Site Visit
28th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings
14–16 April 2026 | InterContinental Lisbon | Lisbon, Portugal
Neves Corvo mine site visit
Date: 17 April 2026
Location: Neves Corvo Mine, Santa Bárbara de Padrões, 7780-409 Castro Verde, Portugal
The ACG is facilitating a site visit for some Paste 2026 attendees. Boliden Somincor generously offered their Neves Corvo mine for a site visit.
About the site:
Located in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal, Somincor is an underground mine producing mainly copper, zinc, lead and silver. The processing plant consists of 2 separate concentrators, one for copper and one for zinc.
Somincor is part of the Iberian Pyrite Belt that extends through southern Spain into Portugal. The Somincor deposit of massive sulphide ores was discovered in 1977. Mining began in 1988 and copper production started the following year. Today, the plant is highly automated and uses several mining methods.
Somincor has good transportation links, with connections to the national road network and its own link to the Portuguese rail network and the port of Setúbal.
For more information click here.
Photography rules
Photographs for personal use may be taken with permission from your Boliden Somincor tour guide. Publication, including social media of photographs, is not permitted without written authorisation from Boliden Somincor.
Visitors
The structure for the visit accommodates 2 groups, with a total participation of up to 50 attendees.
Group 1 – Paste plant
Paste plant tour: participants will need to wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and Boliden Somincor will provide the necessary PPE for the site visit. Boliden Somincor will provide safety boots, hi-vis vests, hard hats, hearing protection, gloves and safety glasses.
Group 2 – Tailings area/thickening plant
Tailing areas/thickening plant tour: participants will need to wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and Boliden Somincor will provide the necessary PPE for the site visit. Boliden Somincor will provide safety boots, hi-vis vests, hard hats, hearing protection, gloves and safety glasses.
If required, participants are to bring their own prescription safety glasses.
Other information
Santa Bárbara de Padrões experiences a classic inland Alentejo Mediterranean climate:
Summers are very hot, long, and extremely dry, with temperatures often exceeding 30°C and humidity relatively low. Rainfall is almost non-existent, making this one of Portugal’s driest periods.
Winters are mild and wetter, with temperatures generally between 10–15°C during the day and cooler nights near 5°C. Most rainfall occurs from November–February, driven by Atlantic weather systems. Annual conditions include low precipitation, moderate humidity, and high sunshine hours, especially from late spring through early autumn.
Site visit schedule*
| Day/Time | Location | Activity | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
17 April – 07:30 |
Intercontinental Hotel, Lisbon |
Bus departs for Neves Corvo mine |
Meet at the hotel foyer at 07:15, departure at 07:30 sharp |
|
17 April – 09:30 |
Boliden Somincor |
Arrival on site: welcome,
group introduction and
site induction |
Reception
Induction, safety training
room |
|
17 April – 09:30 – 10:30 |
Boliden Somincor |
Presentation of the mine and backfill |
Presenters to be advised |
|
17 April – 10:30 – 12:00 |
Boliden Somincor |
Group 1 Paste plant tour Group 2 Tailings area/Thickening plant tour |
|
|
17 April – 12:15 – 13:15 |
Boliden Somincor |
Lunch |
Provided by Boliden Somincor |
|
17 April – 13:30 – 16:30 |
Boliden Somincor |
Group 1 Tailings area/Thickening plant tour Group 2 Paste plant tour |
|
|
17 April – 17:00 |
Boliden Somincor |
Farewell and bus for Lisbon |
Departure at 17:30 |
* Schedule may be subject to change.
