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Article Reference Le « Coticule » de Vielsalm et Lierneux (Belgique) : une pierre à aiguiser au passé mondial
The coticule is an Ordovician aged metamorphic rock only present in the southern part of the Stavelot Massif on the towns of Vielsam and Lierneux. It comes in centimeter thick layers consisting in micrometric crystals of spessartite, microphyllites of micas, infra micrometer quartz. Its exceptional sharpening properties of the metal (razor sharp thin, sharp broad, sharp curve) gave its reputation of a natural abrasive stone and a global distribution (barber, circumciser, surgeon, butcher, carpenter, cabinetmaker, arborist, gardener, winemaker, tanner, coachbuilder ...). Exploited and shaped since the 16th century, the coticule was exported as a whetstone (aka razor stone), the "bouts belges" and to special forms. It was operated by craftsmen, primarily from the surface in open pits, in trenches and then by underground galleries, following the evolution of mining techniques of lighting and drainage. The material was sawn, made in standard sizes and polished by the quarry workers and then in small workshops. The high number of models, the various manufacturing steps entirely manual, the low yield (2-5%), competition from synthetic stones, and the disappearance of part of the customer after the Second World War sounded the death knell of this unique activity. Located in Lierneux, a quarry still operates today the coticule and most of its production is exported to the United States of America. The old mining galleries are today the winter refuge of bats populations. They are considered as cavities of scientific interest. Finally, the Museum of the coticule in Salmchâteau (Vielsalm) presents this manufacturing industry with a global destiny.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Inproceedings Reference Preliminary results of an unexpected uplift situated in a former coal mining region (Campine basin – Belgium) revealed by radar interferometry
The Campine basin situated in the NE of Belgium is a part of a large paralic Carboniferous coal basin of the NW Europe. It is located north of the Lower Palaeozoic of the London Brabant Massif. Eatsward, the South Limburg coal basin consists in the extension of the Campine basin to The Netherlands. The first mining concessions were granted in 1906 and the last mines (Eisden and Zolder) were closed in 1992 giving the region a particular interest for the study of the ground movement monitoring. Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) technique is applied to estimate the vertical displacement of the Campine coal basin during period of 18 years (1992–2010). Even if the area has a lot of field crops giving a poor density of reflector the deformation of the ground is well highlighted. The movements have a relative low amplitude with an average rate between -1 and +1 cm/year in the centre of the formers coal exploitations.. Both movements are related to groundwater extraction needed for the coal exploitation. During the dewatering time a depression cone was active and continued few years after the closure of the mine as seen in the ERS results (1992-2000) of the western part. A difference of five years exists between eastern (1987-1988) and the western (1992) closure dates so the western part is subsiding while the other part is already uplift. The explanation of the uplift seems to be related to the increasing water pressure in the collieries giving the possibility to heighten the area. The results issued from Envisat (Asar) processing show a new situation, the western part has an uplift trend during the period 2003-2010. From this observation, we can conclude that the recharge of the mine aquifer need to gain a critical level before being able to raise the ground level.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Inproceedings Reference The plastic clay industry in Andenne (Belgium), a geological and historical approach.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Baelen, province of Liege, Belgium: A Germanic Settlement in Late Antique northern Gaule
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference L’établissement germanique du Bas-Empire à Baelen/Nereth, province de Liège (Belgique).
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference La décoration du sanctuaire de Jupille-sur-Meuse (Belgique, Province de Liège).
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Proceedings Reference "About Haematite. Procurement and transformation during recent prehistory." Abstract book of the International Workshop (Jambes 07-08/02/2013)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Proceedings Reference "About Haematite. Procurement and transformation during recent prehistory." Field guide book of the International Workshop (Jambes 07-08/02/2013)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Inproceedings Reference Le site Bas-Empire de Baelen/Nereth, province de Liège. Un établissement germanique dans l’est de la Wallonie.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Towards a Global Phylogeny of the "Living Fossil" Crustacean Order of the Notostraca
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications