MILOS MINING MUSEUM€¦ · Milos, Kimolos, Thira, Antiparos, Kos, and Nisyros volcanoes. It is...

MILOS MININGMUSEUM

MIL

OS

MIN

ING

MU

SEU

M

MILOS MININGMUSEUM

CONTENTS

PREFACE 5

TIMELINE 6

AN APPROACH TO THE HISTORY OF MILOS AND ITS MINING PAST 8

THE MILOS MININIG MUSEUM (ΜΜΜ) 26

VISITING THE EXHIBITION AREAS 28

GROUND FLOOR 30

EXHIBITION AREA

•ThehistoryofMilosMiningMuseum•GeologicalmapofMilos•MininghistoryofMilos•Mineralproductionprocesses•SlidesfromtheSulphurMinesandVani•SulphurMines–Vani•Variousobjectsfromminingcompanies•Toolsandphotographsfrompastminingactivities

•Wagoncart(scoop-car)

2 ΜILOS MINING MUSEUM

1st FLOOR 41

EXHIBITION AREA

•TheCreationofMilos•Obsidian•Millstones•Κaolin•Sulphur•Manganese•Pozzolan•Baryte•Perlite•Bentonite•InteractiveContactUnit: Gettingacquaintedwiththeminerals•ThemineralwealthofMiloswithreferencestotherestofGreece(epithermalgold,fossils,minerals,rocks)

•LandscapesofMilosasgeologicalsights

OTHER AREAS OF THE MUSEUM 59

Basement

•Multi-PurposeRoomforperiodicalexhibitionsandeducationalprograms

•Projectionandlecturehall

Atriums

•Educationalactivities•Landreclamation

THE MUSEUM’S ACTIVITIES 60

•Educationalprograms•GeologicalWalks–MiloterraneanGeoWalks

•Parallelactivitiesandevents

MUSEUM SHOP 64

3MILOS MINING MUSEUM

Aminingmuseuminanarearichingeo-logicalactivityofmillionsofyearsandwithalongmininghistory,suchasMilos,isareferencepointfortheisland’svisitorsbutalsoforthelocalcommunity,especiallytheeducationalone.

MilosMiningMuseum’s(MMM)historybe-ginswitharequestbythelocalcommunityitselfwhich,toitscredit,recognizes,appreci-atesandwishestohighlightoneoftheis-land’smaineconomicpillarsthroughoutthecenturies,namelymining.TheintermediatestagesofMMM’sjourneycanbetrackeddownintheMuseum’shistory.

Thevisitor’sinterestthoughfocusesonthemuseum’scontributionandparticipationinthetourist,educational,andculturallifeoftheisland,fromthemomentofitsinaugura-tionin1998,attheexpenseofSilver&BaryteOresMiningCo.S.A.,lateronS&BIndustrialMineralsS.A.andnowadaysIm-erysIndustrialMineralsGreeceS.A.,oneofthemostimportantminingcompaniesoper-atingontheislandsince1934.

Thiscontributionrefersnotonlytothefunctionthateachmuseumhasbydefinition,butmainlytoMMM’spioneeringeducationalandcul-turalactivitiesthroughpublications,significantexhibitions,educationalprogramsandtouristexcursionstohistorical,naturalandgeologi-cal/miningdestinationsontheisland.

ThisMuseumGuideisincludedinthisverycontextaimingtofacilitatethevisitorina“guidedtour”tothemuseum’sareasandexhibitsbutalsotothehistoryoftheislanditself,geologicalaswellasmining.

ThanksareduetoDr.EleftheriaDimou-Cho-nianaki,mineralogist,forherwillingnesstocontributetothecreationofthisGuidebookwithsimple,clearandcomprehensivetexts.

WewishtheMMM’svisitor,youngorold,anexpertornot,pupilorstudent,teacherorprofessor,childorparent,thisGuidebooktobehis/herpersonaltourguidetotheage-oldaswellascontemporarytaleofthegeologicalandmininghistorythatthefascinatingislandofMilosisabouttotell!

ΜΜΜ Management Committee May2018

PREFACE


MININGACTIVITYTIMELINE

Neolithic Age(7000–2800 B.C.)Exploitation of obsidian that was used for the making of tools and weapons.

Bronze Age (2800–1100 B.C.)Extensive trading in obsidian and pottery.Mining of kaolin for ceramic and pharmaceutical uses.Flourishing of the Phylakopi settlements.

Classical Period (480–323 B.C.)Mining of trachite for the making of millstones (for the grinding of cereals and other materials)Alunite and sulphur are mined for pharmaceutical purposes. Transformation of alunite into alum, used as dye for fabrics.Mining of bentonite, used for the making of soap.Around that time, there was possibly mining of silver ores.

Geometric Age (1100–750 B.C.) -Archaic Period (750–480 B.C.)Mining of obsidian and aluminate minerals, kaolin predominantly, is continued.

7000

BC

2800

Hellenistic Period (323–146 B.C. ) -Roman Period (146 B.C.–330 A.D.)Mining of small quantities of silver – lead ores.Mining of pozzolan used as construction material.Trade in pumice used for polishing of marbles and mosaics.Creation of salt–pans for salt production.

1100 480 323

Byzantine Period (330–1204 A.D.)Continuation of operation in clay minerals, millstone, alum, pumice and salt, and of pottery production.

The Frankish Rule (1204–1566 A.D.) Beginning of gypsum exploitation.

1862Concession of the sulphur exploitationat the “Paliorema” location. The right later extended to other locations as well. Works were interrupted in 1958.

1884 Beginning of silver bearing galenite exploitation, at “Triades” location. Termination of works at the end of the 19th century.

1890Beginning of manganese exploitation at “Vani” location. Works stopped in 1928.

1899Beginning of kaolin exploitation, and later in 1925, setting up of a processing plant.

The Turkish Domination (1566–1821 A.D.)Limited activities on the island, mainly kaolin exportsfor porcelain production.

330

AD

1204

1934Beginning of baryte exploitation at “Voudia” location.

1952Beginning of bentonite exploitation.

1954Beginning of perlite exploitation.

1984Beginning of pozzolan mining at “Xylokeratia” location.

1566 1862 1934


Neolithic Age(7000–2800 B.C.)Exploitation of obsidian that was used for the making of tools and weapons.

Bronze Age (2800–1100 B.C.)Extensive trading in obsidian and pottery.Mining of kaolin for ceramic and pharmaceutical uses.Flourishing of the Phylakopi settlements.

Classical Period (480–323 B.C.)Mining of trachite for the making of millstones (for the grinding of cereals and other materials)Alunite and sulphur are mined for pharmaceutical purposes. Transformation of alunite into alum, used as dye for fabrics.Mining of bentonite, used for the making of soap.Around that time, there was possibly mining of silver ores.

Geometric Age (1100–750 B.C.) -Archaic Period (750–480 B.C.)Mining of obsidian and aluminate minerals, kaolin predominantly, is continued.

7000

BC

2800

Hellenistic Period (323–146 B.C. ) -Roman Period (146 B.C.–330 A.D.)Mining of small quantities of silver – lead ores.Mining of pozzolan used as construction material.Trade in pumice used for polishing of marbles and mosaics.Creation of salt–pans for salt production.

1100 480 323

Byzantine Period (330–1204 A.D.)Continuation of operation in clay minerals, millstone, alum, pumice and salt, and of pottery production.

The Frankish Rule (1204–1566 A.D.) Beginning of gypsum exploitation.

1862Concession of the sulphur exploitationat the “Paliorema” location. The right later extended to other locations as well. Works were interrupted in 1958.

1884 Beginning of silver bearing galenite exploitation, at “Triades” location. Termination of works at the end of the 19th century.

1890Beginning of manganese exploitation at “Vani” location. Works stopped in 1928.

1899Beginning of kaolin exploitation, and later in 1925, setting up of a processing plant.

The Turkish Domination (1566–1821 A.D.)Limited activities on the island, mainly kaolin exportsfor porcelain production.

330

AD

1204

1934Beginning of baryte exploitation at “Voudia” location.

1952Beginning of bentonite exploitation.

1954Beginning of perlite exploitation.

1984Beginning of pozzolan mining at “Xylokeratia” location.

1566 1862 1934


ANAPPROACHTOTHEHISTORYOFMILOSANDITSMININGPAST


MilosisasmallvolcanicislandoftheCy-cladeswithasurfaceareaof151squarekilometers,andacoastlinelengthof125kmwithcountlessbeachesandamagnificentbaythatformsanaturalharbor,oneofthebiggestintheMediterranean,thatplayedanimportantroleintheisland’shistory.

Itsstrategiclocationatthecrossroadsofwater-ways,alreadysinceantiquity,wasthecausefortheearlydevelopmentofaculture,thatgavegreatimpetustoarts,mainlypottery,thankstotheexploitationandtradeofitsmineralwealth.

MilosinantiquityismentionedundervariousnamessuchasVivlisbyAristidesGrammati-cus,ZephyriabyAristotle,MimallisbyKalli-machus,AkytosbyHeraclidesGrammaticus.Throughoutitshistoricalagesthough,theislandhasalwaysbeenreferredtoasMilos.Onlythisnamehasbeenuseduntiltodaypreservedininscriptionsandancientcoins.Itissaidthattheislandtookthisnamefromitsfirstsettler,aheroofroyaldescent,sentfromCyprustoMilosbygoddessAphrodite.

Milosiseverygeologist’sdreamsince,throughtheunparalleledvarietyofitsrocks,tellspartofthetaleoftheEarth’screationbythegiganticforcesofNature.

Milosbelongstothe“Attica-Cycladesmass”geologicalunit,andformspartofthe“SouthAegeanvolcanicarc”consistingoftheSous-saki,Aegina,Poros,Methana,Antimilos,Milos,Kimolos,Thira,Antiparos,Kos,andNisyrosvolcanoes.

ItislocatedontheEurasianplate,about220kmawayfromthepresentcollisionboundaryandsubductionoftheAfricanbeneaththeEurasiancontinentalplate,withaspeedof2.5cmperyearandatanangleofapproximately35°.

Ifthereisaplacewheretheexistenceofaminingmuseumisconsideredself-evident,thisisdefinitelyMilos,theislandintheAegeanSea,sinceitsminingactivitygoesasfarbackastheStoneAgeandcontinuesuninterrupteduntilthepresentday.


ΜήλοςMilos

ΑντίπαροςAntiparos

ΤουρκίαΤurkey

Στερεά EλλάδαContinental Greece

ΠελοπόννησοςPeloponnese

Αιγαίο ΠέλαγοςΑegean Sea

Μεσόγειος ΘάλασσαΜediterranean Sea

ΓυαλίGyali

ΚωςKos

Ηφαιστειακό τόξο

Volcanic Arc

GEOLOGICALHISTORYOFMILOS

Everythingmusthavestarted200millionyearsago,aperiodofmassivefragmentationoftheprimordialcontinentsandoftheforma-tionoflargeoceansaroundtheMediterranean.Itwasthesameperiod,whentheAfricanplatefirstcollidedwiththeEurasianoneanddeformedthearchipelagocrackingthesea-floorintopieces.TheAfricanbegantosubmergebelowtheEurasianplatemeltingapartofit.Asaresult,giganticvolcaniceruptionsthroughoutthegeologicagestormentedtheregionthatwaslaternamedAegean.


TheintensevolcanicactivityinthesouthernAegeanwhichledtothecreationofMilosstarted3.5to2.7millionyearsago.Volcan-icexplosionstookplaceatthearea,whichtodayistheislandofMilos,coveringitwithvolcanicejectaandsubstratummaterialsof64,33,and5millionyears,formedwhentheMediterraneanwascontinually“open-ing”and“closing”asthecollisionofthetwoplateswasgoingon.Theislandwascov-eredwithashlayersofenormousthickness.Blastmaterialthatfellonlandcreatedlowmountainsofandesite,whilethematerialthatfellintheseaformed,duetotheshrink-ageduringthesolidificationofhotrocks,thefamouspillar-likeformations(Glaronissia).

Aseruptiongaseswereemittedthroughmeltedrocks,a“foam”oflavacontainingcountlessair-bubbleswasformedwhich,whilecooling,producedpumicewithitsve-siculartextureintheplaceofbubbles,whileunderwaterlavaovercooledontheseabedgavethelargelayersofperlite.

Theriftzoneformedduringthisfirstperiodofvolcanicactivitywasreactivated2.7to1.8millionyearsago,whentheislandwasalmostcompletelyformed,throughtheejectionoffusedrocks,gasesandash.About2million

yearsago,newviolentexplosionstookplacefromthreepartiallyoverlappingcraters,result-ingtotheformationofMilos’greatbay.

Buttheisland,onceagain,didnotcalmdown.

1.8millionto700,000yearsago,anewvolcanicsurgeonlandandatseacreatedlavadomesformedbytheviolentinfluxofnewmaterialundertheoldervolcanicrocks(1.71millionyearsagoinBombarda,1.6millionyearsagoinKorakia,880,000yearsagoinDemenegaki).

700,000to400,000yearsago,aneweruptioncoveredtheislandwithhotmud-flows,while90,000yearsagotwosub-marinevolcanoesexplodedandtheirlavaformedperlite,arockrichinwatertrappedwithinitsstructure(Trachilas-Fyriplaka).

ThedepthsoftheEarthinMiloscommuni-catesteadilywiththesurfacethroughthefumarolesanditshotsprings,whiletheSouthAegeanvolcanicarcisstillactive,andmoltenmaterialalongwithsuperheatedgasesarefoundatarelativelyshallowdepth.


AlmostallMilosmineralsandrocksareofvolcanicorigin.Butthecontinuouseffectofseawatermixedwithwarmacidicoralkalinevolcanicsolutions,turnedthemintotoday’s“IndustrialMinerals”eitherbywash-ingthemofforthroughtheprecipitationofpartoftheirelementsordepositionofnewcompoundsonthem.

Thisway,acidsolutionscreatedwhitekaolinby“washingout”thevolcanicrocks,whilebentonitewascreatedbyhotvolcanicalkalinesolutionsmixedwithseawater.

Aluniteandnativesulphurwereformedbytheintensewashoutofrockswithhotsulfuricacidwhileprecipitationofbaryte,silver,andmanganeseoccurredwhenhotseawaterwasmixedwithcoldwater.

Thuswerecreatedrockswithunexpectedcolorcontrastsandstrangeshapesthatexitetheartists’imaginationaswellasthescientists’curiosity.

Milosisgeologicallyveryyoung.Atthetimewhenthe“PetralonaMan”(500,000yearsago)livedinthecavesofNorthernGreece,Miloswasstillalittle,inhospitableplacewithearthquakesandvolcanicexplosions,likethoseofthetwosubmarinevolcanoesthatcreatedtheFyriplakaandTrachilasperlitesome90,000yearsago.


ThehistoryofthefirsthumansettlementsontheislandbeginsintheNeolithicAge.Previoushumancommunitiesarenotarchaeologicallydocumented.Somepassingfishermenfromthemainlandmayhavebeenthefirsttodis-covertheislandanditspreciousblackstone(obsidian),beforeitwasinhabited.

Astheislandisgeologicallyyoung,thehy-pothesisthatitsfirstsettlersarrivedontheis-landfromthemainlandbyprimitiveseafaringmeansmaybejustified.

NumerousreportsbytheancientwritersAr-istotle,Theophrastus,Plinyaswellasthear-chaeologicalevidenceimplythatexploitationofMilos’subsoilfirststartedaround7,000BC,withobsidian,theblack,shiny,andhardstonefoundontheisland,whichwasmuchsought-afterandtraveledallaroundthemain-landandtheislandsofGreece,wideningthewaterwaysnetworkofnavigationandtradethatstarted10,000yearsago.

TheobsidianofMiloswithitsuniquetextureisasignificantarchaeologicaltestimonyforthedetectionoftheearlyNeolithictradewater-waysintheAegean.

Therefore,theisland’sanditsexploiters’min-inghistorybeginswith.....astone.

DuringtheNeolithic Age(7,000-2,800BC)thedevelopmentofMiloswasexclusivelydependentontheexploitationofobsidian,anditsfirstsettlersgainedreputationasexcellentcraftsmenoftoolssuchasscrapers,arrow-heads,saws,axes,thussettingthebasisoftheNeolithiccivilizationontheisland.

EvenintheBronze Age(2,800-1,100BC),obsidianwasstillasignificantbutcheapma-terialforthemanufactureofstonetoolsandweaponsuntilthediscoveryofiron.

Besidesthetwowell-knownobsidianminingsitesonMilos,NychiaandDemenegaki,theexistenceoftreatedstonebladesinvariousothersitesindicatesthatsettlementsandobsidianworkshopswerecreatedthere(inPilos,Embourio,Samari,Plaka).

- Duringtheperiod3,300-2,300BC(Pre-residentialera),forwhichminimaltracesofhousesaresaved,tradewithotherCycladicislandswasnotlimitedtoobsidianbutwasalsoextendedtoceramics,thankstothelargeamountsofkaolinontheisland,alsousedforpharmaceuticalpurposes.

ASUMMARYOFMILOS’ANCIENTHISTORY

ANDTHEEXPLOITATIONOFITSMINERALWEALTH


0 m 30

Between2,300–2,000BC(1stresidentialperiod-PhylakopiΙ)simplestonehousesarebuiltaroundthePhylakopisettlement,andex-portsofobsidianandceramicsarebooming.

- Duringtheperiod2,000–1,600BC(2ndresidentialperiod-PhylakopiII)potterywasdevelopedwithrefineddeco-ration,while,inparallel,traderelationswithCretewereestablished.Nevertheless,Phylakopigetsdestroyedbyfirebyanunknowninvader,wholeavestracesoffireeverywhere,butnotofhisidentity.

- During1,600–1,400BC(3rdresidentialperiod-PhylakopiIII)thesettlementofPhylakopiwasrebuiltwiththehelpoftheCretanswithimpressiveprotectivewallsandbighouses,perhapstwo-storeyones,withfrescoesofMinoanart(depictingflying-fishesandlilyflowers).Tradewasfurtherdevelopedwithvasesofnaturalisticdecora-tion(plants,birds,dolphins)indicatingtheMinoancivilization’sinfluence.Onceagain,Phylakopigetsdestroyedbyinvadingen-emies(probablyMycenaeans)aswellasbytheeruptionofthevolcanoofSantorini.

PlanviewofPhylakopiattheLateBronzeAge


Τurkey

Continental Greece

Peloponnese

Milos

Antiparos

Gyali

Soufli

Fraghthi

Sesklo

Knosos

Νea Nikomideia

Obsidian of Milos, Earlier Neolithic

Obsidian of Milos, Later Neolithic

and Early Bronze Age

- Duringtheperiod1,400-1,100BC(4thresidentialperiod-PhylakopiIV)thecityisrebuiltandthefortificationwallsstrength-ened,publicbuildingsandsanctuarieslikeinMycenaearebuilt,andsmallscaleceramicswithclayfigurinesflourishes.

TheMycenaeancivilizationseemstopre-vail,whiletheMinoaninfluencedeclines.Around1,100BCPhylakopiIVsuddenlygetsalsoabandoned,becauseofnaturalreasons(probablyduetosoilslidingbe-causeoferosion)asallegedbythefactthatpartofitisnowundertheseasurface.

DuringtheArchaic Ages(1,100–480BC)anewcityisbuiltintheareaaroundtoday’sKlimavillage.ThisarearangesfromtheseatotheNEallthewaytothevillageTripititotheNandtheoutskirtsofPlaka.

Astrongwallisbuilt,tracesofwhichhavesurvivedtothisday.TheMiliansgetsubjectedtoandassimilatedwiththeDorianinvaders.

Pottery,atthattime,reachesperfectionwiththe“MilianAmphorae”beinguniqueintheirkind.

• Atthebeginning,obsidian’sfrequencyonthemainlandislow:theareaofobsidiantransportationislimitedtoeasternGreeceandCrete,inaradiusofupto300kmfromMilos(A-innercircle).

• Afterthe4thmillenniumBC,obsidianconsumptionintheAegeanincreasesandtheradiusofdistributionexpandsto400km.fromthesourceofproduction.ObsidianofMiloswasfoundintheNEAegeanandthecoastsofAsiaMinor.Intheseareas,besidestheobsidianofMilos,obsidianfromCappadociaortheCarpathianswasalsofound(B-outercircle)


ThereferencesmadebytheancientGreekauthorsontheexploitationanduseofMilos’rocksinantiquityarenumerous,inparticularduringtheClassicalAge:

Kaolin:referredtoas“MilianEarth”byTheophrastusandmainlyusedforthemanu-factureofhigh-qualityceramics,butalsoforthetreatmentofwounds.InAgiaKyriaki,thereareobviousindicationsofapotteryworkshop.

Native Sulphur:wasusedasanantisepticaswellasforthemanufactureofmedica-ments,inparticularforarthritis.IntheArchae-ologicalMuseumofMilos,onecanseethemoldsforthemeltingofsulphurcarryingthecharacteristicinscription“oftheAthenians”.

Αlum:wasconsideredachemicalcom-poundofgreatimportancesinceitwasusedasmedicine.Whenturnedintostypteria,itwasusedforthedyingofclothes.ThereareancientalumminesinLagada,whileinAgiaKyriakithereareremainsoftanksfortheconversionofalumintostypteria.

Bentonite:withoutbeingclearlyreferredtobyancientliterarysources,itisconjecturedthattheancientGreeksandRomanswereminingitforitsdetergentproperties,usingitassoap.

Hematite:wasusedforthemanufactureofdyesaswellasacosmeticproduct.

Μillstones:thevolcanicrockandesite(ortrachyte)wasminedmainlyinAgiaKyriakiduringtheClassicalperiod.Itwasprinci-pallyusedformillingcerealsaswellashardermaterialssuchasores.ThemillstonesofMiloswereusedforgrindingsilveroresinancientLavrio.

Pumice:wasusedforgrindingandpolishingmosaics,ceramics,statues.AnexampleoftheuseofpumiceasanexcellentpolishingmaterialinantiquityisthefamousstatueoftheLouvreAphroditeofMilosmadeofPar-ianmarble.

IntheClassical Ages(480-320BC),extrac-tionofclayforpotterycontinuesintensively,aswellasoftherockandesiteforthecon-structionofmillstones.Atthesametime,alu-niteisalsoextracted,asdocumentedbythepresenceofancientaluniteminesinLagadaandofalumproductiontanksinAyiaKyriaki.

DuringthePeloponnesianWar,Milosrefusedtojointhe“AthenianAlliance”(orDelianLeague)andpreferredtostayneutralbuttherevengingAtheniansinvadedMilostwice(426,416)slaughteringalmostalloftheinhabitantsandsettling500Atheniansontheisland.


The«VenusofMilos»isprintedonthepaperbagsusedforthepackagingofbaryteswhich«travels»aroundtheworld(1950)

TheMilianswhosurvivedabandonedtheis-landreturningonlyaftertheAtheniansweredefeatedbytheSpartansin405BCattheAigosPotamoi(i.e.GoatStreams).

DuringtheHellenistic Period(323-146BC)theislandfallsunderthesovereigntyoftheMacedoniansandlateronofAlexandertheGreat’ssuccessors,namelytheAntigonidsandthePtolemiesofEgypt.

Peaceprevailsandtheconditionsareonceagaincreatedfortheextractionofsmallquantitiesofsilverandleadores,whilethetradeoftheisland’smineralwealthisdevel-opinganewaswellasthearts.

Milosflourishesagainanditsrichesaredocumentedbythemasterpiecesthatdeco-ratedvariousbuildings,likethestatueofAphrodite(todayattheLouvremuseum),theoverlife-sizestatueofPoseidon,andageneral’sstatueonhorseback(NationalArchaeologicalMuseumofAthens).

DuringtheRoman Period(146BC–330AD),MilosisoccupiedbytheRomansanditspopu-lationgrowsto20,000people!BesidestheancientcityofKlima,remnantsofbuildingscan

befoundscatteredallovertheisland,indicatingthattheinhabitants,probablyfarmers,breedersorminers,livedoutsidethecitywalls.Themar-bletheaterofMilosisconstructed(ofwhichthecunei-kerkides-areexcellentlypreserved,aswellassixstairways-klimakes),statuesofoffi-cialsarebeingsculpted,imperialcoinscirculate,allexamplesofagreatculturaldevelopment.

Miningactivityandtradeareintensified.TheRomansaresuppliedwithsulphur,alum,kaolin,bentonitemainlyforpharmaceuticaluse,pumiceforpolishingmarbleandmosa-ics,aswellaspozzolanusedasabinderorplasterasdocumentedattheRomanquayplatforminKlima.

Moreover,saltisbeingproducedattheisland’ssaltworks.WhentheMilianscon-vertedtoChristianity,theyalsogotinvolvedinundergroundrock-cuttingcreatingcatacombsofoutstandingtechniqueforprotectionpur-posesagainsttheRomans,butalsofortheirreligiousandburialpractices.

IntheByzantine Ages(330-1204AD)theislandformspartofthe“ThemeoftheAegean”,abyzantineprovicebasedinRhodes.Miloscontinuestoprosperthanks


tothetradeofclayminerals,millstones,alum,pumice,salt(fromitsownsaltworks),sulphur,aswellastopotteryproduction.

DuringtheVenetian domination(1,204–1,566),Milos,alongwiththeotherAegeanislands,issubjecttotheVenetianrule,eventhoughtheMiliansdefendedstronlytheirrightoffreedom.Itisthisperiod,whentheexloita-tionofgypsum-amongotherminerals-begins.

DuringtheOttoman ages(1,566-1,821),exceptforashortperiodofRussianrule(1,771–1,774)in-between,MilosisunderTurkishdomination,notoccupation,asnoTurksactuallysettledontheisland.


MiningofmineralsneverceasedinMilos,despitetheapplicationofhightaxationratesontradewhichresultedinareducedproductionfortheisland’smineralproducts.Kaolinitefindsatthetimeafurtherapplicationintheproductionofporcelainanditsexportsaccrue.Chora,today’sZephyria,havingflourishedinthe16thand17thcenturies,isabandonedbyitsresidentsin1767,duetovariousreasonssuchasearthquakes,ma-laria,hydrogensulfidegasleakage.

TheseresidentsmoveandsettledowninKastro(Castle)andthesurroundingarea,today’sPlaka.

DuringtheGreek War of Independence(1821),Milos’contributiontotherevolutionagainsttheTurkswassignificantinboth,fundsandfighters.ThefirstnavalwarfaresuccessoftheWarofIndependencetookplaceinMilos,onApril11th,1821.

InWW I,theportofMiloswasusedasanavalstationbytheEnglishandtheFrench,andAdamashostedtheAllies’AegeanNavalCommand.

InWWII,MiloswasoccupiedbytheGermansonMay6th,1941andliberatedonMay9th,1945.

GermansoldiersattheinstallationsofSilver&BaryteOresMiningCo.atVoudia,Milos,1943(G.Xydousphotoarchive)


AftertheliberationfromtheOttomanswiththeGreekWarofIndependenceof1821,thefirstGreekStateisgettingorganizedandattemptstoexploititsmineralwealth.Inthiscontext,thefirstofficiallicensefortheexploitationofsulphurinMilos’PalioremaisassignedtoVasileiosMelas,whichlateronisexpandedtocoverothersitesaswell.

Theexploitationofsulphurceasedin1905toresume25yearslater,in1929,untilitwasdefinitevelyterminatedin1958.

Asofthatpoint,aninterestbeginstodevelopfortheindustrialmineralsandoresofMilos,mainlybyI.Serpieri.

•In1886Sifnos-EuboeaCompanyun-dertakestheexploitationofthesulphurdepositsofsilveroregalenite-sphaleriteinTriades,butnotofthecontainedsilver,for

whichlong-lastingresearchesaredonebutwithoutanysatisfactoryresults.

In1932theexploitationofsilveriscon-veyedtotheenterpreneursK.PapavasileiouandD.PalaeologosandoneyearlateristransferredtoEuripidesMavromatis.Workwasdiscontinuedattheendofthe19thcentury,withoutMilossilverhavingbeingminedsuccessfully,atleastinmoderntimes.

•In1893thefirstmineraldepositsmapofMilosispublishedandlateron,in1924,thegeologicmapofMilosfollowsit.

•Afterseveralattemptssince1871,theexploitationofthemanganesedepositswitha32-41%contentinMnO2isintensi-fiedatcapeVaniin1898bythefrenchcompanySerpieri&Cie.

EXPLOITATIONOFTHEMINERALWEALTH

OFMILOSINMODERNTIMES

ApanoramicviewoftheVoudiabayfirstinstallationsofSilver&Baryte,1935


Atthetimewhenproductionreacheditspeak,250-300people,men,womenandchildrenwereoccupiedatthemine,which,though,stoppedoperatingin1928,be-causeoftheglobaleconomiccrisis,afterhavingproducedmorethan220,000tonnesofmanganese.

Verysmallgypsumdepositswerealsoex-ploitedatthetime.

•In1899,thekaoliniteminesofMilosnolongerbelongtotheState,andtheirownershippassestoaprivateowner.Theexploitationofkaolinisintensifiedand,in1925,theprocessingplantisbeingbuiltbyKlonaridis,whichin2000wasreno-vatedbyMrs.KittyKyriacopoulosandhassincebeenoperatingbythecompanyORYMILS.A.asMilosConferenceCenter-“GeorgeEliopoulos”.

•Τheexploitationofbarytinestartsin1934atthelocationVoudiainMilos.

•AfterWWII,thedestroyedcitiesneedtoberebuilt,afactwhichledtoincreaseddemandformineralrawmaterials.Thus,bigcompaniesarebeingestablishedinthe‘50sand‘60s(TITAN,Mykobar,G.BourlosaswellasSilver&BaryteOresMiningCo.S.A.,since1934),butalsosmallerlocalbusinesses,whichdidnotlastlong.

Theexploitationofindustrialmineralsstartsin1952withbentonite,followedbytheexploitationofperlite,in1954.In1984,pozzolanminingalsobeginsatXylokeratiaandelsewhereinMilos.ThecompaniesTITAN,AGET-HERCULESarenowinvolvedinpozzolanmining.Themostimportantminingcompanyactivetothisdayonthe


islandisIMERYSIndustrialMineralsGreeceS.A.(aftertheacquisitionofS&BIndustrialMineralsS.A.,formerSilver&BaryteOresMiningCo.S.A.),holdingtheworld‘slead-ingpositionsfortheproductionandexportsofperliteandbentonite,byexploitinglargedepositsoftheseindustrialminerals.

Anotherfieldofnaturalresources’exploita-tioninMilos,beyondmining,istheisland’shighgeothermalfieldandabundanthotspringsknownsinceantiquityandsurveyedin1970.Thewholeattemptthoughdidnotproceedfurtherthantheconductedsurveys.

ThelonglistofMilos’exploitablenaturalresourcesdoesnotendhere.

Itsgeologicalenvironment,asseriousstud-iesbyAustraliangeologistshaveshown,isextremelyfavorableandpromisingfortheexploitationofgold!Whoknows….Maybesomeday…aslongaswedonotwaittoolongtouncoverallthehiddenwealthofthis“treasureisland”.

Milos,“theislandofAphrodite,”isaplaceofnumerousgeologicaltreasuressupplyingmanycultureswithbasicrawmaterialsforthousandsofyears.Stillinourdays,Milosisanimportantglobalsupplierofbentonite,perlite,kaoline.Anopen-airgeologicalmu-seuminitself,theislandhasitsownMILOSMININGMUSEUMpromotingitsminingwealthandjustifyingitspresencetothefullonthis“islandoftreasures”!

PremisesofthethenSilver&BaryteOresMiningCo.(nowadaysIMERYSIndustrialMineralsGreece),Voudia,Milos,2000


Bentonitemine,Aggeria

BIBLIOGRAPHICALSOURCES

Dimou,Ε.,Konti,Η.andDrandakis,Ε.,2003:The Sulphur Mine of Palioremma.Scient.MilosConference:HistoricalMinesintheAegean,19th-20thc.(inGreek)

Koritsi,Ι.andMallis,Ι.,2003:A record of his-torical mining facilities on Milos.Scient.MilosConference:HistoricalMinesintheAegean,19th-20thc.(inGreek)

Liakopoulos,A.,1987:Hydrothermalisme of min-eralisations metalliferes del’ ile de Milos.Thesis,Univ.Paris6.

Loukas,Ι.,1993:The Aegean Sea.PapazisisPubl,Athens.(inGreek)

Belivanakis,G.,2001:The History of Milos.Apublicationofthenewspaper“MILOS”,Athens.(inGreek)

Belilvanakis,G.,2004:Τhe Sulphur Mine of Milos.ApublicationofS&BIndustrialMineralsS.A.,Αthens.(inGreek)

Economopoulos,Ι.,1998:The Mining History of Milos.OryktosPloutosmagazine,108,59-64.(inGreek)

Pavlidis,S.,2007:PAN-GAEA.LeaderBooks,Athens.(inGreek)

Plimer,I.,2000:MILOS. Geologic History.KOANPubl.,Athens.

Fytikas,Μ.,1977:Geology and Geothermy of Milos.Thesis,Univ.ofThessaloniki.(inGreek)

Hatzidakis,Ι.,1972:The History of the Island of Milos.ΈνωσηΜηλίωνενΑθήναις,Athens.(inGreek)

Xydous,G.,2006:The Mining History of Milos Island.OryktosPloutosmagazine,139,35-40.


MilosMiningMuseum(ΜΜΜ),anon-profitorganization,islocatedinAdamas,theportoftheisland.Itsconstructionbeganin1994,andthemuseumopenedhisgatestothepub-liconMay23,1998.

CreatingaminingmuseumontheislandwastheideaoftheMilosFraternitywhich,asof1982startedcollectingobjectsrelatedtotheage-oldmininghistoryofMilos.

AftersixyearsandwiththesupportoftheAssociationofIndustrialandExportingCom-paniesofMilos(E.B.E.E.M.)thecollectionisexhibitedfortwoyearsataplaceespeciallyrentedforthisreason.In1991,S&BIndustri-alMineralsS.A.buysfromMilosAgriculturalCooperativeawarehouseinAdamas,theaimbeingtohousetheminingcollection.

Lateron,thewarehousewasdeemedunsuffi-cientanditwasdemolished.Theconstructionofacompleteleynewbuildinginitsplacetohousethemuseumwasdecidedandstartedin1994.Whencompleted,in1998,thenewmuseumbuildinghousedtheminingcollectionaswellasvariousotherobjectsrelatedtotheisland’sminingactivity,donatedbyindividualsandcompaniesaswell.

Thenewbuildingconsistsofthegroundfloorandthefirstfloor,themainexhibitionareas,aswellasoftheauxiliaryareasofthebase-mentandtwoatriums.

IMERYSIndustrialMineralsGreeceS.A.supportstodaythefunctionofthemuseumwithoutanyStatefundings.MMMisnotjustathematicmuseum,asmaybeindicatedbyitsname,presentingexclusivelythemininghistoryandactivitiesofMilos.Itsmaingoalistorecordmemoriesandtopresentthecrea-tionoftheislanditself,asdocumentedbyitsuniqueanddiversegeologicalhistory.

Furthermore,thehumancommunitiesthatlivedontheislandexploitingitsmineralwealth,andlefttheirmarkonancientciviliza-tion,navigationandtrade,arealsorevivedthroughthemuseum’sexhibits.TheArchaeo-logicalMuseumofMilosinPlaka,withitsownexhibits,completesthehistoryofmanas“sapper”.

MMMisamodernmuseum,andassuchitisaculturalandeducationalcenterinaconstantlyevolvingsociety,notjustanexhibitionplacebutanexperience.Anarkofinformationaboutthepast,thepresent,andthefuture.

MILOSMININGMUSEUM


GOALoftheMuseumistohighlighttherichgeologicalandmininghistoryofMilosaswellasMan’sage-oldrelationshipwiththeRock,fromthemomenthefirstappearedonthisPromisedLand.Moreover,thedissemina-tionofknowledgeaboutthecontributionofMineralWealthtotheevolutionofmanandcivilization,aswellasthediffusionofinforma-tiontothebroaderpublicabouttheinfiniteusesofmineralsinoureverydaylife,manyofwhichcanbefoundonMilos,arealsogoalsofMMM.

TheMuseum’sactivitiesrevolvearoundtwomainaxes,aimingatpromotingthegeologi-cal/mininghistory(ofthepastandpresent)aswellasthepeoplewholaboredonthisisland.Theyareaddressedabovealltotheyoungpeople,aimingtotakethemonajouneyofknowledgeonthesignificanceofrawmaterialsandmineralsforman’slifeandculture.Tothisend,themuseumorganizesan-nualeducationalprograms,geologicalwalksthroughthe“MiloterraneanGeoWalks”initiative,periodicalexhibitionsandscientificconferences,whileithasalsodevelopedsignificantpublishingactivity.


VISITINGTHEEXHIBITIONAREAS

GuidedtoursaroundtheexhibitsarealsodonethroughtheAudioGuideSysteminfivelanguagesGreek,English,French,German,Italian

GroundFloor

Unit Α

Α1. Information-SecretariatΑ2.MuseumShop

Unit Β

Social, economic and technological aspect of the mining activity on Milos

Β1. ThehistoryoftheMilosMiningMuseum

Β2. GeologicalmapofMilosΒ3. MininghistoryofMilosΒ4. MineralproductionprocessesΒ5. SlidesfromtheSulphurMines

andVaniΒ6. SulphurMines-VaniΒ7. VariousobjectsfromtheMilosSulphur

MinesS.A.andSilver&BaryteOresMiningCo.S.A.(laterS&BIndustrialMineralsS.A.andnowadaysIMERYSIndustrialMineralsGreeceS.A.)

Β8. ToolsandphotographsfrompastminingactivitiesonMilos

Β9. Wagoncart(scoop-car) Atrium 1Educationalactivities Atrium 2Landreclamation

StairwayVolcanomodel-diagrammaticsectionoftheearth’scrust

FirstFloor

Unit C

The mineral wealth of MilosC1. ThecreationofMilosC2. TheminingactivityofMilos C2.1Obsidian C2.6Pozzolan C2.2Millstones C2.7Baryte C2.3Kaolin C2.8Perlite C2.4Sulphur C2.9Bentonite C2.5ManganeseC3.Gettingtoknowtheminerals

(interactively)C4.ThemineralwealthofMiloswith

referencestotherestofGreece C4.1Epithermalgold C4.2Fossils C4.3Minerals C4.4Rocks C4.5MineralsC5.LandscapesofMilos

asgeologicalsights

Basement

Unit D D1. Halloftemporaryexhibitions

andeducationalprogramsD2. Projectionandlecturehall


D2

D1

Α1

B1Entrance

B2B3B4

B6B7

B5

Α2

B9

B8Atrium 1

Atrium 2

C1

C2.8

C2.1

C4.1 C4.2C3

C4.3C4.4

C4.5

C5

C2.2 C2.3C2.5C2.4

C2.6C2.7

C2.9

GroundFloor

Basement

FirstFloor


ThegroundfloorexhibitionisdedicatedtothemininghistoryandactivitiesofMilosatvarioustimes.Emphasisisgivenonoldoblsoleteminesthatwrotetheirownhistory,providingfinancialsupportandsocialdevelopmentindifficulttimesfortheisland.Itisimportantforalocalmuseumtogiveyoungpeopletheopportunitytotogettoknowtheirparents’andgrandparents’historyandlaborasdocumentedand“carved”ontherocksoftheirownhomeplace.

GROUNDFLOOR


OurtourbeginswithashorthistoryofthefoundingofMilosMiningMuseum,fromitsdesigningin1982untilitsofficialinaugura-tionin1998.ItcontinueswithananalyticalgeologicmapofMiloswhere,exceptforthegeologicalformations,manytopographi-cal,culturaldataaswellasinformationonvariousmineraldepositsarepresented.Itisaveryinformativemapthatcanservetouristpurposesaswell.

•FollowingisthemininghistoryofMilos,whichstartedasearlyastheNeolithicAge,around7,000BC,maybeevenalittleearlier.Basedonarcheologicalfinds,theprogressivedevelopmentofmininginMilosisreported,throughtheagesandallthewaytothisday.

•Aswecontinueourtour,wearegettingacquaintedwiththemineralsproductionprocesses.Asalreadyknown,numerousproductsandobjectsofoureverydaylifecomefrommineralrawmaterials(miner-als,oresetc.).But,untilamineralreachesthemarketintheformofaproduct,thereisaprecedingseriesofprocessesandresearchregardingthemineralitselfanditscontext.Thesestudies,are:

Geologicalmapping,M.D.Fytikas,1971-1973(publ.1998)


Geological and mineral research,forde-terminingthequantitative-qualitativechar-acteristicsandtheexactlocationandformofthedepositwiththehelpofgeophysicsandgeochemistry.

Techno-economic analysis,forascertain-ingthatthedeposit’sexploitationiscost-effective,andifso,fordeterminingtheappropriateminingmethod.

Detailed planning of all exploitation phases and of all measures for reducing its impact on the environment and for ensuring safety for the miners and the project itself.

Extraction and transportation of the min-eraltotheindustrialprocessingplants.

Processingaccordingtothemineral’snatureandthecustomer’sspecifications(breaking,sieving,drying).

Loading and transportationtothesiteofconsumption(individualcustomer-industry).

Finally,thewholeprocedureiscompletedwiththerehabilitationoftheminingsitethathasbeenaffectedbytheextractionactivity.Goalistorestorenaturebacktotheminesandtoestablishasustainablebiodiversity.

Thisisachievedwiththeappropriateres-torationofthelandreliefwithsoilcoveringandplantingorsowingoflocalandendemicfloraspecies.


•Furtheron,wearegettingacquaintedwiththemostrecentminingpastofMilos,throughthetwoobsoleteminesinPalio-remma(sulphurmine)andVani(manga-nesemine),forwhichthememoriesofthelocalminershavenotyetfadedaway.Here,wecanseephotosandslidesfrombothmineswhich,althoughnolongerfunctioning,lefttheirmarkonGreece’smininghistoryindifficulttimesforthecoun-try’seconomy.

WhenlookingatthephotosoftheSulphurMine,theruinedplantseemstodominatethehill’snaturalslopewiththeremainsoftheoldDekovilleminecarttrack.Insidetheruinsofthebuildings(warehouses,machineorrepairstations,etc.)therearestillremainsofheavymachinerythatTimeandHistoryseemtohaverespected(variousobjects/toolsfromthissitearenowexhibitedattheMMM).Ontheotherhand,theslidesfromcapeVaniopen-airmanganesemineshowthemagnificentgeologiclandscapewithitsgrey-brownorred-brownrockscompetingwiththeblueshadesofthesea,ofthisveryseathatonceuponatimecreatedthem.Inthesamearea,wearegivenbriefhistoricalfactsandotherinformationaboutthetwoobsoleteindustrialplants.

PanoramicviewoftheSulphurMinebuildingsinPalioremma,2002


So,welearnthat,millionyearsago,capeVaniformedthemuddybottomofanunder-watercrater,whererocksrichinmanganeseweregraduallyformed.

Thefirstattemptstorecovertheorebeganin1871,andwhenminingbytheFrenchcom-panySerpieri&Ciereacheditsproductionpeakin1898,250peoplewereemployedattheworksite.Attheendofthe19thcenturytheannualproductionreached18,000tons70%ofwhichwasexportedandtherest30%wastransportedtothefoundriesofLavrion.

In1928themineatVaniclosed,afterhavingproducedover220,000tonsofmanganese.

TheSulphurMinesatPalioremmaisanextraordinarycase,sincein1860itwasas-signedthefirstofficiallicense(concession)fortheexploitationofsulphurprovidedbythenewlyestablishedGreekState.In1893,220minerswereemployedattheSulphurmine,andannualproductionreached2,000tons,mostpartofwhichwasexportedtoFrance.

Theminingactivitycontinuedwithfewin-tervalsuntil,duetolimiteddemand,itwasfinallyclosedin1958,havingminedabout125,000tonsoftheore,thatisonlypartoftheexistingdeposits.

Coinsmadeofaluminium(«token-coins»).TheywereusedbytheworkerstobuyvariousproductsfromtheSulphurMine’scanteeninthe‘50s.


Atthesameexhibitionunit,wecanseetheoriginalpricelistofthecanteenoftheSulphurminewhichservedtheneedsoftheminers.Anytransactionsweredonewithconven-tional‘token-coins’madeofaluminum,whichwereusedinthe‘50sandarenowalsoexhibitedhere.

•Completingour“stroll”attheSulphurmine,asignificantmonumentofindustrialhistoryincludedamongthemostimportantearlyprocessingplantsinGreece,wecanseevariousobjects,tools,andmachinesusedintheproductionprocessofthattime,andexhibitedheretoremindtheyounger,underwhichconditionsandwithwhichmeans,theminingactivitystartedontheisland.

TheseobjectsoncebelongedtothelaboftheMilosSulphurMinesS.A.thatwasactivethere,whileinthesameshowcase,exhibitsfromtheactivityofSilver&BaryteOresMiningCo.S.A.(todayIMERYSIndustrialMineralsGreeceS.A.)aredisplayedaswell.


Amongthem,thevisitorcanseelaboratorytools(labscale,testtubes,sieves,aBunsenburner,etc.)calculators,collectiveagree-ments,a1940laborlawdocument,booksofaccounts,payrolldocumentsandmore.

Here,variousmachines,suchasaloadliftandaheating/dryingovencanalsobeseen,whileseveralotherobjectsandtoolsareexposedinglassdisplaycases.Amongthem,fragmentsofclaymoldsintowhichmoltensulphurwaspoured,datedaround505-415BC.AttheArchaeologicalMuseumofMilos,claymoldsarealsodisplayedbearingtheinscription“oftheAthenians”thushighlightingthepresenceoftheAtheniansinMilos,atthattime.

- Thesemi-circularareaatthegroundfloorisoccupiedbyvarioustestimoniesoftheminingactivityinMilosduringthepreviouscentury,representingtheminers’wayoflivingandworkingaswellaspayingtrib-utetothosewholaboredandcontributedtothedevelopmentoftheisland.

Someoriginal,“primitive”toolsthattheworkersattheminesusedtryingto“tame”therock,aswellasitemsfromtheireverydayroutineconsti-tuteasomewhat“folklore”collectioncomple-mentedbytwomuseummannequinswearingthetypicalworkclothingofthetime.


Finally,aseriesofphotographshangingonthewalldepicttypicalsnapshotsfromtheminingactivityintherecentpast.

- Ourtourofthegroundfloorareacon-cludeswiththelargetoolsthatstillbearthecharacteristicnaturalwearoftimeanduse,likeanironminescoopforthetransportationofmineralsonaminecartrailtrack,withvariousothertoolsscatteredarounditonthefloor,aswellasaheavyweighingscaleinthemiddleoftheroom.


Onthefirstfloor,themineralwealthofMilosaswellasthecurrentminingactivityontheislandispresented,andinformationisgivenonhowmineralsareprocessedandwhattheirmultipleusesinoureverydaylifeare.

Andsincemineralsareinextricablyintertwinedwithvolcanism–asisthecreationoftheislanditself–here,theisland’screationandgeologicalevolutionisalsoveryvividlypresented.

1stFLOOR


ThisfloorconsistsoffivedistinctUnits. TheCreationofMilos

Whenleavingthestairwaytothefirstfloor,amodelpresentsthevariousphasesofvolcan-ism,andadiagrammaticcross-sectionoftheEarth’scrustwithitsvariouslayersshowsthewaythemagmaclimbsup,thencreatesalavachamber,beforeitappearsontheEarth’ssur-faceintheformofaneruptingvolcano.

Belowandinfrontofthevolcanomodel,largesamplesofrocksassociatedwiththevolcanicactivityareexhibited.

Whenenteringthefirstfloor,informativesignspresentschematicallythecreationofMilosandofminerals.Athree-dimensionalimagerepresentstheareaoftheSouthAegeanvolcanicarc,whereMilosonceemergedfromseabythegiganticclashandtitanicforcesoftwocontinentalplates.

Αφρική - Africa

Λιθόσφαιρα Αιγαίου - Aegean Lithosphere

Λιθόσφαιρα Αφρικής - African Lithosphere

Ασθενόσφαιρα - Asthenosphere

Περιοχή γένεσης µάγµατος

Magma generation area

1. Methana2. Milos3. Santorini4. Nisyros


Thelimitsofthetwoplatesaredepicted,aswellasthedirectionofthesubmergenceoftheAfricanundertheEurasianplateandthebeginningofvolcanicactivityatthepointwheretheAfricanplatereachestheEarth’smantleandmelts.Inparallel,afulldepictionoftheSouthAegeanvolcanicarc,startingfromKorinthiaandendinginAsiaMinor,isshownonamap.

Then,thevisitorwillseemineralsthatarepresentontheisland(kaolin,sulphur,pozzolan,baryte,perlite,montmorillonite,andesite,manganeseores),thathaveeitherbeenextensivelyusedinantiquityandgreatlycontributedtothepromo-tionofculture,orconstitutedandstillconstitutemainincomesourcesfortheisland’sinhabitants,likeperliteandmontmorillonite.

Moreover,theysupporttheeconomyofthecountryaswell,sincetheyholdleadingpositionsboth,intheEuropeanandtheglobalmarket.

ThecreationoftheseusefulmineralsisduetotheintensevolcanicandhydrothermalactivityintheregionoftheSouthAegean,especiallyintheareawhichtodayistheislandofMilos.

Exceptforandesitewhichisapurelyvolcanicrock,theotherusefulmineralswereproducedbythetransformation,disintegration,illuviationofvolcanicrocksbyhotsolutionscombinedwithseawaterthatturnedthemintotheminer-alstheyaretoday.


ThisUnitincludesmineralsandrocksthatareminedtodayinMilos,aswellasthosethatwereextractedinthepast,andconsti-tutetheisland’sdiversemineralwealth.

Obsidian.IntheObsidiandisplaycasesthecollectionoftheMilianfolkloristandcollectorZafirisVaosisexhibited,whichwasboughtin2009bytheKyriacopoulosfamilywiththeapprovaloftheGreekMinistryofCulture.In2011,itwasdonatedtotheMMMsupple-mentingitspermanentcollections,thusreturn-ingtoitsplaceoforigin,whichwasalsothewishofthecollector.TheObsidiancollectionconsistsofnumerousartifactsfromtheprehis-toricobsidianquarriesofMilosandvarioussurfacelocationsoftheisland.

TheminingactivityofMilos


Obsidianisavolcanicglassproducedfromtherapidcoolingofacidicsiliceousmagma,resultingfromthevolcanicexplosionsoftheQuaternary,1.4millionyearsago.Intwocases,onecanseethesourcesofobsidianintheMeditteraneanandtheAegeandur-ingprehistory,aswellasitstraderoutesinthoroughgraphs.Thetwofollowingcasespresentthearchaeologicalsitesofobsid-ianandtheancientquarriesinNychiaandDemenegaki,aswellasathoroughrefer-enceinFylakopi,themaintradecenterofobsidianinprehistorictimes.

Thentheobsidianknappingtechniquesarepresentedthroughgraphsandsketchesrepre-sentingthevariouswaysofcuttingandsplittingbladeswithpressureorpercussion.Foralloftheaforementionedwaysofprocessing,therearecharacteristicsamplesofobsidian,suchasnuclei,flakes,bladesinavarietyoftypes,aswellasintheirfinalformasutilityarticles,scrapers,saws,arrowheads,drills,andsoon.

Thisunitconcludeswithachronologicaldiagram,wheretheuseofobsidianintheAegeanispresented,fromtheUpperPal-aeolithictothe1stmillenniumBC.


Μillstones.AndesiteisavolcanicrockfoundinseverallocationsinMilosand,duetoitshardnessandporosity,wasusedinancientyearsforthecreationofmillstonesforgrindingcerealsandothermaterials.

DuringtheClassicalperiod,andesiteminingwascarriedoutinAghiaKyriakiandandesitewasexportedtoLavrionforthegrindingofsilverore,butalsooutsideofGreece,inEgypt,Italyandelsewhere.

Therelevanttableillustratesthevariousstagesofandesitecarvinguntilturnedintomillstone,whileinmuseumpedestalsnaturalsamplesofthisvolcanicrockareexhibited,twoofwhichintheprocessofbeingcarved,andthethirdinthecompletedphase,asamillstone.


Κaolin.Here,thehistoryofkaolinanditsusefromantiquitytothepresentdayispre-sented,aswellasofitscreation,whileinfor-mationisalsogivenaboutitsoccurencesontheisland.Onsmallsteppedglassdisplaycasesnaturalsamplesofkaolinshowussuccessivephasesofitsprocessing,throughsmallorsmaller,trimmedornon-trimmedsamples,untilthefinalstepofprocessing,i.e.ceramics,famousartifactsinantiquity.

Kaolinisarockmadeupfromamixtureofaluminumsiliconoxides(chemicaltype2SiO

2Al2.2H

2O)andincludesmainlykao-

linite,halloysite,allophane.TheophrastusandDioskoridesreportthatkaolin(Melianearth)wasextensivelyusedinpaintingdur-

ingantiquity.ItisalsoknownthatkaolinwasusedasearlyastheNeolithicAgeforthemanufactureofclaypottery,figurines,ancientoillamps,andhousecoatingsinMilosandelsewhere.

Unprocessedkaolinisusedinthecementindustryforwhitecementproduction,whilethewhitefinelygroundkaolinisusedinthepaperindustryasafillingandforensuringthepaper’swhitenessandopacity.

Itisalsousedinthepaintindustry(plasticpaints),inthecosmeticsanddrugsindustry,whileexcellentqualitykaolinisusedintheproductionofporcelain.

KaolinminegalleriesinKastriani


Sulphur.ThefirstreferencetoitsuseismadebyHomer,initsIliadandOdysseyepics.ItshealinganddisinfectantpropertieswereknownatthetimeofHippocrates.Sulphurwasalsousedforpolishingmetals.

Inourdays,itismainlyusedintheproduc-tionoffertilizers,pesticides,paints,explo-sives,matches,fireworks.Itisalsousedinmetallurgyforthetreatmentofironandothermetals,aswellasinthetextileindustry.

SystematicexploitationofsulphuronMilosstartedin1862atPalioremmawhichthoughstoppedin1958,duetothefactthat,duringthedesulphurizationprocessofpetroleum

andnaturalgas,amorecost-effectivesulphurproductionmethodwasfound,whichisinuseuntiltoday.

ThenumerousruinsofthePalioremmaSulphurMinebuildingsbythesea,aretestimoniesofthepastintenseminingactivityontheisland,andareawaitingtoberevivedandserveanewuseinthefuture.

Inthesamedisplaycase,thevisitorcanseenaturalsamplesofnativesulphurasex-tracted,andadmireitsshiningyellowinallitsshadesandintensivities.

TheobsoleteplantoftheSulphurMinesinPalioremma,Milos


Μanganese.Alreadyinantiquity,itwasusedinpaintingalongwiththeotherochres.Itmayhavefirstbeenusedinmetallurgyalongsidewithironwithouttheknowledgeoftheancientblacksmiths,asmanganesecoexistsinmostironores.

Manganesedoesnotexistinnatureasanelementonitsown,butiscontainedinvari-ousminerals,whenthesearebeingformed,suchasinmanganeseminerals,hausmanite,rhodoniteandpyrolusite(MnO

2).

Itsusesarenumerous:inironmetallurgy,steelandbatteriesindustries,glassindustry,inthemanufactureofpurplecoloredglass,aswellasindecoloring(removingtints)glassmelts,fromwhichuseitderivesitsancientgreekname,“pyro-lusite”i.e.“fire-wash”.

Asatrace-element,itscontributiontothefoodchainofanimalsandplantsisalsoveryimportant.TheexploitationofMilosmanga-nesedepositsstartedwithgoodomensinVanibutstoppeddefinitivelyin1928,duetotheglobaleconomiccrisis.

Variousmanganeseorespecimenscomple-mentourknowledgeaboutthisveryusefulore,alsorecoveringmemoriesforallthosewhoworkedthereasminers,indifficulttimes.

GenericviewofthemanganesemineinVani


Pozzolan.Thepresenceofpozzolan(The-raicEarth)inthehydraulicmortarsoftheancienttanksforthe“beneficiation”ofsilveroresinLavrion,especiallyinClassicaltimes,impliesthatitsusewasalreadyknowninan-tiquity.InStrabo’sGeography,referenceismadetotheuseofTheraicEarthinItaly,anditisknownthatitwasusedintheromanmor-tars.TheRomansdiscoveredthepropertiesofpozzolaninavillagebymountVesuvius,Pozzoli,fromwhichitderivesitsname.

Pozzolansarevolcanicrocks(tuffs),richinsili-condioxide(60-70%),andaluminumoxide(12-15%),mainlyoftracheitic-andesiticorigin.

Pozzolanpowder,inthepresenceofmois-tureorwater,reactschemicallywithcarbondioxideformingvariouscompoundswithhydraulicproperties.

Today,pozzolansaremainlyusedintheproductionofcementswithpozzolan(con-tainingpozzolanupto20%)andpozzolan-iccements(containing20-48%pozzolan).Insmallerscale,theyarealsousedintheproductionofhydraulicmortarsandinsula-tionblocks.

Pozzolansaboundinareasofvolcanicorigin.InGreece,largequantitiescanbefoundinMilos(Xylokerathia),aswellasinKimolos,inAspronissi,Gyali,andinThera(Santorini),hencethenameTheraicEarth.

Inthesamedisplaycase,besidesthepho-tosshowingtheminingsitesofpozzolaninMilos,asmallcollectionoflargepozzolanspecimensofvarioustypesisalsoexhibited.


Baryte.Itisbariumsulphatewiththechemi-calformulaBaSO4.IntheGreekminingindustry,however,theargentiferousbaryteorepoorinsilvercontentisknownbythenamebarytine.

Baryteismainlyused(upto80%)inthepro-ductionofoildrillingmuds,asitincreasesthemuds’specificweight.Itisalsousedintheglass,tire,andpaperindustries(forthepro-ductionofluxurycardboard),inthemanufac-tureofpaints,fireworks,aswellasanaggre-gateinheavycements.Inmedicine,itisgiventopatientsundergoingx-rayexaminations,intheformofsolution.Furthermore,itisalsousedinnuclearreactorsasashieldprotectionagainstradiation.

InMilos’Voudiabay,anargentiferousbaryte(barytine)depositwasminedinthepast,butsuchdepositsexistinotherGreekislands,too,suchasinMykonos,Kimolos,Polyaegos,Kos,Thasos.

BaryteoccurencesexistalsoinmainlandGreece,mainlyinthePeloponneseandMacedonia(Kilkis).Theoldphotoonthewallshowsasnapshotfromtheore’stranspora-tion,withprimitivemeans,inVoudiabay.

Alargeandheavyspecimenofbaryte,withitscharacteristicorthorhombiccrystalsystem,isplacedonapedestal,whileinalowdisplaycasenearby,smallerpiecesofbarytefromMilosandotherplacesinGreeceaswell,suchasfromSerifosandLavrion,areexhibited.


Perlite.Itisaglassyvolcanicrockcontainingahighpercentage(70-76%)ofsilicondiox-ide(SiO

2)and2-6%crystallizationwater.

Itsabilityto“swell”whenheatedisduetoitshighcontentinwater,sincethesteamformedduringheatinggetstrappedintheformofbubblesinbetweenitsgranules,resultinginsignificantincrease,uptotwentytimes,involume.

Expandedperliteisusedassound-insulationintheconstructionindustry,intheproductionoflightconcrete,plasters,assubstratuminhydroponiccultures,andassoilimprover,butalsoaspetlitter.Itisalsousedasaddi-tiveindrillmuds,asabrasiveindetergents,soapsandpolishingproducts.Oneofitsmainusesisasfiltrationmeansforthesepa-rationofliquids(beer,wine,water,oliveoil)fromsolidinclusions(impurities).

PerliteisminedinMilos,andisexportedtomanycountriesaroundtheworld.Greeceisthegloballeaderintheproductionofperlite.ItisminedinGyaliaswell,andisalsotobefoundontheislandsofKos,Lesvos,Antiparos.Inthesameunit,manyoftheusesofperliteareveryexplicitlypresented,andthevisitorcancomeincontactwithit.


Bentonite.Itisarockconsistingofphyllosili-cateminerals,especialllymontmorillonite.Itsusesarenumerous;followingarethemostimportantones:Duetoitshighadsorptionandion-exchangecapacity,anditsplasticity,itisusedinthedrillingmudsfortheresearchandproductionofpetroleumandnaturalgas,aswellasinwaterdrillings(assealer,boreholewallcoating).

Itsuseinthefoundriesissignificant.Itisusedasamoldcoverforprecisecasting,andinironproductionasbinderinironorepelletization.

Itis,furthermore,usedinsealingcementinjec-tions,assealerinlandfills,lakesanddams,inthefertilizer-pesticidesindustry,inpetlitter,inpottery,inpharmaceuticalsandcosmetics,intheproductionofphotocopypaper.Itsuseasfilteraidintheclarificationofliquids(wine,juices,oliveoil)fromunwantedproteinsandothersubstancesissignificant.

Inthisunit,thevisitorwillgetdetailedinfor-mationabouttheusesofbentonitethroughpicturesandgraphs,andwillwatchavideoscreeningdedicatedtothesetwominerals,PerliteandBentonite,whichdominateto-day’sminingactivitiesontheisland.

Milosisthemainproducerofbentonite,withanextraordinaryminingandexportingactivity.GreececomesfirstintheproductionofbentoniteintheE.E.andsecondglobally.BentoniteexistsalsointheislandsofKimo-los,Lesvos,Chios.


HereistheInteractiveContactUnit(ICU),wherethevisitorcomesindirectcontactwiththemineralsthatwereonceoraretodayminedonMilos.GoaloftheICUistoallowthevisitortorecognizetheseusefulminerals,butalsotogettoknowthevariouslocationsoftheirminingorprocessingonthemapoftheisland.

Itisapleasantgameforyoungandoldalikeofferingfurtherknowledge,whichsupplementsthemuseum’sannualeduca-tionalprograms.It’sallaboutthemineralwealthofMiloswithfurtherreferencestotherestofGreece,too.

Gettingacquaintedwiththeminerals(interactively)


ThemineralwealthofMilos

withreferencestotherestofGreece

Themuseum’smineralcollectionisimportantandcountsover2,000speciments,90%ofwhicharerepresentativeofMilos.Inthemid-dleoftheroom,samplesofminerals,rocks,andfossilsfromMilosandotherregionsofGreeceareexhibited.Inthesectiondedicat-edtoepithermalgold,characteristicsamplesofrockswitharelativelylowcontentingoldfromvariousareasofMilosareindisplay.Forinstance,atape-liketexturedquarzsampleandaspecimenofchalcedoniuswithgoldfromProfitisElias,onepieceofrhyolitewithlowcontentingoldfromChondroVouno,

agold-bearingveinofquarzwithirondioxidesfromProfitisElias,agold-bearingamethystveinfromChondroVouno.

Inspiteoftheabove,agold-bearingdeposithasneverbeenfoundinMilos,althoughtheisland’sgeologicalconditionshavebeendeemedfavorablebygeologists.


Themostprobablecauseforthisisthat,sinceMilosisgeologicallyveryyoung,therehasn’tstillbeenenoughtimeforitsgolddeposits(fromthewashingoffofvolcanicrocks)tobedeeplycorroded,andthegoldcarriedawaybygroundwater,condensed,andcoagulated.Maybeaftermany,many(!)years…whoknows!!

Thevisitorwillfindthefossil’sdisplaycaseofspecialinterestaswell,becauseoftheirimpressivevarietyonthisvolcanicisland.

Animalfossilsprevail.EspeciallyinSara-kiniko,wheremanyshellsofcrustaceans(scallops,oysters)havebeenburiedinthevolcanicsand.BivalvesoftheOstreafamily,Pectinidae,Echinoderma,andScaphopodaoftheAporrhaidaefamilywererecognized,andmuchmore.


Inthecasesdedicatedtotheminerals,manyimpressivecollectorpiecesfromMilos(sulphur,gypsum,opal,salt),butalsosampleswithinter-estinguses,suchaszeoliteanddiatomite,areexhibited,supplementedbymineralsfromvariousotherregionsofGreece(gypsumfromIerapetrainCrete,amianthusfromZidaniinKozani,talcfromAskosinChalkidike,ironpyritefromChalkidike).

Inthecasededicatedtotherocks,charac-teristicsamplesfromMilos,aswellasfromotherregionsinthemainlandandtheislandsareexhibited,presentingageneralideaofthecountry’sgeology(emeryfromNaxos,lateritesfromKastoria,bauxitesfrommountElikon,sulfuricoresfromChalkidike,chromitesfromKozani).


Miloslandscapesasgeologicalsights

Our“guided”tourofthe1stfloorcompleteswithimpressivepicturesfromnaturalland-scapesformedbygeologicalprocesses,withcharacteristicsamplesfromSarakiniko,Vani,Arkoudes,KleftikoandGlaronissia.

Geositesthatstiruptheattentionofboth,geologistsandtouristsalike,aboutNature’srarebeauties.


Basement

Thetwomainroomsofthebasementfunctioninasupplementarywaytothemuseum’sgoalsandactivities.

TheProjection and lecture Hall,withacapac-ityof40people,isequippedwithaudiovisualmeansforthescreeningofmaterialrelatedtothemuseum’sthemesandforhostingvariousevents.

TheHall of Temporary Exhibitions and Educa-tional Programshoststhemuseum’seducationalprograms,specialperiodicalexhibitions,etc.

Atriums

Themuseum’stwoatriaarededicatedtotheLandReclamationandtheEducationalActivities.Here,innovativeeducationalpro-gramsandvariousactivitiestakeplace,withanaimtoraiseawarenessofthechildrenandthelocalsocietyregardingenvironmentalissues,andtoupdatethemontheminerals’numeroususesinoureverydaylife.

OTHERAREASOFTHEMUSEUM


THEMUSEUM’SACTIVITIES

Oneofthemuseum’smainachievementsisthecloserelationshipbuiltwiththeeduca-tionalcommunity,sinceitoffersamulti-fac-etededucationandentertainmenttoyoungpeopleandchildrenofalleducationallevels,andtoadultsaswell.

Themuseumhasdeveloppedandconstantlyrenewsaseriesofeducationalprograms,whichimplementssuccessfullywithinitspremisesandexhibitionsorintheHallofedu-cationalprograms,withthenecessaryeduca-tionalandaudiovisualmaterial.Throughin-teractivegames,museum-educationaleventsandcompetitions,theMMMoffersauniquerecreationalexperiencehavingknowledgeasitsultimategoal.Italsoofferstheteachersaccompanyingthestudentsthenecessarytrainingforabetterapproachoftheeduca-tionalthemeswithintheclassroom.

TheactivitiesimplementedattheLandRecla-mationatriumaimatraisingawarenessofthelocalcommunity’syoungpeopleinissuesthatconcerntheprotectionoftheenvironment.

Atypicalexampleistheprogram“Trans-planting local plants”,implementedsince2005,wheretheparticipator,usingpeatandperlite,canplantaMilosendemicfloraspeciesinapot,andthentakeithomeasasouvenirofhisvisittotheMMM.

Theprogram“From Millstone to Bread“isimplementedtowardsthesamedirection.ThechildrenlearnthecontributionofMilos’millstonesintheeconomicdevelopmentoftheisland,aswellastheirusefulnessinman’slife,inthepast.

EducationalPrograms


TheMMMorganizesalsopracticalwork-shopsaddressedmainlytothelocalcom-munity,suchasinternetcourses,pottery,paintingetc.

FollowingareafewindicativetitlesofEducationalProgramsthathaveeitherbeencompletedorcontinuetobeimplemented:•“TracingPrehistory.TheObsidianofMilos”•“Allaroundus”•“FromMillstonetoBread”•“TheMineralsinourLife”•“ColorsandAromas”•“DiscovertheTreasuresofMilos”•“Transplantinglocalplants”

Theprogramsaredesignedandimplement-edincooperationwithspecializedmuseum-educationalandculturalorganizations,takingintoaccounttheneedsofthelocaleducationalcommunity.


TheΜΜΜisalivingworkshop,thethemesofwhichcoverallaspectsoftheisland’shistory.Thus,itleavesitspremisesorganizingpioneeringeducationalprogramsthroughitsMiloterraneanGeoExperience.

Throughsevenselectedroutesmappedindetailandaccompaniedbycomprehensivetexts,thetravelersdiscovertheisland’sunique

geology,itsrichmininghistoryandfuture,aswellasitsexceptionalnaturalenvironment.

StartingfromtheΜΜΜandfollowingtheselectedroutes(Vani,Volcano,SulphurMines,Aggeria,Kimolos,Sarakiniko,Nychia),thetravelerswillseeuniquemiraclesofNaturechiseledbythegiganticnaturalforcesthatcre-atedtheisland,suchasSarakiniko,Papafragas,orthepillar-likeoccurencesinGlaronissia.

GeologicalWalks–MiloterraneanGeoWalks


Aimingatthebroaderpublic’seducationalandrecreationalneeds,theMMΜorgan-izesandcarriesout:

- Periodical exhibitionsofpainting,photog-raphy,worksofart,artifacts,samplesofmineralwealth,etc.havingasfirstprioritytheworksofthelocalartistsofMilos.Ex-amplesofexhibitionsthatreceivedexcel-lentcomments:

•“Minerals,Fossils,RocksfromaroundtheWorld”,2000

•ExhibitionofMinerals“OnRocks”,2001

•“FacesofStone”exhibitionofphotography,2002

•“ShellsfromtheGreekSeas”,2003

- Publications of booksrelatedtothemineralwealthandminingactivityofMilos,suchas:

•“Milos,theGeologicHistory” •“Milos,FacesofStone” •“AHistorychiseledonstone” •“ThemillstoneofMilos” •“Metallicmineralsunderthemicroscope” •“FloraandFaunaofMilos” •“TheMiningHistoryofMilos” •“ThemainusesofBentonite” •“ThemainusesofPerlite” •“TheHistoryoftheKaolinofMilos” •“AphroditeofMilosiscrying”

- One-day conferences and specialized work-shops, lectures and book presentations.

- Visits of scientific or student groups to industrial sites, mines, and areas of geologic interest.

ParallelActivitiesandEvents


TheInformation-SecretariatdeskalongwiththeMuseumShopconstitutethemaininfor-mationalcenteronthemuseum’sactivities.AttheMuseumShop,thevisitorwillfindprintedmaterial(books,studies,maps,posters,lithog-

raphies,cards),CD-Roms,museumsouvenirs,educationalboardgames,collectionsofmin-erals,artifacts,jewelrymadeofsemi-preciousstones,rocksandmineralsfromaroundtheworld.

MUSEUMSHOP


ΧΡΟΝΙΑYEARS

MIL

OS

MIN

ING

MU

SEU

M

Non-profit organizationAdamas, 848 00 MilosTel. +30 22870 22481Fax +30 22870 23984www.milosminingmuseum.com

IMERYS Industrial Minerals Greece S.A.

•PublicationSponsor•Sponsoroftheeducationalprograms

of MMM

ΧΡΟΝΙΑYEARS

SPONSORS - DONORS

Kitty Kyriacopoulos

Ulysses & Nicole Kyriacopoulos

Milos Fraternity

Association of Industrial and Exporting Companies of Milos (E.B.E.E.M.)

Dimitris Alfieris

Nikolaos Afentakis

Iakovos Drougas

HaralambosKolyperas

Dionysis Kotinis

Konstantinos Lolos

Grigoris Belivanakis

George Xydous

PantelenaXydous

IoannisPapageorgiou

LoizosParaskevaidis

MichaelStamatakis

Spyros Tzintzos

MichailFytikas

TobiasSchorr

Texts: Dr. Eleftheria Dimou-ChonianakiPublication Editor: Anna VogliTexts editor: Christina TraitorakiPhotographs: Mady Lykeridou-VeletaDesign: 3 in a box

MILOS MINING MUSEUM€¦ · Milos, Kimolos, Thira, Antiparos, Kos, and Nisyros volcanoes. It is...

Documents

Transcript of MILOS MINING MUSEUM€¦ · Milos, Kimolos, Thira, Antiparos, Kos, and Nisyros volcanoes. It is...