| The Mendips have long been
exploited for its raw materials, and the legacy of the mining and
quarrying industries can be seen throughout the area. Many old mines
and quarries are now valuable nature
reserves, sites of special scientific interest or important for
their industrial
archaeology.
A variety of minerals have
been exploited by miners since Roman times in search of lead, zinc,
iron and silver. Quarrying for aggregates is
now the major extractive industry, and the aggregates industry
has a major impact on the local community, particularly in eastern
Mendip. |
|
More information on the
geology, history, and the impact of mining and quarrying in the
Mendips can be found by following the links.
|