The geological history of this small island started approximately 85 million years ago when, by strong tectonic forces, a pre-existing ocean floor split up and molten rock poured out of submarine volcanoes forming pillow lavas. Deeper down, the magma cooled to form a series of dykes (the Diabase) and at still greater depths, where cooling was much slower, coarse-grained gabbros and serpentinites crystallised. All these were later uplifted to form the mountains of Troodos and it is now possible to see, on the surface, rocks which were generated at a depth of more than 20 kilometres.

At the same time that lava was pouring on the ocean floor, the famous pyrite deposits of the island were created from metal-rich vapours exiting onto the ocean floor. Deposits of chromite formed at very deep levels as the mineral slowly crystallised and settled in the molten rock. The pyrite deposits were mined by ancient Phoenicians, Romans, and Greeks, and these people left huge piles of slag as a testimony of their smelting operations.

The same processes which formed the mineral deposits in the lavas also introduced an abundance of vein minerals in the rocks. Crystal-clear quartz, fine-fibrous natrolite, semi-precious chalcedony, blood-red, brown or green jasper and sea-green celadonite (terra verte) were all formed at this time. Satin spar, a fibrous variety of gypsum, formed in fractures by the oxidation of the sulphide deposits.

When the volcanic activity ceased, umber (terra umbra) a rock mainly composed of iron and manganese, accumulated on the surface of the lavas. It is now used as a pigment and provides a strong and permanent tan which has withstood the test of centuries.

In later times, about 20 million years ago, the island started its slow uplift to its present elevation and coral reefs formed on the surface of the lavas, now preserved as attractive coral limestone. This uplift still continues and Cyprus gradually rises in the same way that Aphrodite, the Cypriot goddess, came out of the depths of the sea to this romantic island.