May 2024 Trip to Ardennes-Coticule

[Frank Shaves]

A childhood friend (Ralph), his partner (Sarah) and I toured the Ardennes-Coticule (AC) quarry and workshop on May 14, 2024 during which Rob generously shared a wealth of information about the quarry and how they extract and finish the stones. Along the way, we met Maurice (Rob's father) and most of the staff. Ralph and I each bought stones. Great visit! Here is our story.

Me (Frank), Ralph and Sarah enjoying the local Chouffee Belgium ale/beer in the village of Wibrin the evening before our visit to AC.

My favorite was La Chouffee (Blond) see La CHOUFFE, Belgian blond beer - CHOUFFE - https://chouffe.com/en-gb/beers/la-chouffe/.

The Thier del Preu quarry is located on a hill north of the village of Petit Sart overlooking a luscious green valley with the Coticule formation running parallel to N89.

Looking south from the edge of the quarry.

I will continue to gradually post over the weekend.

 

[David]

Subscribed!

 

[Frank Shaves]

There is a second Coticule deposit (formation) between Regne and Bihain south of N89 running through the red rectangle near Regne.

 

[Kyle89]

Sounds like a fun trip! Looking forward to your posts Frank.

 

[Frank Shaves]

The quarry is now an open pit mine. The original miners started at the top (where there are now trees) and worked their way down, protecting the shafts with timber on top of which they piled extracted slate.

The quarry completely fills with water each winter so spring begins by pumping the water from the quarry. A small amount of water remained when we visited.

 

[Frank Shaves]

Me standing in an original shaft. My right hand and right ankle are touching a pieces of timber from the original shaft.

Near the top of the quarry is the opening to the mine from this 1971 video on YouTube:

The opening to the mine in the video today. I couldn't believe it when Rob showed us.

The entrance in 1971. Mind boggling, right?

 

[Frank Shaves]

I did not fully understand the structure of the Coticule layers until Rob explained it. Here is Rob beginning to diagram the structure.

The Coticule layers run parallel to the access road. This photo from Google Maps was taken when the quarry was full of water.

The yellow Coticule stone is formed in thin vertical layers (or sheets) with Belgium Blue Whetstone and slate in between. The Coticule sheets run vertically from the original ground level to deep underground at a 70-degree angle. Not sure how deep the layers run. The distance between the leftmost and rightmost layer is about 15 meters. Unfortunately, I did not ask Rob which layers are which. I assume (but am not sure) that the "top" layers are on the right.

Here are the Coticule layers looking east (I think).

A closer look with Rob in the foreground. I was struck by how the layers vary by location. This is a natural substance. The thickness and quality of the stone varies, depending on the location.

Here is a large chunk of Coticule and Belgium Blue Whetstone where the Coticule layer is too flaky to be used.

Here are the vertical layers of Coticule at the other end of the open pit. The sheets that ran between the above and below photos have been extracted. We are standing where there used to be sheets of Coticule.

Another shot of the vertical sheets of Coticule.

 

[life2short1971]

Subscribed! Thank you for sharing!

 

[Steve56]

I’m watching!

 

[Wid]

Great thread, watching!

 

[Legion]

Nice one! I'm jealous.

 

[Seelector]

Fantastic! So cool to see where these cotis come from.

 

[duke762]

Blown away!!! Thank you for posting!

 

[timwcic]

Lots of eye candy, watching

 

[Frank Shaves]

Getting to the Coticule layers requires the removal (or extraction) of lots of stone.

This photo of Ralph, me (Frank) and Sarah with our backs to the east shows just how much stone needs to be extracted. The top of the level area behind our backs is way below the original ground level and we are standing 4 to 5 feet below that.

Rob and me with our backs facing north parallel to a layer of Coticule.

Rob in his quarry with his back facing west.

 

[Frank Shaves]

Turns out that the stone that needs to be extracted to get to the Coticule layers, which is about 4% manganese oxide and I think 20% iron oxide has commercial value. The quarry sells this stone to the brick makers to color their bricks. If it weren't for this market, it would not make financial sense to mine the Coticule layers.

Rob holding a piece of this stone. The dark patches are manganese oxide and I think the red outer layer is iron oxide.

 

[Frank Shaves]

Unlike the US, most homes are made of brick, concrete and stone. Here is an older cottage made of red brick with stone facing. I assume that these bricks were colored with iron oxide.

A new home constructed from what look like concrete blocks. Based on the neighboring new homes, I assume this home will be faced with stone.

 

[Frank Shaves]

Next, Rob showed us a video of a recent blast using black powder to extract this stone and then took us to the western end of the quarry to see the results.

An area near the western edge of the quarry where stone containing manganese oxide and iron oxide has been extracted.

 

[Frank Shaves]

At the western end of the open pit (behind Rob's back), there is still virgin ground that has not been mined. Rob said that he needs to find out what is down there and hopes to mine the area in the future.

 

[Frank Shaves]

We drive back to the workshop in Rob's truck.