AGE FORMATION MINERAL THE MINERAL RESOURCES RESOURCE OF CYPRUS GEOLOGICAL MAP OF CYPRUS ALLUVIUM HOL. CLAY 0.01 FANGLOM. Cyprus has both metallic and non-metallic (industrial) mineral resources. The metallic mineral resources and the asbestos

PLEIST. 35°30'N 1.8 ATHALASSA CALCARENITE deposits are associated with the Troodos Ophiolite. The metallic Keryneia mineral resources include chromite and sulphides (copper and (Kyrenia) pyrite ores). The industrial minerals include gypsum, crushed aggregates, clay, bentonite, chalk, marl, building stone, and MARL natural pigments. Lefkosia (Nicosia) CLAY Ammochostos Metallic Minerals: The genesis of chromite is directly (Famagusta) NICOSIA associated with the genesis of the ophiolite and in particular with CALCARENITE the plutonic rocks (dunite) through the process of fractional PLIOCENE crystallisation of the magma. 35°0'N Larnaka The sulphide deposits are associated with the pillow lavas of the 5 Troodos Ophiolite. More than 30 deposits have been discovered, KALAVASOS GYPSUM ranging in size from less than 50,000 tonnes to more than Pafos REEF 20,000,000 tonnes with a copper content from less than 0.3% to LIMESTONE 4.5%. Chalcopyrite, chalcocite, covellite, bornite and cuprite Lemesos (Limassol) represent the main copper minerals. The origin of the pyrite ore CALCARENITE bodies is associated with the formation of new oceanic crust 32°30'E 33°0'E 33°30'E 34°0'E 34°30'E through seafloor spreading. The production of copper from

PAKHNA sulphide deposits in Cyprus goes back to the Bronze Age. Slag

L E G E N D MIOCENE deposits are remnants of the ancient exploitation. Today, there is REEF only one copper mine in operation. SEDIMENTARY FORMATIONS TROODOS OPHIOLITE (Upper Cretaceous) LIMESTONE Alluvium - Colluvium HOLOCENE Upper and Lower Pillow Lavas and Basal Group VOLCANIC SEQUENCE 22 Asbestos: Cyprus has been known for its asbestos since the Terrace Deposits, Fanglomerate PLEISTOCENE Sheeted Dyke Complex (Diabase) INTRUSIVE SEQUENCE Apalos, Athalassa, Kakkaristra and Nicosia Formations PLIO-PLEISTOCENE Classical and Roman times. Chrysotile asbestos is a fibrous Plagiogranite

Kalavasos and Pakhna Formations MIDDLE-UPPER MIOCENE MILLION YEARS (Ma) mineral found in veins. The genesis of asbestos is associated with Gabbro CUMULATE SEQUENCE Kythrea Formation MIDDLE - UPPER MIOCENE Dunite, Wehrlite and Pyroxenite the serpentinisation of the harzburgite (basal lithologic unit of the Lefkara, Kalogrea-Ardana and Lapithos Formations MAASTRICHTIAN - LOWER MIOCENE Harzburgite and Serpentinite MANTLE SEQUENCE

PLUTONICS CAMPANIAN - MAASTRICHTIAN ophiolite).Asbestos has been mined from 1904 to 1988. Kathikas, Moni, Kannaviou and Perapedhi Formations 35 Hilarion, Sykhari, Dhikomo and Kantara Formations PERMO-CARBONIFEROUS TO LOWER CRETACEOUS SEDIMENTARYAUTOCHTHONOUS ROCKS Mamonia Complex TRIASSIC - LOWER CRETACEOUS Industrial Minerals: Gypsum is an industrial mineral with a CHALKS variety of uses that is found in many areas in Cyprus. It is one of

THE LEFKARA the evaporite minerals, formed from the evaporation of sea water. 55 Crushed aggregates (sand and gravels) are produced from diabase, reef limestone (Koronia and Terra Members of the MINERAL Pakhna Formation) and calcarenite (Nicosia andAthalassa Fms). 65 - OLIGOCENE PALAEOCENE Clays suitable for brick, tile and pottery manufacture are sourced from sedimentary deposits of the Nicosia and Kythrea RESOURCES MONI/KATH. Formations, from alluvial deposits and from altered and KANNAVIOU BENTONITE weathered igneous rocks. Clays are also used in the cement 67 industry. PERAPEDHI UMBER OCHRE Bentonite is a type of clay that was deposited as a deep-water OFCYPRUS 75 - SULPHIDES sediment from the alteration of volcanic material. The main uses 90 VOLCANICS (PYRITE AND of bentonite include drilling muds, foundry sand binders, civil COPPER ORES) engineering, iron ore pelletisation and pet litter. TERRA VERDE Raw materials for the manufacture of cement comprise chalk, Address: Mailing address: INTRUSIVES DIABASE marl and gypsum. These are all widely available in Cyprus. 1 Lefkonos Street, Strovolos, Lefkosia, CYPRUS Geological Survey Department

Tel.: +357-2240 9213, Fax: +357-2231 6873, 1415 Lefkosia UPPER CRETACEOUS Building stone was for centuries the main construction material. E-mail: [email protected] CYPRUS CUMULATES The type of stone was related to the rocks of each area, such as gabbro, diabase, and harzburgite in the mountainous areas, and

Head of the Economic Geology Section: Christodoulos Hadjigeorgiou TROODOS OPHIOLITE chalk, limestone and calcarenite elsewhere.

PLUTONICS CHROMITE Acting Director of the Geological Survey Department: Dr. Costas Constantinou MANTLE ASBESTOS Cyprus is known since the antiquity for its natural pigments such P. I . O . 257 /2015 - 2000 as umber, ochre and terra verde, all associated with the ophiolite. Published by the Press and Information Office Printed by: «Printco Ltd » METALLIC MINERALS AGGREGATES CLAYS BUILDING STONE MINOR MINERAL RESOURCES Chromite occurs as dis- Thesulphide deposits are Aggregates can be any of using diabase and reef Clay is a fine-grained In Cyprus, building stone was for centuries the main seminated grains to associated with the pillow several hard, inert mate- limestone as raw material. natural sediment or soft rock construction material. The type of stone was related to Magnesite, celestite, recrystallised limestone (marble) and nodular and massive and lavas of the Troodos rials used for mixing with composed primarily of clay- the rocks of each area. In the Troodos Mountains they minerals containing manganese, nickel, cobalt, zinc, gold and as lenses or irregular Ophiolite. The origin of cement or bitumen to form The natural aggregates, sized colloidal particles and used rocks from the ophiolite such as gabbro, diabase, silver represent the island’s minor mineral resources. bodies within the dunite. the pyrite ore bodies was concrete, mortar or plaster being the product of erosion, characterized by high harzburgite etc. In other areas chalk, limestone and The genesis of chromite is uncertain and contro- or used alone as in graded consist of a variety of rock plasticity. It is mainly calcarenite were used as building stones. Calcarenite Magnesite (MgCO 3) occurs in Cyprus in the Akamas Peninsula directly associated with the versial until the late 1970s fill. Aggregates are types, which often makes composed of clay minerals of was extensively used in Cyprus for the construction of and in the Limassol Forest area. It is found in the form of veins, process of magma crystal- when massive sulphides characterized as coarse them unsuitable for the the kaolin, montmorillonite fortifications such as the Venetian Walls of Nicosia, lenses or irregular masses in serpentinised ultrabasic rocks. It (gravel) or fine (sand) and illite groups, but also castles, as well as public buildings, churches, and results from the decomposition of the host rock. The veins are lisation. The Troodos were discovered in asso- production of concrete. They Diabase quarry. Ophiolite contains podi- ciation with high- depending on their particle were therefore replaced by includes very fine fragments mansions. generally thin, rarely exceeding 3 m in thickness and often more form chromite deposits in temperature black smo- size and natural or crushed the crushed aggregates. of quartz, decomposed feld- or less parallel to each other. They are spread within the altered the lower parts of its kers and vent biota at the depending on their source. The quality of aggregates in spars, carbonates, ferrugi- mother rock and large quantities of host are extracted for a low ultramafic suite. The crest of the East Pacific The crushed aggregates, Cyprus was until recently nous mater and other production of magnesite. Exploitation of magnesite was sporadic major podiform deposits Rise. When the use of concrete in which are produced from specified and controlled, impurities. in Cyprus between 1921-1922 and 1944-1953. About 1,750 were probably formed in the construction industry diabase, reef limestone particularly with respect to tonnes of magnesite have been extracted containing an average of subvertical channels began in Cyprus, initially (Terra and Koronia their particle size distri- In Cyprus, clays that are of 95% magnesium carbonate. between the tectonite natural river and beach Members, Pakhna Fm) and bution, physical, mechanical the montmorillonite and and chemical properties, by Asmall deposit of celestite (SrCO ) was discovered in 1977 in the harzburgite and the aggregates and gradually calcarenite (Nicosia Fm), smectite groups are extra- 3 three Cyprus Standards. Old church built from Amansion in Nicosia. southern part of Cyprus near Maroni village. It occurs at the cumulate main dunite. The the crushed aggregates are extracted from open pits cted in various locations ophiolitic rocks. concentration of large from recrystallised lime- and undergo crushing, These have been recently from the sedimentary depo- contact between the Kalavassos Formation and the Koronia stone of the Pentadaktylos replaced by the correspo- sits of the Nicosia Fm and Member of the Pakhna Formation and is associated with reef quantities of chromites in screening and whenever Even though all of the above types of natural building mountains were used. nding European Standards. from weathered, reworked limestone. these zones is attributed to necessary washing. stone are still produced and used today, their primary and redeposited igneous the supersaturation of the The Phoenix copper mine. use has been shifted from building to decorative The loss of significant rocks of the Ophiolite. Recrystallised limestone of Triassic to Cretaceous age (known as magma in chromite. (dimension stones). The building stone products are The production of copper sources of aggregates in marble) of the Mamonia Complex has been quarried as raw manufactured to be used for cladding as well as internal from sulphide deposits in 1974 created the necessity These clays are suitable for material for the production of mosaic tiles. It occurs as large Investigations in the 1920s and external floor paving. The rock type that is Cyprus goes back to the to find new sources of brick, tile and pottery detached, exotic blocks, from few tens of cubic metres to more identified several thousand extensively used at present is the calcarenite of the 3 Bronze Age (3900-2500 aggregates, thus new manufacture and are also than 100,000m , enclosed within the generally softer Mamonia tonnes of chromite in the Pakhna Formation. The majority of the calcarenite BC), and up until the end quarries for crushed used as raw material for the Mιlange. The limestone is extracted on a small scale and crushed Troodos Mountains. Three quarries are located at the Kyvides and Pakhna area. mines were established of the Roman Era, Cyprus aggregates were introduced production of cement. and screened on site. The product has good colour, strength, between 1935 and the remained the main Production of crushed aggregates. Crushed fine aggregates. polishing characteristics and low porosity. It is incorporated into 1980s; the Hadjipavlou producer of copper in the cement tiles that are then polished. Recrystallised limestone and Mine on the southern flank then known world. dolomite from the Pentadaktylos Range of Carboniferous to of the Troodos massif and Mining activity then ASBESTOS BENTONITE, GYPSUM, NATURAL PIGMENTS Miocene age can also be used. ceased until the end of the the Kokkinorotsos and Chrysotile asbestos occurs Historically, interest has been shown in minerals bearing nineteenth century when Thebentonitic clays of Cyprus five times its weight and is Cyprus was known in the Kannoures Mines on the throughout the serpentinite manganese, nickel, cobalt, zinc, gold and silver. The main pyrite (FeS ) and chalco- were deposited as deep-water associated with an increase antiquity for its natural northern flank. All chromi- 2 group of the Troodos manganese occurrences are located in the Perapedhi Formation, pyrite (CuFeS ) mining sediments (Kannaviou Forma- of its volume of up to 15 times. pigments such as umber te was recovered from 2 Ophiolite, but the main often associated with the umber deposits where it is present as tion) from the alteration of This property can be repeated (dark, iron-bearing sedi- underground mines and became active again, deposits occur in a zone of oxides in small nodules of psilomelane and pyrolusite. It also volcanic material during the many times. ment), ochre (iron oxides exported as refractory and mainly for sulphur intense serpentinisation over occurs in association with chert in the Mamonia Formation 2 Upper Cretaceous period and hydroxides) and terra metallurgical ore. During production but also for an area of about 20 km near (Ayios Photios Group), and also in narrow veins along faults in (approximately 90 million Bentonite is excavated verde (celadonite). The the 1980s, chromite mining copper. During the 1960s the village of Amiantos. The Asbestos veins in hand specimen. the pillow lavas. It has been reported that masses up to one tonne years ago), roughly contempo- periodically from shallow An outcrop of gypsum. exploitation of these ceased to be economically and the 1970s mining excellent quality and the in weight have been collected for export, and a production of raneously with the Upper quarries and transported to materials is still ongoing viable and as a result there activity declined, due to longer fibres are associated textiles, and fireproof around 200 tonnes occurred between 1926 and 1957. Manganese Pillow Lavas or locally with the factories where it is laid down Gypsum The umber is excavated is currently no active mine. the exhaustion of the with highly brecciated host materials. The exploitation is a soft, evaporite occurrences have also been identified in the Karpas Peninsula umber and radiolarites of the to dry and is blended before sporadically and trans- sulphide deposits and rock. Asbestos is found in of chrysotile asbestos mineral that has been used as near the villages of Leonarisso and Platanissos. Chromite reserves are also to the strong veins, the width of which vary began in 1904. The Perapedhi Formation. processing. Most of the a construction material for ported to the factory for estimated at around competition with other from a few mm up to 30 mm. Asbestos Mine was bentonitic clays from Cyprus centuries. Gypsum deposits grinding and packing. Nickel and cobalt in minor quantities are associated with 300,000 tonnes of chromite sources of sulphur. Today, The fibres are short and in operating profitably until Bentonite has a very high are exported for use as pet are extensive on the island pyrrhotite, found in the ultrabasic sequence of the Troodos concentrate. only one copper mine, the most cases less than 10 mm in 1981. Since 1982 the mine plasticity, good swelling pro- litter. A sodium activation reaching a maximum thick- Ophiolite. Zinc is found in small amounts in massive sulphides, Phoenix Mine at Skourio- length, although locally reach faced economic problems, perties and variable colour process has been developed ness of 150 m (Kalavasos but only of commercial interest at Agrokipia underground and tissa, is still operational more than 15 mm. They grow which combined with from greenish grey/yellowish to improve the properties of Formation). It occurs as Kynousa Mines. Gold and silver are found in small quantities and since 1996 has been usually perpendicular to the environmental problems brown to khaki or pinkish. The the natural bentonite. laminated microcrystalline associated with the massive sulphides. They occurred in elevated recovering copper using direction of the veins. The led to the termination of key property of bentonite that layers, selenite crystals and quantities mainly in the supergene zones above massive sulphide the SX/EW (solvent average grade of the deposit mining and the cancel- makes it an industrial mineral Bentonite outcrops widely alabaster. Gypsum is deposits (the gossan, which is an iron-bearing weathered product extraction/electrowin- was approximately 0.8-1.0%. lation of the mining lease in with a variety of uses is the around Troodos, covering an produced today in the form of overlying a sulphide deposit, formed by the oxidation of 2 ning) technology. For the 1992. In total, more than ability to swell with absorption area of about 80 km . The plaster and filler. Gypsum is sulphides) and notably in soft, spongy, friable masses of white first time since antiquity, Cyprus has been known for its 150 million tonnes of rock of water and shrink with the total resource is estimated also used for the production of silicates referred to as “Devil's Mud”. Gold and silver were pure copper is now expulsion of water. The amount around 2 billion tonnes. cement, along with chalk and asbestos since the Classical have been excavated for the An ancient pot (1400 BC) produced in Cyprus by the cyanidation process between 1934 and Hand specimen of nodular produced in Cyprus. and Roman times. Asbestos production of 1 million of water it can absorb reaches marl. 1944. Before then, consignments were exported for treatment. chromite. decorated using natural was used for making shoes, tonnes of asbestos fibres. pigments.