Avelino quarry, Zambujal, Castelo, Sesimbra, Setúbal, Portugali
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Avelino quarry | Quarry (Inactive) |
| Zambujal | - not defined - |
| Castelo | Civil Parish |
| Sesimbra | Municipality |
| Setúbal | District |
| Portugal | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
38° 27' 14'' North , 9° 7' 23'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Quarry (Inactive) - last checked 2022
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Sesimbra | 41,134 (2018) | 2.2km |
| Azeitão | 18,877 (2018) | 12.0km |
| Quinta Do Conde | 25,606 (2018) | 14.2km |
| Aldeia de Paio Pires | 12,179 (2012) | 18.4km |
| Arrentela | 30,156 (2018) | 19.1km |
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
| Club | Location | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Clube Português de Mineralogia - CPMIN | Lisbon, Portugal | 29km |
Located in an old limestone quarry in Zambujal (Sesimbra) and covering 1.66 hectares, the Pedreira do Avelino Natural Monument preserves an important set of dinosaur footprints from the Upper Jurassic (about 150 million years ago), distributed across at least four layers. The main slab, approximately 15 meters long and 10 meters wide, is tilted at a 30° angle, making observation and educational use quite accessible.
These footprints were left by sauropods—large, four-legged herbivorous dinosaurs with long tails and necks—traveling alone and in different directions. Their tracks feature distinctive crescent (half-moon) shaped handprints and oval-shaped footprints.
A key highlight is the presence of narrow-gauge tracks (where the inner margins of the footprints are close together) belonging to sauropods of the Parabrontopodus type, as well as evidence of varying travel speeds (ranging from 2 to 4 km/h). Also noteworthy are the significant size differences among the animals: the largest had a hip height of 4 meters, a handprint measuring approximately 1 meter in length (visible under low-angle light), and footprints measuring 30 cm long by 46 cm wide. In contrast, the smallest had a hip height of 1.2 meters, with footprints measuring 30 cm long by 25 cm wide and handprints 18 cm by 13 cm. Additionally, an incomplete track predominantly showing sauropod handprints—one of the first of its kind from the Upper Jurassic in Portugal—can also be found here.
Formed in horizontal sediments within a shallow coastal lagoon with calm waters during a tropical, hot, and humid climate, geological processes later uplifted and tilted the layers, preserving these ancient footprints in their current position.
- Adapted and freely translated from Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas website.
Commodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Rock Types Recorded
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Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate
- Iberian Rifted MarginPassive Margin
EuropeContinent
Iberian PeninsulaPeninsula
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Avelino quarry, Zambujal, Castelo, Sesimbra, Setúbal, Portugal