MINES OF CYPRUS
AKAMAS MINE Mineral Magnesite Directions Take road from Latchi to Neo Chordio and follow it where it becomes a track up to the Smijies Picnic Site. Follow the waymarked trail to the far side of the double hill and look for the mine entrances on either side of the track. Visited 2002 Remains Above and below the track are three separate areas of workings. The most western has a small tip above and next to the track, with a large open cut working and two blind adits about 3ft high. Further east above the track there are several small entrances, irregular in shape and looking fairly old in origin with only hand tool marks. One of these levels is larger and there is what looks like a large shot hole at the end. This, however, could have been an exploration drilling. Further east again are more small entrances below the track. Next to the last set of workings below the track is also an early 20th Century kiln which has been preserved. To the west of the northern hill is an isolated trial adit that only goes in for a few feet. It is believed that the mineral was used as whitewash for houses plus for medicinal purposes. The initial impression is that these appear to be old workings. However, since the material was probably extracted by local farmers, etc with no great mining skills, it is possible that they just copied earlier techniques. One of the adits seems to date from the 20th century from its shape and size. It would be interesting to try and date these workings.
Short trial level to west of hill	Spoil heap			Open cut
Short levels
Kiln for producing magnesium oxide