Copper

Thank you Jennifer, for the One Word Photo Challenge: Copper. It’s inspired me to process the photos that I took last summer at the ruins of the São Domingos Mine in the Alentejo, Portugal. Although much of the rock is “copper” colored, the reddish-brown hue, if I understand correctly, is due predominantly to iron content. Copper was extracted from the mine, along with a number of other minerals, from Roman times until 1966. 

This polluted, ecologically damaged site enigmatically exhibits both beauty and desolation. I intend to make a more detailed post about it, which will include more photos, in the near future.

Flooded pit of São Domingos Mine.

Acid waters of the flooded pit at São Domingos Mine.

Hardy vegetation at the ruins of São Domingos Mine.

Ruins of São Domingos Mine.

(Click an image to see it larger or to start a slide show.)