The major mines of cinnabar are located at Santa Fiora, Castell'Azzara, Piancastagnaio and Abbadia San Salvatore. For decades Italy has been one of the major producers of mercury thanks to the mines in Monte Amiata. Mercury began being estracted since the Etruscan times. In that period the Etruscan started using mercury to decorate their clay material and tombs and they dug until 40 mt below the ground to find it. The first industrial works of the Siele mines date back to the 19th century and it was the last to be used untill 1874. At the beginning of the 20th century, technological innovation turned the mines of Amianta into the most important mine settlements in the world together with the Halmaden mines in Spain. In a few yaers the Siele mines were surrounded by houses, schools and buildings creating a real town: Monte Amiata. The mines were completed abandoned only in 1976.