Parys Mountain

Parys Mountain or Mynydd Parys is a copper mine. It dominated the world''s markets during the 1780s, when the mine was allegedly the largest in the world. It was used to sheath the admiralty''s wooden ships of war in order to prevent the growth of seaweed and barnacles and to prevent boring by worms. This increased the speed and manoeuvrability of the vessels, although it is said that Parys Mountain copper was also sold to the French for use by their fleet. The best ore being shipped to Lancashire or to the Lower Swansea valley in South Wales through the port of Swansea for smelting.

Associated with the mines, important chemical industries were established on the Mountain based on by-products such as ochre pigments, sulphur, vitriol and alum.

Parys Mountain is an addition to the very few sites in Britain where there is evidence for the prehistoric beginnings of the British metal mining industry.

A scene in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation was filmed at Parys Mountain.

Dromos