The geological heritage on the Montesinho Natural Park (NE Portugal) – an interpretation strategy for an area with high geological complexity

Abstract

The geological complexity and the exotic character of several formations of the Montesinho Natural Park (NE Portugal) print peculiar characteristics to the landscape. This part of the Iberia is characterized by the occurrence of a pile of allochthonous units thrusted over autochthonous Late Proterozoic and Paleozoic metasediments and igneous rocks. The two major exotic terranes comprise a continental allochthonous terrane of Precambrian to Lower Cambrian age and a Silurian-Lower Devonian ophiolite complex thrusted by the allochthonous unit. More recent Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary events left their imprints on the landscape, namely with the presence of three unconformity-bounded sedimentary sequences. This complex geology has been detailed in recent scientific research allowing an accurate reading of the landscape. However, if on one hand that complexity is a valuation factor, on the other hand it renders the knowledge transfer to the general public more difficult. Raising public awareness of the regional geodiversity and its heritage relevance is thus a challenge to undertake. In this paper an interpretative panel is presented where the main features of the landscape and their relationship with the units and the geological processes are pointed out.