Born in 1937 in Viana do Castelo. Graduated in 1961 on Geological Sciences by the University of Coimbra. He was Assistant on the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Coimbra since October of 1961 until March of 1967. 

In 1964 and 1965 he carried through periods of training of long duration, in Madrid on the Instituto de Edafologia do Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and in Aberdeen on the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research. On the refered Institutes he initiated his specialization in the scientific domain of Soils and Clays.

From March of 1967 until June of 1975 he was Specialized Head Geologist, Head of the Laboratory of Mineralogy and Geology and Head Technician of the Services of Geology and Mines of Angola, having at the same period exerted functions of Assistant of the University of Angola in "regimen of accumulation of service".

In 1979 he obtained the Ph.D degree in Applied Sciences (Ceramics) by the University of Leeds, in the United Kingdom.

He was Auxiliary Professor and Associated Professor of the University of Aveiro, and since 1986 he is Full Professor of the same University.

He has 320 scientific articles published in national and international scientific magazines, he also published 8 scientific books, and he is also author of 8 publications on didactics and scientific divulgation.

He is the Coordinator of the Research Centre of "Industrial Minerals and Clays".

Since 1995 he is the Course Coordinator of the Master in Mineral and Industrial Rocks of the University of Aveiro.

He was, and still is, a scientific supervisior of Master and Ph.D students of the University of Aveiro and other Portugues Universities.