It has the world's richest copper deposits, with grades of 4.5 per cent copper per tonne of ore versus 0.75 per cent for world-class mining projects elsewhere.

Copper deposits from the mint leached into the soil and stained skeletons buried beneath.

The copper deposits had been all but depleted by the 18th century, but new industries, such as timber, paper, and textiles, developed.

The ancient pits and trenches led to the discovery of many of the copper deposits that were mined in the 19th century.

The town has magnesite, gold, silver and copper deposits.