Mining in Cyprus: technical and historical overview

Τίτλος

Mining in Cyprus: technical and historical overview

Θέμα

Mining engineering--Cyprus

Δημιουργός

Epaminonda, Epaminondas

Πηγή

Higher Technical Institute

Το πλήρες κείμενο είναι διαθέσιμο από το Υπουργείο Ενέργειας, Εμπορίου Βιομηχανίας και Τουρισμού.

Εκδότης

Library of Cyprus University of Technology

Ημερομηνία

2006

Συνεισφέρων

Kathijotes, Nicholas

Δικαιώματα

Απαγορεύεται η δημοσίευση ή αναπαραγωγή, ηλεκτρονική ή άλλη χωρίς τη γραπτή συγκατάθεση του δημιουργού και κάτοχου των πνευματικών δικαιωμάτων.

Μορφή

pdf

Γλώσσα

en

Τύπος

text

Αναγνωριστικό

CED0413

Σύνοψη

Mining is the extraction of valuable materials or other geological materials from the earth, usually from an ore body, vein, or seam. Most substances obtained from the earth are gotten by mining. Any material that cannot be grown from agricultural processes must be mined.
There are many methods for mining, dependent on where and how a mineral deposit is found. Some substances are mined relatively easy because they an be found at or near the earth's surface. Some minerals are found as a compact mass, while others are widely scattered. Other mined materials are found far beneath the surface and removed by tunnelling deep underground. Some mined substances are located beneath oceans, lakes, and rivers. Other minerals are concentrated in large bodies of water and are obtained by pumping.
Cyprus mining activity was mainly for producing metals like copper, iron pyrites, gold, chromate, magnesite and asbestos. Since the fourth millennium B.C.,
Cyprus was one of the most active mining areas, especially in copper. Prove of that is the slag found in many places allover Cyprus, and of course old mines. In modern times, Cyprus continued its good tradition in mining. Since the beginning of the 20th century, time when foreign mining companies arrived, Cyprus became once again a rich and active mining area. Mines were scattered all over Cyprus, employing thousands of Cypriots. Skouriotissa, Mitsero, Kalavasos, Troodos are the biggest and richest mining areas in Cyprus.
Due to some reasons, since 1970 mining industry in Cyprus has been on a decline. There was a time that all mines ceased to work. In 1996 and since then the Phoenix Mine in Skouriotissa is the only one operating.
The long mining history of Cyprus has badly affected the environment. The Geological Survey is attempting to minimize environmental impact by actively being involved in environmental rehabilitation projects of deserted mines and environmental impact assessment studies of existing or future activities.
Rehabilitation of the Asbestos mine in the mountainous region involves environmental and health issue studies as well as extensive re-profiling of the tailings for stabilization and reforestation purposes.