Contribution to the study of the Granite Geomorphology of Cova da Beira: the alveolus weathering basins of Fundão

Abstract

The alveolar basins weathering in granite is seen, since Alan Godard (1977), as the result of a morphogenetic commitment between periods of chemical weathering under humid tropical climate and periods of ablation under dry subtropical climate, being its genesis is associated with morphostructural factors, while their differentiation is essentially due to morphoclimatic factors.
The similarity of the structural conditions in the different sectors of the Hesperic Massif points to a justification for the effectiveness of chemical weat hering in the framework of t he observed differences concerning the past climatic conditions, leading to an understanding of the distinction between the coastal and interior weathering basins.
The research that is being carried out in the region of “Cova da Beira” allowed the assumption of the alveolar basins weathering form of Fundão, which takes the shape of a quartzodiorite with a strong biotitic component, also showing, unequivocally, the existence of basins weathering of significant proportions in Central Portugal’s interior regions.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/0871-1623_34_2