On October 26-29, the field trip of the AUTh SEG Student Chapter took place on the beautiful island of Naxos in the Cyclades. Eleven students, ranging from undergraduates to Ph.D. candidates, participated, accompanied by our academic advisor, Professor Vasilis Melfos, Assistant Professor Gregori Aarne, and Dr. Manos Katrivanos from the Department of Geology at AUTh.
Naxos Island has a fascinating geological history, making it a prime example of polymetamorphism. As the first Greek island to work with marble, its high-quality crystalline marble has been used in well-known monuments and continues to be extracted even today. Moreover, Naxos was Europe’s sole emery-producing region for many years.
This trip was an exciting blend of history and modern exploitation, where the past meets the present, and research paves the way for the future of exploitation in Naxos. We extend our gratitude to the Society of Economic Geologists for their financial support, our thanks to Karpontini Bros, Kontopidi J. Sons O.E. for allowing us access to their facilities, and special thanks to Manolis Likouropoulos and Vasalakis Antonis for their continuous assistance during the trip.
AUTH S.E.G. 