Malachite in Es Pla de Mar.

For years I had wanted to follow the trace of the malachite mineral that was extracted in Menorca from very ancient times. Experts say that mining has been carried out in the island from prehistoric times up until the end of the 19th century. 

Although there is no clear evidence of this, the filon that alternates malachite and lignite crosses the cliff and it is so colorful that it is not difficult to think that these small nodules that of mineral that appear could be collected and worked in small scale, as it happens in many other prehistoric communities.

Macar d'Alfurinet.

Copper mineral Thread

Malachite (a Copper Carbonate Hydroxide) is a famous semi-precious stone. The stone's name comes (via Latin and French) from the Greek molochitis, "mallow-green stone", from molochē, variant of malachē, "mallow". Its banded light and dark green layers are so characteristic that malachite is easily recognized, even by non-specialists. The beautiful green of Malachite has been known for millenia. It was mined by ancient civilizations, and when ground to a powder it was used as a pigment.

Malachite is typically associated with copper deposits within limestones (limestone being the source of the carbon in Malachite). 

Malachite from Es Pla de Mar.

Thus, and based on quotations from old archaeological works and more recent works on the history of local mining, we were looking for ore veins in the area of Costa de Alfurí, Cala Pilar and Bombarda until we found the old mines.

Nearby farm Sant Bernat

Splendour time for Almond Trees

Senecio Rodriguezii blooming among the rocks.

The Senecio rodriguezii is an attractive small pink ragwort endemic to Mallorca and Menorca that loves the sea and grows on the coastal rocks sprinkled by the waves. In spite of its diminutive size does not go unnoticed, since its bright flowers of a vivid white and pink color emphasize on the brownish gray of the rocks burned by the sun and the salt.

 Sant Bernat

 Green fields on the way to Alfurinet.

Son Alberti

After four weeks of unpleasant cold and wet, very wet days, it seems that good weather has settled provisionally in Menorca.

I had wanted to revisit the area of Son Alberti and Biniarroi for some time. These two farms that once were prosperous, when the countryside in Menorca was productive and profitable, today are practically abandoned.

Son Alberti old farm

 

An old abandoned millstone is the witness of an activity that is lost today.

It is proven that the area was already populated more than two thousand years ago and in these lands rise a fortified redoubt that takes advantage of a curious rock of difficult access. Probably the first farmers of Menorca used the fertile lands at the bottom of the ravines and with watchtowers like this they could watch their lands and defend them if necessary.

 The fortified hillock.

 Two views of the valley that extends to the foot of the rock

Entrance to the cave