AREAS OF THE HISTORICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL GEOMINING PARK OF SARDINIA

The Island's mineral deposits, diverse in form, structure and consistency, have been exploited since ancient times. The extreme variability of the deposit characteristics has put a strain on the skills of the "Miner" who has repeatedly needed to refine excavation and support techniques, adapting them to the most diverse situations.
This "Art of Mining" expressed by the "Miners" was matched by a long series of successes by "Mineralurgists" and "Metallurgists" who, with intense research and great tenacity, were able to overcome obstacles of all kinds, obtaining commendable results.
The technical skills, intelligence, the dedication and generosity shown have led the Sardinian mining industry to achievements of international significance. As evidence of the ancient and extensive mining adventure, the profound signs of mining work remain, scattered above all in the eight areas described below. These areas, in addition to encompassing particular moments of Sardinian mining activity, include important historical and environmental values whose whole is representative of a unique system in the Mediterranean area.
To represent the synthesis of Sardinia's mining activity from a historical, technical, and scientific perspective, eight areas were considered, which together form the network of the Geomining Park of Sardinia. The boundaries of each area were defined by overlapping the various features that emerged in the territory being considered. In addition to the geomining aspects, which constitute the characteristic element of each individual area, particular attention has been paid to the naturalistic values and archeological evidence that, to a significant extent, are present in mining areas, often intimately connected to them, so as to constitute an original form of landscape, not only economic, but also social and cultural.
The 8 areas forming part of the Park are located in the four Provinces of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and comprise, in total, an area of approximately 3800 square kilometers, covering the territories of 86 municipalities.