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Jordanne brook alluvials, Lascelle, Aurillac, Cantal, Auvergne, France

Latitude: 45°1'11"N
Longitude: 2°34'9"E
La Jordanne, Lascelle, Aurillac, Cantal, Auvergne, France

alluvials

Très vieille légende à propos de l’or : Paul Sebillot (1898) - Littérature orale de l'Auvergne, p. 115 : « Pourquoi la Jordane roule des paillettes d’or ».
« Un jour Gerbert, qui depuis fut pape et était un habile sorcier, voulait convaincre le doyen de son monastère, et lui ayant demandé s'il voulait être témoin d'un miracle, le conduisit au bord de la rivière. Après avoir tracé d'innombrables cercles et prononcé une foule de mots cabalistiques, Gerbert frappa les eaux de la Jordane avec une baguette qui paraissait enflammée. Soudain les eaux, de bleues et claires qu'elles étaient, se changèrent en flots d'or, si bien que pendant un instant l'or coula par larges nappes entre les deux rives ; le doyen épouvanté se jeta à genoux, priant Dieu mentalement, et le charme cessa; mais, depuis ce temps la Jordane a roulé des paillettes précieuses et la ville en a pris le nom d'Aurillac: Auri lacus. »

Le 2 avril 999, Gerbert d'Aurillac devient pape sous le nom de Sylvestre II grâce à la protection de son élève et ami l'empereur Otton III. Premier pape français, Gerbert fut aussi un grand savant et un acteur politique majeur.

Very old legend about gold : Paul Sebillot (1898) - Littérature orale de l'Auvergne, p. 115 : « Why the Jordanne river contains flakes of gold ».
“One day Gerbert, who since had become pope and was a skillful sorcerer, wanted to convince the dean of his monastery, whom he had asked if he wanted to be a witness to a miracle. Gerbert led him to the edge of the river. After walking around in countless circles and speaking a lot of cabalistic words, Gerbert smote the waters of the Jordanne with a wand which seemed to be covered in flames. Suddenly the waters, which had until just then been blue and clear, changed to waves of gold. For a moment it looked as if the river was covered with a golden table cloth from shore to shore; the dean was appalled and fell to his knees, praying to God mentally, and the enchantment ceased; but, since that time the Jordanne contained the valuable flakes and the city took the name of Aurillac: Auri lacus (lake of gold).”

On April 2, 999, Gerbert of Aurillac becomes Pope under the name of Sylvester II through the protection of his student and friend, the emperor Otto III. The first pope from France, Gerbert was also a great scientist and a major political player.

Mineral List

'Apatite'
Augite
Biotite
Corundum
var: Sapphire

Diopside
'Feldspar Group'
Gold
Hematite
'Hornblende'
Magnetite
'Olivine'
Pyrite
Spinel
Titanite
Zircon


15 entries listed. 9 valid minerals.

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References

About gold legend
Nehlig P. - Carte géologique de la France 1/50 000, Notice, Murat, BRGM, p. 184.
Paul Sebillot (1898) - Littérature orale de l'Auvergne, p. 115 : « Pourquoi la Jordane roule des paillettes d’or ».

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