase - was carried out with the collaboration of the Parish Councils of Afife, Carreço, Darque, Vila Nova de Anha and Santa Marta de Portuzelo, and also with the Parish Councils of Mazaferes and Vila Fria and the Parish Councils of Viana do Castelo (Santa Maria Maior and Monserrate) and Meadela. The Associação de Caçadores de Vila Nova de Anha and the Comissão Diretiva dos Baldios da Montaria were also partners.
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