François Wouters' Photo Gallery
YA3-T66Galena PbS
Dimensions: 70 mm x 65 mm x 40 mm
Weight: 473 g
Galena, La Mine de Bois, Largentière.
On July 30, 1964, the concession was granted to the Société Minière et Métallurgique de Penarroya for 1300 hectares. Between 1964 and 1982, 9.6 million tons of ore were mined, yielding 356,203 tons of lead, 68,569 tons of zinc, and 750 tons of silver.
Source: patrimoine-minier.fr Les mines de l’Ardèche.
Photo and collection François Wouters.
Sand quarry Käskorb Kelmis in the sixties
The building in the photo belonged to Mr. Pelzer, operator and owner of the sand quarry.
You have to imagine that this ridge used to be completely closed. People walked from the Heidkopf to the Preuswald (Ruhr area).
With the construction of the " Autoroute Roi Baudouin Liège-Aachen", the excavation was carried out from both sides until the breakthrough. Pelzer was digging on the Käskorb side and on the other side 2 brothers from Montzen were digging from the Rue Ruhr side.
The A3 (part of the E40), between Liège and the German border at Aachen, opened end 1964.
Information and photo Hubert Bindels.
Bossost washplant, Victoria mine
Bossost washplant.
Washplant for the Victoria mine.
From 1923 to 1936, zinc ore was extracted from the Victoria mine by Société Vieille-Montagne. Production was exported to France via Bossost (100,000 tonnes of ore with 50% zinc). The Victoria mine was closed in 1953.
Photo François Renard.
Djebba mine.
The Djebba calamine mine was located at the foot of Jebel Gorrah. She was first granted in 1876 to the Société de Construction des Batignolles. Later she went to the Compagnie Bône-Guekna. The latter, in turn, sold her to the Société de la Vieille-Montagne. A mechanical preparation workshop was built.
At the time the “Bordj deposit”, consisted mainly of a series of galena veins in limestone.
When the presence of calamine was reported in 1891, it led to the resumption of work in 1897. Large-scale production at the Djebba mine took place during the three years 1897-1898-1899 and totaled about 3,400 tons.
Photo VMHeritage photo archive.
Stone dumping place.
The Heggelsbrück site was leveled in 2016.
All the new material comes from elsewhere and is not related to the old VM zinc mine.
Photo François Wouters
Interesting rock formation.
"Steinbruch In der Rotsch" Walhorn.
This old limestone and dolomite quarry has been abandoned for years and is full of water.
Interesting rock formation in de wall.
Photo François Wouters
2023 Steingrube In der Rotsch.
"Steinbruch In der Rotsch" Walhorn.
This old limestone and dolomite quarry has been abandoned for years and is full of water.
Photo François Wouters
Rotsch in 2023.
"Steinbruch In der Rotsch" Walhorn.
This old limestone and dolomite quarry has been abandoned for years and is full of water.
Photo François Wouters
ULH-NK7Schalenblende, Strickblende PbS
Dimensions: 250 mm x 120 mm x 70 mm
Weight: 2884 g
Schalenblende and strickblende from Schmalgraf mine.
A combination of dark schalenblende and light-coloured strickblende.
Notice the fine galena threads enclosed in light blende.
Found by Manfred Fabig in 1967-06-02 on the Galmei Wiese at the Oskar stollen, Kelmis (La Calamine).
Foto and collection François Wouters.
N78-80PHydrozincite Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 , Quartz SiO2
Dimensions: 55 mm x 30 mm x 30 mm
Weight: 84 g
Hydrozincite.
In 1920 the Belgian Group Vieille Montagne took over the activities.
VM made a number of improvements and continued operations until 1940.
The old zinc mine is now reopend by the Australian company Energia Minerals Ltd
Photo and collection François Wouters
