The geodiversity of the Évora region

Authors

Manuel Francisco Pereira

Department of Geosciences, School of Science and Technology, CREATE, University of Évora

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9032-2318

Cristina Gama

Department of Geosciences, School of Science and Technology, CREATE, University of Évora

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6634-2079

Francisco Figueira

School of Science and Technology, University of Évora

Pedro Morais

School of Science and Technology, University of Évora

DOI: https://doi.org/10.60506/uevora.50

Keywords: Geodiversity, igneous plutonic rocks, metamorphic rocks, Évora region

Synopsis

In the historic center of Évora, well-preserved outcrops of rocks are relatively scarce, limiting opportunities for visitors and residents to experience the local geodiversity directly. This situation makes it particularly important to identify and highlight other types of geological information accessible in the city. Thus, the primary objective of this guide is to inventory and describe points of interest related to the geodiversity of Évora, with a focus on examples of igneous (plutonic) and metamorphic rocks exposed in the wall surrounding the historic center. This geological record is valuable evidence of the region's geological history, enabling the development of walking trails for educational and scientific dissemination purposes. In addition to creating these walking trails, this guide also compares the rocks used in the wall's construction with those exposed in two nearby locations: the Alto de São Bento mills viewpoint and the Polo da Mitra of the University of Évora (Valverde). At these two geological sites of interest, it is possible to observe in situ outcrops of plutonic and metamorphic rocks, which help contextualize, complement, and deepen understanding of the different rock types used in the wall's construction. This approach enables us to relate urban geology to regional geology, thereby enriching our understanding of the landscape and the processes that formed the rocks of the Évora region.

Author Biographies

Manuel Francisco Pereira, Department of Geosciences, School of Science and Technology, CREATE, University of Évora

Manuel Francisco Pereira is a professor in the Department of Geosciences at ECT and a researcher at CREATE, the R&D unit of the University of Évora. He graduated in Geology (1991) and obtained a Master's degree in Dynamic Geology (Internal) (1995) from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. He received his PhD (2000) and obtained the title of Habilitation in Geology (2009) from the University of Évora. He is responsible for the curricular units of Stratigraphy, Geodynamics and Tectonics, both in the 1st cycle of Biology and Geology; Tectonics and Sedimentary Processes (2nd cycle of Geology and 2nd cycle of Teaching Biology and Geology in the 3rd cycle of Elementary Education and in Secondary Education); and Geochronology applied to Paleontology (2nd cycle of Paleontology). In 2025, according to the SCOPUS database, it will have 100 articles published in scientific journals, 3366 citations in 1267 documents, and an h-index of 37.

Cristina Gama, Department of Geosciences, School of Science and Technology, CREATE, University of Évora

Cristina Gama is a lecturer in the Department of Geosciences at ECT and a researcher at CREATE, the R&D unit of the University of Évora. She graduated in Biology-Geology Teaching (1992) from the University of Évora and obtained a Master's degree in Dynamic Geology (External) (1997) from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. She received her PhD in Geology (2005) from the University of Évora, a Master's degree in Spatial Planning and Geographic Information Systems (2020) from the Nova University of Lisbon, and a Habilitation in Geology (2021) from the University of Évora. She is responsible for the curricular units of Sedimentology (1st cycle of Biology and Geology), Quaternary Environments (1st cycle of Geography), and Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Processes (2nd cycle of Paleontology). In 2025, according to the SCOPUS database, he/she has 35 articles published in scientific journals, 586 citations in 441 documents, and an h-index of 14.

Francisco Figueira, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora

Francisco Figueira is a student in the 2nd cycle of Biology and Geology Teaching in the 3rd cycle of Basic Education and Secondary Education, at the School of Social Sciences of the University of Évora. He graduated in Biology and Geology (2025) from the School of Sciences and Technology of the University of Évora.

Pedro Morais, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora

Pedro Morais is a student in the 2nd cycle of Biology and Geology Teaching in the 3rd cycle of Basic Education and Secondary Education, at the School of Social Sciences of the University of Évora. He graduated in Biology and Geology (2025) from the School of Sciences and Technology of the University of Évora.

References

Moita, P.; Santos, J.F.; Pereira, M.F., (2009). Layered granitoids: Interaction between continental crust recycling processes and mantle-derived magmatism: Examples from the Évora Massif (Ossa-Morena Zone, southwest Iberia, Portugal): Lithos, 111, 3, 125–141, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2009.02.009.

Moita, P.; Santos, J.F.; Pereira, M.F.; Costa, M.M.; Corfu, F., (2015). The quartz-dioritic Hospitais intrusion (SW Iberian Massif) and its mafic microgranular enclaves: Evidence for mineral clustering: Lithos, 224– 225, 78–100, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2015.02.012.

Pereira, M.F.; Chichorro, M.; Williams, I.S.; Silva, J.B., (2008). Zircon U-Pb geochronology of paragneisses and biotite granites from the SW Iberian Massif (Portugal): Evidence for a palaeogeographical link between the Ossa-Morena Ediacaran basins and the West African craton, In: Ennih, N., Liégeois, J.-P., (Eds.), The Boundaries of the West African Craton, The Geological Society of London Special Publication 297, 385-408, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP297.18.

Pereira, M.F.; Chichorro, M.; Williams, I.S.; Silva, J.B.; Fernández, C.; Díaz-Azpíroz, M.; Apraiz, A.; Castro, A., (2009). Variscan intra-orogenic extensional tectonics in the Ossa-Morena Zone (Évora-Aracena-Lora del Río metamorphic belt, SW Iberian Massif): SHRIMP zircon U-Th-Pb geochronology, In: Murphy, J.B., Keppie, J.D., Hynes, A.J., (Eds.), Ancient Orogens and Modern Analogues, The Geological Society of London Special Publication 327, 215–237, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP327.11.

Pereira, M.F.; Fuenlabrada, J.M.; Rodríguez, C.; Castro, A., (2022), Changing Carboniferous Arc Magmatism in the Ossa-Morena Zone (Southwest Iberia): Implications for the Variscan Belt. Minerals, 12, 597. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12050597.

Rodríguez, C.; Pereira, M.F.; Castro, A.; Gutiérrez-Alonso, G.; Fernández, C., (2021). Variscan intracrustal recycling by melting of Carboniferous arc-like igneous protoliths (Évora Massif, Iberian Variscan belt): Geological Society of America Bulletin, https://doi.org/10.1130/B36111.1.

Authors

Synopsis

Author Biographies

References

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