Visit of the Ardoisières of the 7 feet

Morzine is best known for its winter sports and mountains, but it's also one of the last slate-mining sites in France. The formation of Morzine's schist beds dates back to the Jurassic period. The clayey marine deposits deposited on the seabed, forming superimposed layers, were subjected to movements of the earth's crust, the effects of pressure and heat, transforming the clay into shale. This rock has the property of splitting into sheets.

The discovery of the rock and its properties dates back to the 10th century, but there is no written record of this period. The first written reference to slate dates from 1734, and concerns the slate roofing of the Morzine church. Slate was first marketed at the end of the 18th century.

Mining began on the cliff, first at the nose of the rock, then in horizontal galleries following the shale bed. Extraction work consisted in detaching blocks from the shale bed. These blocks were split into slabs and transported outside to be cut into slates. In those days, explosives were used to loosen the blocks. Miners worked from November to April, while the rest of the year they worked in the fields and looked after the animals. Quarrying expanded around 1830. Up to 70 quarries were in operation, employing 250 people. This activity represented an economic asset for the village.

But around 1930, the arrival of tourism and new roofing materials slowed the activity considerably. By 1970, only 4 quarries were still in operation. Today, only 1 quarry is still in operation. Extraction methods have evolved considerably. Explosive blasting is no longer used, as it creates cracks in the extracted bed and block, and generates a great deal of waste.

Modern tools are now used to extract shale blocks.

The first technique used, from 1993 to 2012, was the Diamond Wire Cutting technique, which involved cutting the blocks like a butter knife. With this method, the work changed a great deal: there was almost no waste, the work became less dangerous and faster.

Since 2013, the technique has evolved further with the implementation of a Haveuse cutting tool. This tool is equipped with an XXL arm with which to cut the blocks. The work is even faster, safer and more productive.

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