Non-Metallic Mineral Deposits on Milos Island

Milos island hosts important bentonite, perlite, kaolinite, and small sulfur deposits. The panorama view above shows an open pit from which bentonite is mined.

Perlite is extracted mainly in the Trachylas and Chigrado mines owned by S+B Industrial Minerals S.A. The material is processed in a plant in the northwestern part of Milos.

Crushing and loading facilities of a perlite mine.

Several areas experienced steam-heated acid sulfate alteration. Kaolinite plus alunite was formed beneath a silica cap. Some of these areas were mined for kaolinite.

Sulfur was mined at a small scale. Remnants of the mining activity can still be found.