Mizarela Lithological Contact

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Tourist Attraction

District: Aveiro > Arouca > Cabreiros e Albergaria da Serra > Mizarela

Location

Located in the Mizarela area, which belongs to the locality of Cabreiros and Albergaria da Serra, in the municipality of Arouca, this geological point of interest is immersed in the unique landscape of Serra da Freita. Its position offers the visitor a direct perspective on the geological dynamics that have shaped this region.

As you walk through this area, your gaze is captivated by the visible transition between different types of relief and color. On one side, the slopes appear in darker, brownish tones, characteristic of schist formations. On the other, clearer blocks with rounded contours emerge, typical of granite. This striking change in the scenery is one of the first indications of what can be observed up close.

The Meeting of Rocks

At the Lithological Contact of Mizarela, it is possible to clearly observe the point where two of the main rocks of the region meet: granite and schists. This geological encounter is a natural, almost vertical boundary that separates these rocky formations and reveals millions of years of Earth's history.

Granite, a more resistant rock of magmatic origin, stands out in the landscape by forming salient and rounded reliefs. Schists, in turn, are metamorphic rocks that give rise to darker-toned escarpments and exhibit a more laminar structure. Their proximity and contrast make this location a privileged observation point for understanding the different compositions and characteristics that define the local geology.

Hidden Details in the Rocks

Beyond the visual spectacle of the rock junction, closer observation reveals other fascinating elements. In the micashists, for example, it is possible to find staurolite crystals. These crystals, sometimes several centimeters in size, are notable for their shape and can, in certain cases, exhibit twinning that resembles crosses.

The presence of these minerals is an indicator of the degree of transformation these rocks have undergone. The granite of Serra da Freita, although predominantly known, reveals a particularity at this location: a greater abundance of the mineral muscovite. Each detail of the rocks present here contributes to a better understanding of the territory's complex geological history.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt