A huge deposit of gold worth potentially billions of pounds has been discovered in northern Greece.
The Halkidiki region is known for its rugged and wild natural landscapes, which feature Mediterranean forests that give way to sandy beaches in sheltered bays.
It is also the location of the Ancient Greek city of Stagira, the birthplace of one of the world’s most famous philosophers, Aristotle.
The region is renowned for its gold deposits, which have been mined since Ancient times.
The Ancient Greeks were skilled miners and metallurgists who fashioned the precious metal into jewellery, coins and other valuable objects.
They believed that Halkidiki’s gold was a gift from the gods and was often associated with wealth, power and immortality.
The gold mines in the mountains of Sithonia and Kassandra became famous worldwide for their hidden treasure.
Now, a mining company believes it has found a new supply of up to 740,000 tons of gold in the region, which it aims to extract next year.
The gold was detected at the Skouries mine, which belongs to Hellas Gold, a Canadian mining conglomerate Eldorado Gold subsidiary.
The mine has long been considered as the “jewel in the crown” of the company’s assets.
Although the purity of the gold has yet to be established, the deposit could fetch up to £34 billion.
The company plans to increase its workforce by 300 to 1,300 as it prepares for the first phase of the extraction.
Cooper deposits were also discovered, making metal an essential element in many green energy technologies.
The metal is used in digital and electrical devices and in batteries for electric vehicles.
The mine has attracted a lot of opposition from environmental activists and local communities.
Many are worried about the impact the mining will have on the local environment, including deforestation, water pollution, and damage to biodiversity.
As a result, the project has faced delays and legal challenges throughout the licensing process.
