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Smyrida |
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Smyrida, in the local dialect "Smyrigli" (emery), is a rock which is found only on the island of Naxos. The emery of Naxos is located in the bowels of Ammomaxi Mountain, in Northern Naxos and between the villages of Apiranthos and Koronos.
Similar emery deposits exist in Turkey, with a similar composition to that of Naxos. The artificial emery was that which displaced emery of Naxos in international market.
The "smyrigli" is mined even today, although there is no demand in the markets as it has been fully replaced by artificial corundum. The applications of this mineral are too many after processing. From this mineral also the emery tools of grinding are manufactured, while in granular form is used in the anti-slip road construction, etc.
The extraction and the marketing of emery since the Turkish occupation era were the prerogative of the residents of the villages of mountainous Naxos. The privilege of extracting is true today. The emery workers deliver the extracted "smyrigli" to the state, which gives it to markets. The workers are insured in IKA based on the quantity of emery delivered. The state pays the premiums. IKA reserves a special category of this kind of workers even today.
Interesting is the way the emery is transported from the mines to government warehouses, in the Bay of Moutsouna, where the weighing took place and also its loading to boats (Moutsouna, east coasts of Naxos).
From 1928 until 1978, it was installed and operated an aerial railway, which was essentially an above-ground transportation system of emery, of dual direction rails and cables and trolleys (like a modern cable car). It is saved to this day, in a very good condition, a part of the aerial railway in the mines of the Apeiranthos area to the bay of Moutsouna where there are facilities with tremendous diesel engine and the storage facilities of the product. The aerial transportation system has been declared as a protected monument, since 1989. From 1978, the transfer of emery is done by trucks through the streets from the mines to Moutsouna. |
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