REVIEWED LOCATION

Lousal Science Centre — Pyrite Mine & Industrial Geology Heritage Rockhounding Status & Field Guide

Lousal’s former mine complex, active until 1992, now operates as a science and industrial-archaeology centre with geology interpretation and a managed visitor landscape.

Protected / viewing statusVery high evidenceexact map precisionCurrent review cycle freshness
Important: Former mine heritage does not create public access to workings or mineral dumps.

What is here

historic pyrite mining complex and industrial geology

Materials / interest: Pyrite, Copper

Collecting and access

Museum/science-centre and interpreted mine-landscape viewing only; no collecting or abandoned-mine entry is represented.

Navigate to the Science Centre; use only public interpreted areas.

Detailed status
viewing
Permission
Not flagged
Permit
Not flagged
Fee
Required
Guide
Not flagged
Booking
Not flagged
Surface collecting
no
Hammering
no
Digging
no

Safety

Former mine infrastructure and acidic mine features can be hazardous; do not enter shafts or restricted structures.

Review status

Access reviewed: 2026-09-11 · Sources reviewed: 2026-09-11 · Next scheduled review: 2027-09-11.

Recheck access, closures, permissions and current source instructions before field travel.

More reviewed places in Portugal

Canelas Trilobite Museum — Giant Trilobite Fossil HeritageCentro Ciência Viva de Estremoz — Marble & Earth-Science ReferencePedras Parideiras, Arouca — Protected Nodular Granite GeositeSão Domingos Copper Mine — Former Pyrite Mining Landscape

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