Mine de la Rodde

Mine d'Argent Gallo-Romaine d'Ally

Useful Information

Location:	Montrome, 43380 Ally. (45.1534894, 3.3289368)
Open:	JUL to AUG Tue-Sun, Hol 10:30, 14, 15:30, 17. Booking strongly recommended. [2023]
Fee:	Adults EUR 9, Children (6-) EUR 6, Students EUR 7. [2023]
Classification:	Silver Mine Antimony Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	T=13 °C, A=850 m asl.
Guided tours:	La Romaine: D=75 min, L=250 m, MinAge=6, Max=10. The course of modern miners: D=45 min, MinAge=3, Max=15.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Pierre Thomas (2009): Mine d'antimoine, de plomb et d'argent de la Rodde, Ally (Haute Loire), Planet Terre, ENS de Lyon, ISSN 2552-9250. online D. Barrier (1980): La mine d'antimoine de La Rodde, Minéraux et Fossiles, 68, 42-48. Christian Vialaron (2016): La Mine Gauloise de la Rodde d’Ally, Les Éditions du Piat, 97 cartes, plans, coupes, schémas, 152 pages, 35 €. online
Address:	Mine de la Rodde, Action Ally 2000, Tel: +33-471-76-77-22, Tel: +33-651-54-43-69. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

300 BC	beginning of mining.
14th century	mine reopened.
15th century	mine closed.
19th century	mine reopened.
1907	mine closed.

Geology

During the late-Hercynian, Carboniferous to Lower Triassic, the tectonic movements due to this orogeny caused the formation of countless cracks throughout the Massif Central, the Armorican Massif, and the Vosges. Hydrothermal fluids loaded with dissolved substances circulated, mainly silica, barite, calcium fluoride, and more. This filled the cracks with minerals, but also with ores, mostly sulfides, like pyrite, galena, blende, or sphalerite. In the Massiac region, there are hundreds of vein systems with siliceous or barite gangue containing sulphides, mainly sulphides of antimony. The main ores of the mines in this region are stibnite, an antimony sulphide (Sb₂S₃), and semseyite (Pb₉Sb₈S₂₁). The second also contains trace amounts of silver. In most mines of the area it was much rarer than the stibnite, but abundant in Rodde. The Rodde mine exploited a field of seven vertical late-Hercynian veins with an approximate EW direction.

Description

Mine de la Rodde (Rodde Mine) is named after the Moulin de La Rodde, a mill which once existed in this valley. It is also called Mine d'Argent Gallo-Romaine d'Ally (Gallo-Roman silver mine at Ally), as mining actually started 300 BC, which is even before Juluis Caesar invaded France, and the heydays of the mine were later during Gallo-Roman times. The first 250 m of a two millenia old mine gallery were restored and can be visited. Visitors are equipped with raincoats, gum boots, and helmets. They first get an introduction to the geographic and geological situation of the mining site and its history, then they go underground. There are actually two levels, the lower gallery is 14 m below ground, and the upper gallery is only 5 m below ground. They are connected by ladders, so while the mine is quite safe, a little surefootedness is required. There are low passages of 1.6 m and even one section which is only 1.3 m high, so it is necessary to stoop. Visits are not recommended for claustrophobic people or people with reduced mobility. These tours are called La Romaine (The Roman).

There are also shorter tours, which do not include ladders or low sections. They are called Le parcours des mineurs modernes (The course of modern miners). Nevertheless, we strongly recommend the other tour, which shows the important stuff.

The mine is located in a forest about 1.4 km from Ally. To get there follow D21 towards Lavoûte-Chilhac, about 1.3 km from the village, there is a hamlet which consists of half a dozen houses. After the hamlet, about 100 m down the road, a single lane gravel road turns off on the left. It is not signposted. Follow the road into a valley, about 600 m. The mine belongs to the hamlet Montrome, which you will reach further down the gravel road. Further down D21 there is also a paved road to Montrome, the operator recommends this road, parking at Montrome, and walking the 500 m along the gravel road to the mine. There is no infrastructure at the mine, and it is only open for the tours.