Geoheritage elements of millstone manufactory, Tokaj Mountains, Hungary

The changes in the exploitation of natural stones emphasize the continuous changes of cultural landscapes. The widespread Miocene rhyolite tuffs of The Tokaj Mountains usually intensively silicified increasing the hardness of the material. The grinding of cereals and ores required high quality, long lasting millstones from the mining industry. The hardest, silicified varieties were carved from the 15th century until 1970 years. The quarries are scattered throughout the mountains; amongst them three sites were selected for detailed assessment. The geoconservation value of the historical quarries is well illustrated by the exposed special geological features and remnants of historical stones. So, the silicified tuffs demonstrate that anthropogenic landforms could have significant geoconservation roles, and these geodiversity elements might enhance geotourism activities