Mining Museum

Compressed air was the main driving force behind the Lousal Mine, powering pneumatic hammers and, later, all the mechanised equipment introduced into the mine. In the Compressor Centre exhibition, follow the evolution of compressed air use in Lousal by observing and exploring the equipment on display here.

The 16 floors of the mine, spread over a depth of around 500 metres, added up to 44 kilometres of underground galleries, dug for the purpose of extracting ore for the production of phosphate fertilisers. This work was carried out by miners who worked hard in rotating eight-hour shifts, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at the bottom of the Lousal Mine.

The Mine Models produced in the late 19th century at the oldest mining school in the world, the Royal Mining Academy of Freiberg, founded in 1765, were brought to Portugal by Alfredo Bensaúde, the first director of the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) in Lisbon (1911 to 1920). These models were used for educational purposes at the IST, raising the quality of teaching in Portugal to the standards set by the best educational institutions in Europe.

Created in 1954 by engineer Jacques Parent, the Geological Services of the Lousal Mine highlight the importance of geological knowledge in a mining context, emphasising the work carried out by Günter Strauss, a German geologist who remained in Lousal between 1956 and 1965. This research, which was crucial to ensuring mining exploration, cartography and the subsequent identification of local geological series, was fundamental to the implementation of the mining plan for this mine.

Essential for controlling and quantifying the sulphur present in the ore mined at the Lousal Mine, the Chemical Laboratory provided indispensable information for the phosphate fertiliser production operation carried out by SAPEC in Setúbal. In this exhibition dedicated to the former Chemical Laboratory of the Lousal Mine, observe the materials and equipment that ensured the functioning of this important service.

From 1939 onwards, with the creation of the Mina do Lousal Health Centre, miners and their families gained access to various medical and pharmaceutical services. In this exhibition, which resulted from the conservation and enhancement of objects from the Lousal Mine Health Centre, observe the representative centres of the Stomatology, Radiology, Maternity, Infirmary, Physiatry, Pharmacy and Mine Assistance services.

With the start of operations at the Lousal Mine in 1900, the need arose to produce electricity to ensure its functioning. The increase in the pace and depth of exploration was accompanied by the adoption of more technologically advanced solutions, culminating in the installation of internal combustion engines. Three of the four engines that operated at the Lousal Mine are still on display in the Generator Room exhibition. In addition to the engines, take a look at the imposing electrical panel of the Lousal Mine, as well as the tools and chains necessary for maintaining the equipment.

The exploitation of the mine attracted miners and their families to the region, whose social dynamics defined the Mining Community of Mina do Lousal. To safeguard the quality of life in Lousal, there were numerous services that ensured the supply of daily necessities, such as a school, police station, medical and pharmaceutical services, market, among others.