On December 6, 2023, a group of students from LEME and MEGM carried out a study visit to the Leiria region, with the support of Orica Portugal, where they had the opportunity to visit the quarry in Chão Queimado of the company Sicobrita and the Grutas da Moeda (Coin Caves), as well as the respective Scientific-Environmental Interpretation Center (CICA).

The study visit was carried out within the scope of the Curricular Unit Explosives Engineering and Ventilation, of MEGM, however, several LEME students also had the opportunity to participate. The meeting point atTécnico Lisboa was cleared at 08:00 and, at 10:00, the students arrived at the Sicobrita quarry facilities. There they had the opportunity to follow the production cycle of the limestone aggregates quarry, as well as the loading and detonation of a blast.

After lunch, which had the support of Orica Portugal, there was a visit to Grutas da Moeda, a natural structure excavated in the limestone massif and the respective interpretive center, where the geological processes that led to the formation of the caves and the shape of the caves were described. how these interact with local biodiversity.