Old Ore Wagon Scale

Category: Civil Architecture > Scale

District: Beja > Mértola > Santana de Cambas > Zona da Mina

Location

The Old Ore Wagon Scale is located in the Mine Zone, a place with a strong historical-industrial character in the locality of Santana de Cambas, in the municipality of Mértola. This site is part of the vast complex of the old São Domingos mine, allowing visitors to feel the atmosphere that once characterized one of Portugal's largest mining centers.

The scale, one of the many remnants of this intense activity, is situated in an environment that still today reflects the landscape altered by mineral exploration, where the remaining buildings and infrastructures tell the story of a past of great economic and social dynamism.

A Legacy of Ore

This monumental scale is a concrete testament to the complexity and scale of mining exploration in São Domingos. Its function was crucial: to weigh wagons loaded with ore, essentially pyrite, before they proceeded to their destination, whether for local processing or for rail transport to the Pomarão River Port. Every ton extracted from the earth passed through this structure, making it a pivotal point in the production chain.

Its existence recalls the scale of the industry that flourished here for over a century in its modern phase, contributing significantly to the regional and national economy. The scale symbolizes not only the engineering but also the logistics and rigorous control that characterized mining operations of the time.

Engineering and Perspective

Even today, it is possible to observe the robustness of the Old Ore Wagon Scale, which reveals the principles of industrial engineering used in the 19th and 20th centuries. Designed to support large volume loads, its structure is an example of technological adaptation to the demands of mass extraction. Its presence is a physical reminder of the investment in infrastructure necessary for the exploitation of millions of tons of ore.

Contemplating this element is like an invitation to imagine the constant movement of wagons and the vibration of machines that once filled this space. The scale offers a unique perspective on the arduous work, the technology employed, and the colossal scale of operations that transformed the landscape and the lives of local communities.

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