Les mines de plomb argentifère et zinc d’Aulus-les-Bains (Ariège)

摘要

In the XIVth century, lead / silver and zinc ores were extracted mainly at the Raspes vertical vein. The lodging of Castel-Minier exploited by means of pits, blankroom and exhaust gallery, was opened by firesetting and stickle burin. As much as forty tons of silver were recovered on the right bank of the river Garbet. A new period of modest exploitation came at the end of the XVIIIth century. The zinc ore forsaken by medieval miners at Raspes was extracted at the end of the XIXth century and begining of the next. Mining engineer and contractor Gustave Vieira began and " Societé de la Vieille Montagne" took over in a policy of extensive exploitation of resources. The mine and metallurgical site at Castel Minier are still of potential archeological interest.