The mineral resources found in Greece in exploitable quantities have played a vital role in the economic and cultural development of the country from ancient times to the present day. The achievements during the reign of Philip and Alexander the Great in Macedonia are well-known, aided by gold mining in the Macedonian land.
Similarly, the silver-lead mines of Lavrio significantly contributed to the economic and cultural development of Athens in antiquity. Several exploitable deposits of iron, aluminum, lead-zinc, lignites, etc., have played a major role in the economic development of the region from the last century up to today.
For the past few decades, certain minerals, fossils, and stones have attracted public interest due to their aesthetics, leading to the creation of personal and museum collections. An attempt is being made to document and illustrate the most numerous minerals and fossils found in Greece, referencing their geological environment and the formative factors.
One of the reasons this work was compiled is that there is a lack of a general – comprehensive framework in the Greek literature in the form of a repository of material that is now hard to find, and the other is to encourage new researchers to highlight our natural heritage by providing them with relevant guiding instructions.
References are made to the semi-precious stones that have been produced and used in Greece over time. The related museums – quite a number of them – are also mentioned, including both state and private ones.
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