Neves-Corvo is a copper and zinc mine that is owned and operated by the Portuguese company SOMINCOR (Sociedade Mineira de Neves-Corvo S.A.), which is a subsidiary of Lundin Mining since November 2006.
In 1977, the Neves-Corvo massive sulphide deposit was discovered on the western edge of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. The deposit contains significant quantities of copper, tin and zinc.
After this discovery, SOMINCOR was formed on July 24th, 1980.
The Neves-Corvo mine consists of five massive sulphide orebodies: Neves, Corvo, Graça, Zambujal and Lombador.
Mining began in 1988, operated by a joint venture between the Portuguese State and Rio Tinto.
Copper production began in 1989 and tin production began in 1990.
In June 2004, SOMINCOR was acquired by Eurozinc Mining Corporation. Zinc production began in 2006, at the same time Lundin Mining Corporation merged with Eurozinc Mining Corporation.
SOMINCOR is now fully incorporated into the Lundin Mining Group, a Canadian group dedicated to the mining of base metals with operations in several countries (Brazil, Chile, Portugal, Sweden and USA).
Since then, management has focused on improving the mine’s operational performance and in the exploration of new resources and reserves in adjacent areas.
Currently, the Company produces copper, zinc and lead concentrates.
The concentrates are dispatched by rail (copper and zinc) and road (lead) for onward shipping to customers.
SOMINCOR owns and operates a facility in the port of Setubal, which is located approximately 150 kilometres north of the mine site and 50 kilometres south of Lisbon. SOMINCOR has been shipping concentrate from the same facility in Setúbal since the beginning of the operations in 1988.
The mine site is situated approximately 220km southeast of Lisbon in Baixo Alentejo. The closest village to the mine site is Castro Verde.
1977 - Descoberta da SOMINCOR
1980 - Constituição da SOMINCOR
1982 - Início dos trabalhos de acesso ao jazigo
1985 - Rio Tinto compra 49% das ações
1986 - Realização do Projeto Cobre
1988 - Joint Venture entre o Estado Português e a Rio Tinto começa a exploração

1988 - Início da Produção de Cobre
1990 - Início da Produção de Estanho
1992 - Construção pela SOMINCOR do caminho-de-ferro ligando a estação de Ourique a Neves-Corvo

1993 - Acreditação do Laboratório em Neves-Corvo pela ISO 17025

1994 - Aprofundamento da mina
1999 - Nova previsão de vida da mina até 2029
2000 - Início da atividade do laboratório em Setúbal

2004 - Aquisição pela Eurozinc
2006 - Aquisição pela Lundin Mining através de uma fusão com a Eurozinc
2010 - Descoberta do jazigo de cobre da Semblana

2011 - Inauguração da instalação da deposição de pasta de rejeitados na Barragem do Cerro do Lobo

2012 - Ampliação da Lavaria do Zinco para 1 milhão de toneladas por ano

2014 - Homologação do alargamento da concessão de Neves-Corvo a um novo depósito mineral – Semblana
2015 - Estudo da Expansão do Zinco (para 2.5 Mtpa)
2017 - Anúncio do Projeto ZEP
