Mining in Portugal
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Mining in Portugal is regulated by the Portuguese Ministry of Economy and the Geology and Energy Resources authority under harbor of the state-run research institute INETI. Portugal has been a place for mining activities since the pre-Roman era, when most of the region was known as Lusitania. Gold was extracted until depletion since those ancient times. The country is among the largest European producers of copper and minerals.
Tin, tungsten and uranium are other of its mining resources. However, the country lacks hydrocarbon exploration potential, as well as exploited sources of iron, aluminium or coal, a feature that has hindered its mining and metallurgy sector's development since the Industrial Revolution era. An iron ore mine (Mua Mine) in Torre de Moncorvo, opened in 2012, was a major milestone in Portuguese mining history.[1] The most prominent mines in the country include those of Neves-Corvo, Panasqueira and the Mua Mine in Torre de Moncorvo.
