7000-2800 B.C. Neolithic Age |
Exploitation of obsidian that was used for the making of tools and weapons |
1800-1100 B.C. Bronze Age |
Extensive trading in obsidian and pottery. Mining of kaolin for ceramic and pharmaceutical uses. Flourishing of the Fylakopi settlements. |
1100-750 B.C. Geometric Age – 750-480 B.C. Αrchaic Period |
Mining of obsidian and aluminate minerals, kaolin predominantly, is continued. |
480-323B.C. Classical Period |
Mining of trachite for the making of millstones (for the grinding of cereals and other materials), Alunite and sulfur are mined for pharmaceutical purposes. Trsnsformation 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. |
323-146 B.C. Hellenistic Period – 146-330 A.D. Roman Period |
Mining of small quantities of silver – lead ores. Mining of pozzolan used as construction material. Trade in pumice used for the polishing of marbles and mosaics. Creation of salt – pans for salt production. |
330-1204 A.D. Βyzantine Period |
Continuation of the trading of clay minerals, millstone, alum, pumice, and salt, and of pottery production. |
1204-1566 A.D. The Frankish Rule |
Beginning of gypsum eploitation. |
1566-1821 A.D. The Turkish Rule |
Restricted activities on the island, mainly kaolin exports for porcelain production. |
1862 | Concession of the sulfur eploitation at “Paliorema” location. The right later extended to other locations as well. Works were interrupted in 1958. |
1884 | Beginning of silver bearing galenite esploitation, at “Triades” location. Termination of works at the end of the 19th century. |
1890 | Beginning of manganese exploitation at “Vani” location. Works stopped in 1928. |
1899 | Beginning of kaolin exploitation, and later in 1925, setting up of a processing plant. |
1934 | Beginning of baryte exploitation at “Voudia” location. |
1952 | Beginning of exploitation of the industrial mineral “Bentonite”. |
1954 | Beginning of exploitation of the industrial mineral “Perlite”. |
1984 | Beginning of pozzolan mining at “Xylokeratia” location. |