The ups and downs of geology in Portugal: the Geological Survey, a historical perspective

The Geological Survey of Portugal was created in 1857 in the context of a liberal monarchy within a general policy implemented by the state to effectively control Portuguese territory. Throughout the nineteenth century, despite the structural problems faced by the Survey, it developed a consistent geological research programme, which led to the publication of two editions of the geological map of Portugal on a scale of 1:500 000, together with a considerable number of related scientific articles and monographs. During the first three decades of the twentieth century, however, the Survey and the production of maps were no longer a priority for the State and the institution progressively declined. Only with the establishment of the dictatorial regime known as the Estado Novo (New State) and, in particular, the implementation of its industrializing policies in the context of development plans, did the Geological Survey recover its original purpose of producing geological maps and assert itself as a reference scientific institution.