Natural resources of France. Uranium ores in France

The amount of reserves and distribution of minerals.

France has one of the main (in Europe) centers for the extraction of iron ore (Lorraine) and oil (the southern basin between Bordeaux and Toulouse). Also in the northwest is the Nord-pas-de-Calais coal basin, only not very large. In the north-east of France, part of the small Saar-Lorraine coal basin belongs. There are 3 deposits of uranium ores (in the southern half of the country), one - iron ore (Sumon), one - potassium salts (near the city of Bern), 2 (La Rouquette and Saint-Julien) - aluminum ores.

Water and forest resources.

Provision of resources for total river flow per capita is on average from 2.5 to 5 thousand m3 per year. In the south-west of the country there is a reservoir with a capacity of 1-5 billion m3. not far from its shores there are deposits of oil and tin ores.

The forest cover of France is quite small. The main forests are located in the mountainous part of the country, in the east and southeast, a little in the south and southwest.

Assessment of natural resources for the development of industry.

There are too few minerals in France for the development of industry. Only the fuel industry and, in part, ferrous metallurgy can be provided with the country's internal mineral resources. Of the resources of the world's oceans, those that contribute to the development of the fuel industry and non-ferrous metallurgy are relatively close.

The relief of the territory and its influence on the location of agriculture.

In the east (Alps) and south (Perineas) of the country, the terrain is elevated (no more than 2000 m). But, since the elevation is not too great, it does not interfere with agriculture very much. Forests are located mainly in elevated areas, and the main part of cultivated land is located in the northwest and slightly north of the Perinei (which, by the way, are used for pastures). The main part of France is land (altitude no more than 1000 m above sea level), which is used both for pastures and for crops. Agriculture is equally intensive everywhere, with the exception of the Brittany peninsula, but the reason for this is not the relief.

Agro-climatic resources.

France in the humid humid zone. The main part of this country is located in the temperate subbelt, the sum of active temperatures is 22000-40000 (late varieties of cereals, corn for grain, sunflower, sugar beet, soybeans, in the south - rice, grapes). In the south and southwest - subtropics (the climate is slightly arid), the sum of active temperatures is 40000-80000 (cotton, late corn, olives, citrus fruits, tea, tobacco ...). There is an area with a cold-temperate climate (10000-22000, rye, wheat, legumes, flax, potatoes, fruits, berries).

Soil and plant resources.

There is no danger of desertification. Most of the country, its center, northeast and west, are lands used both for pastures and for crops. North of the river The Loire and in the south are cultivated lands (without a share of pastures). Further south and near the English Channel are forests. In France, there are some of the main areas for the production of wheat, sugar beets, and flax.

Assessment of natural resources for the development of agriculture.

Agro-climatic resources are favorable for the conduct and development of agriculture, since there is enough moisture for plants (humid climate for the most part), and enough heat for crops with a medium and long growing season. Land resources are also favorable. There are almost no little-used and unused lands, most of the area is occupied by cultivated lands, a lot of lands adapted for pastures. The availability of resources for the total river flow per capita is relatively low (≈ 2.5-5 thousand m3 per year), but sufficient for the country.

France is the third largest country in Europe, and in terms of the presence of natural resources, it occupies a leading position.

Mineral resources

Of the traditional minerals, which have been mined since the Middle Ages, France has always been famous for coal (1336 million tons) and iron ore (2200 million tons).

In modern France, oil reserves (14.7 million tons) and gas have been found, extracted by offshore drilling. But their production is small and does not meet the country's needs for these natural resources, and therefore most of them have to be imported.

France has serious reserves of fluorspar (fluorite) - about 14 million tons. tons and tantalum ore. There are also deposits:

uranium - 14.67 thous. tons;
tin - 65 thousand. tons;
copper - 910 thousand. tons;
tungsten - 20 thousand. tons;
aluminum - 13 million. tons;
natural gas - 21 billion m 3, etc.

But such mineral reserves still cannot fully meet the needs of the state. The highly developed industry of the country needs such large volumes that almost all minerals are imported.

Land resources

The area of cultivated land in France is more than half of the territory. Of these, arable - 61%, pastures - 20%. Due to the high degree of development of the territory, the possibility of increasing cultivated land has been exhausted. The soils are varied: loess, brown forest and

The country has long since switched over to an intensive farming system, where production growth is achieved by increasing crop yields and their deeper processing.

Water resources

The water network of the country is extensive and well developed. Its entire territory is covered with rivers and canals. Waterways are full of water throughout the year. In addition, there are large reserves of artesian waters.

However, high population density also contributes to a large consumption of water resources. Therefore, the country has long been acute questions of the safety of existing rivers and lakes, as well as the danger of exhaustion of groundwater. Thanks to the developed river and lake system, France still widely uses water transport.

Main rivers of France:

Loire
Garonne

forest resources

About this type of natural resources, we can say this - France managed to save part of its forests. And this is despite the widespread economic development of the territory, and mass deforestation in the era of the industrial revolution. Thanks to the program to increase forest areas, now about a quarter of the country is occupied by forests. Broad-leaved tree species predominate.

France is fully self-sufficient in timber. Wood and wood products are used in many industries, from furniture to chemical. In France, not only enjoy what nature has given the country. Many territories are being restored after industrial use, landscaped and beginning to generate income as tourist or agricultural land.

Natural and climatic resources

This is what France is famous for all over the world. The mineral water of Vichy with the resort of the same name and the recreational resources of the Cote d'Azur are well known for their healing effect. A wide network of beaches from Normandy, along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, as well as the mountain resorts of the Alps, attract not only residents of the country, but also a huge number of tourists.

The leisure and tourism industry for France is even more significant than industry and makes up a significant part of its GDP.

Land resources

Remark 1

The area of cultivated land is more than 50% of the entire territory of France. Arable land accounts for 61% and pastures for 20%. The opportunity to increase the share of cultivated land has been completely exhausted.

The variety of relief, geological features, climatic conditions predetermined the diversity of soil cover. The country's soils are mostly fertile, with the exception of areas in which soil formation occurs on sands and crystalline rocks.

Soils of different types:

forest;
brown forest;
humus-carbonate;
mountain forest.

Fuel and energy minerals

All deposits of oil and natural gas are concentrated in oil and gas basins:

Aquitaine;
Rhine;
Anglo-Paris;
Ronsky.

The total area of the pools is about 500 thousand square meters. km. Limestones and sandstones of the Paleogene, Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic are productive.

The largest fields in France: gas - Lac (reserves are estimated at 250 billion cubic meters); oil - Parantis (total reserves are about 20 million tons). Both pools are located in the Aquitaine Basin.

In the Anglo-Paris basin, a large deposit is Shonua (up to 8.5 million tons). In the waters of the northeastern territories of the Atlantic Ocean, there are oil and gas deposits of Armorikansky and Western Aprouch.

The main reserves of coal are concentrated in the Hop-Pas-de-Calais basin, in the Lorraine basin, in numerous minor deposits of the Central French Massif. Gas and long-flame coals account for more than 50% of all coal reserves, fat coals - up to 40%.

Brown coal deposits are located in the southern regions of the country within the Provence and Landes basins.

Up to 30 uranium deposits have been explored in the country. The main share of resources belongs to hydrothermal deposits of vein and vein-disseminated ores in the areas: Limousin, Morvan, Foret-Madeleine in the Central French Massif; Vendée in the Armorican massif. Of particular importance are fluorite-nasturan and pitchblende ores.

The largest uranium deposits are located in the departments:

Vendée (La Commandery, Chardon, L "Ecarpie);
Upper Vienne (Belzan, Le Brugeot, Fanet, Margnac, Fres-Gors, Bonnac, Montulat, Le Bernardon, Gouzon);
Loser (Villeret, Cellier, Le Pierre Plante);
Limousin (Le Bernardon).

Ores of stratiform deposits occur in the Permian (Department of Herault, Lodev) and Cenozoic (Coutra, La Besse, Saint-Pierre-du-Cantal) deposits of the sedimentary cover. In the Lodev area, the uranium-bitumen deposits of Mac-d "Alari and Mac-Laver, represented by coffinite, uraninite, pitchblende mineralization.

The uranium mineralization of Saint-Pierre-du-Cantal is represented by francisville and otenite. The deposit is confined to clay-sandy Oligocene deposits.

Iron ore deposits are represented by various types: Lorraine iron ore basin - the largest iron ore region located in the east of the country; Department of Calvados, Sumon deposit; Loire-Atlantique department, Rouget deposits; Maine-et-Loire department, Segre deposit; Pyrenees, Bater deposit.

Aluminum ores form deposits that belong to the Mediterranean bauxite-bearing province and are represented by bauxites. The main deposits of aluminum ores: the department of Bap (Taufonet, Brignoles, Pegro, Saint-Julien); Department of Hérault (Vilverac, Bedarieu, La Rouquette); Ariège; Bouches du Rhone (Le Baux).

Among the tungsten ores, skarn scheelite ores in the Ariège department of the Salo deposit play the main industrial role. Deposits of scheelite ores have been explored in the departments of Tarn (Montredon), Bap (Favier), Haute-Vienne, and others.

Within the Central French Massif, hydrothermal veined quartz-wolframite deposits of Lekan and Angiales have been developed. Within the Armorican massif, the Bovin and La Rousseliere deposits containing molybdenum, tungsten, copper, and lead have been identified.

The main deposits of gold ores are located in the Aude department, on the Salsin ore field. Significant deposits are located in the department of Haute-Vienne in the ores of the Bournex deposit.

Polymetallic ores contain silver, copper, beryllium, sulfur and arsenic.

Large deposits of ores containing lead, zinc and copper were found in the province of Brittany, Saint-Tya, Scrinac, Aveyron (Chessy), Sarthe (Rue) and others.

Nonmetallic minerals

In the department of Upper Rhine, deposits of potash salts are concentrated. Productive salt-bearing deposits are located in the Alsatian salt-bearing basin, in Lorraine. The largest deposits: Vauvert (Bouches-du-Rhone department); Dax, Yourkui (Department of Landes), Varengeville (Departments of Moselle and Meurthe), etc.

High concentrations of rock salt are found in the waters of the Mediterranean coast (in particular, in the Bouches-du-Rhone department).

Sulfur deposits are concentrated in Provence and Languedoc. The largest deposit is located northwest of the city of Narbonne - Malwezi. Sulfur reserves are present in the Pont d'As Mayon and Lac deposits.

The most important fluorite deposits are: Escaro (Eastern Pyrenees), Fonsante (Department of Bap), Mulinal and Montroc (Department of Tarn).

The main reserves of phosphorites are represented by phosphorite concretions and phosphated chalk, the Beauval deposit, the Paris basin.

Large deposits of gypsum include: Panshar, Taverny, Vozhur.

The country occupies a leading position in the world in terms of talc reserves. The largest deposits of talc include Luzenac and Trimun, located in the department of Ariège.

Kaolin reserves are located in the Massif Central and in the deposits of Brittany (Keccya, Côtes-du-Hop department; Berien, department; Finistère Ploermel, Morbihan department).

France has large reserves of feldspar, diatomite (Lozère department, Saint-Chelis-d'Apchet deposit), andalusite (Cotes-du-Hop department, Glomel deposit), kyanite, limestone, quartz sands, building materials (facing stones, sand, roofing slate, gravel), bituminous limestones (Avezhan deposit).

FRANCE (France), the French Republic (Republique Francaise), is a state in Western Europe. The area is 551.0 thousand km 2. Population 55.6 million (1987). The capital is Paris. Administratively it is divided into 96 departments. France includes "overseas departments" (Guadeloupe, Guiana, Martinique, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Reunion) and "overseas territories" (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Kerguelen, Wallis and Futuna). The official language is French. The monetary unit is the French franc. Member of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC; since 1951), European Economic Community (EEC; since 1957), European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom; since 1958), Western European Union (since 1955), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (since 1961) ) and some other economic and political organizations.

General characteristics of the economy. In terms of gross domestic product and industrial output, France in 1987 ranked 4th in the capitalist world (after Japan and). Structure of gross domestic product (%): agriculture 3.9; mining industry 0.7; processing - 25.4; power industry 2.6; construction 5.6; trade 11.8; transport and communications 5.2, other industries 44.8. The French economy is dominated by state monopoly capital, and the degree of monopolization is especially high in metallurgy, the production of cars, and other branches of mechanical engineering and the chemical industry. Nationalized (partially or completely) banks, coal, nuclear, aviation, automobile and gas industries, large power plants, railways, etc.

The fuel and energy base of France is underdeveloped, despite the presence of significant own energy resources. The structure of the fuel and energy balance (%, 1986): solid fuel 15.1, liquid - 50.8, natural gas 18.2, hydropower 3.2, nuclear - 12.7. Electricity generation in 1986 amounted to 343 billion kWh. The length of railways is about 40 thousand km, highways 1.5 million km, of which 7 thousand km are motorways. The tonnage of the merchant marine is 8.4 million gross tons. Major seaports: Marseille, Le Havre, Dunkirk, Rouen, Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, Bordeaux.

Nature. The shores of the Atlantic coast in the north and west are slightly dissected, mostly low and straight; in the northwest, in the region of the Brittany and Cotentin peninsulas, bay, partly rias; the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in the west are low, in some places swampy, in the east they are steep rocky. The spurs of the Maritime Alps approach the Ligurian Sea. In the western and northern regions of the country, flat or hilly plains (the Garonne Lowland, the Paris Basin) and low mountains predominate; in the center and in the east - medium-altitude mountains (Central French massif, Vosges, part of the Jura mountains). Along the southwestern and southeastern outskirts - high ridges and massifs of the Pyrenees and the Alps (with the highest peak in France and Western Europe - Mont Blanc, 4807 m). The climate of most of the country is maritime temperate, in the east it is transitional to continental; on the Mediterranean coast, subtropical Mediterranean with dry summers and rainy winters; in the rest of France, precipitation is more evenly distributed (their total on the plains is 600-1000 mm, in the mountains up to 2000-2500 mm per year). Average January temperatures are 1-5°C (up to 8°C in the south), July 17-22°C (up to 24°C in the south). The river network is dense, the rivers are full-flowing. The largest large rivers are the Seine, the Rhone with the Saone, the Loire, the Garonne, and the Rhine (along the border with the FRG). Most of the country is occupied by agricultural land. Forests cover 26% of the territory of France (mainly oak, beech, chestnut, pine; in the mountains, also spruce, fir). In the south - evergreen forests and shrubs of the Mediterranean type. Reserves - Pelvo (in the Alps), Camargue (in the Rhone Delta), etc.

Geological structure . Most of the territory of France is underlain by continental crust, consolidated at the end of the Paleozoic, in the Hercynian tectonic era, and further developed in a platform mode. The exceptions are the French Alps and the Pyrenees. The Paleozoic basement of the epi-Hercynian platform comes to the surface in the Armorican and Central French massifs, in the Ardennes, the Vosges, in the Black Mountain (Montagne-Hyap) in the south of the Massif Central and in the axial zone of the Pyrenees. In the basement of the Armorican Massif there are small blocks of deeply metamorphosed Early Precambrian, as well as (in the Central Massif) areas of development of weakly metamorphosed Late Precambrian, which was folded before the Cambrian in the Kadomian epoch of folding. The Lower and Middle Paleozoic sequences that make up the main part of the basement are usually almost not metamorphosed, but are extremely intensively dislocated and intruded by numerous granitoid intrusions. Composed of various sedimentary rocks - shale, sandstone, limestone, and volcanic rocks. The deformation of these deposits began in the middle Devonian and ended mainly by the Middle Carboniferous and finally in the middle of the Early. In the Middle Carboniferous, mountainous relief arose almost throughout France, including the Alps and the Pyrenees. Through the extreme north-east of the country (Department of Hop and Pas de Calais) stretches a piedmont trough, which is part of the so-called Coal Canal of Europe; it is filled with a paralic industrial coal-bearing formation of the Middle Carboniferous (Westphalian), located before the Late Carboniferous, and a red-colored detrital formation of the Upper Carboniferous (Stefanian) - lower Permian (Authenian). Intermountain troughs (grabens of the same age) are known in the Massif Central, in the Alps, and at the base of the Paris Basin. The sedimentary cover of the Epihercynian platform begins from the upper part of the Lower Permian. It fulfills two large depressions - the Parisian and Aquitaine basins (syneclises), connected by the "Poitou Strait", which separates the Armorican and Central massifs - the projections of the foundation. The Paris basin has a simpler structure, while the southern part of the Aquitaine basin is complicated by salt tectonics associated with the development of a salt-bearing stratum in the Upper Triassic. Jurassic Cretaceous, Lower Paleogene formations - shallow marine sediments (, clays,), general regression begins from the Oligocene, and marine sediments in the Paris basin are replaced by continental ones; in the Aquitaine basin, the marine regime persists until the Miocene inclusive. The Alps in the Triassic still represented part of the epihercynian platform, and at the beginning of the Jurassic rifting took place here, a basin with oceanic crust arose - part of the Tethys; relics of its bark are represented by the Pennine zone, the innermost zone of the Alps. The ophiolites are overlain by the Lower Cretaceous and Upper Cretaceous-Paleogene flysch "brilliant schists". The outer zones of the Alps belonged to the underwater margin of the European continent; on the Hercynian basement, protruding in the so-called Outer crystalline massif, lagoonal sediments of the Triassic and shallow-marine Jurassic, Cretaceous and Lower Paleogene occur. The main deformations of the Alps began at the end of the Eocene and continued until the late Miocene. They were caused by the collision of the Adriatic microcontinent (Puglia) with the continent of Eurasia and led to the formation of an extremely complex cover-thrust structure with a whole system of charyazhs moved in the western and northwestern directions. In the Oligocene-Miocene, between the Alps and the Central Massif, a meridional system of rift grabens of the Sona and Rhone stretched, opening into the Mediterranean Sea; it forms a link in the larger Western European rift system, which also includes the Rhine graben and extends from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. The Pyrenees are connected to the Alps through the latitudinal folded structures of Provence and the Gulf of Lion. They also arose on the Hercynian basement, protruding to the surface in their axial part in a number of massifs; platform development here continued almost until the end of the Early Cretaceous (Albian), after which, on both sides of the Hercynian axis, relatively deep-sea troughs arose on the thinned continental crust with the accumulation of a thick thickness of the Upper Cretaceous - Lower Paleogene flysch. At the end of the Eocene, these sequences underwent intense folding and thrusting; On the territory of France, the formations of the North Pyrenean trough were pushed over the Cis-Pyrenean trough filled with Oligocene-Miocene molasse and closing in the east, bordering the Aquitaine basin. In the Pliocene, almost the entire territory of France became dry land; Armorican, Massif Central and the Vosges experienced uplift. In the Central Massif, it was relatively the most intense and was accompanied by an outbreak of volcanic activity; volcanic apparatuses are well preserved in relief.

Hydrogeology. Large hydrogeological structures are located on the territory of France: the Parisian, Aquitaine, Upper Rhine, Brest-Lyons artesian basins; Central French, Armorican, Vosges massifs; in the extreme east and south of the country - the folded regions of the Alps and the Pyrenees.

Thermo-mineral waters, especially carbonic ones, are widely used throughout the country. Their outcrops gravitate towards the areas of Neogene-Quaternary volcanism, their discharge is controlled by fault zones and feathering cracks. Mineralization up to 7 g / l, less often up to 30 g / l, composition HCO 3 -, HCO 3 - - SO 4 2-, HCO 3 - - Cl -, temperature over 40 ° С. There are resorts at many deposits (Vichy, Roya, La Bourboule). Groundwater from deep horizons of the sedimentary section with temperatures up to 80-90°C is used in industry and in everyday life for heating.

Minerals. France is rich in a variety of minerals. Among the countries of Western Europe, France occupies a leading position in terms of reserves of uranium, iron ore, lithium, niobium, and tantalum. Significant reserves of bauxite, gold, tin, fluorite, barite, talc and other minerals have been explored (Table 1).

Deposits of potash salts are concentrated in the department of Upper Rhine. Productive salt-bearing deposits of the Tertiary age occur in the Alsatian salt-bearing basin. The average content of K 2 About 19%.

Significant reserves of rock salt have been discovered in Lorraine. The largest deposits are: Varengeville (departments of Meurthe and Moselle), Vover (department of Bouches-du-Rhone), Yurkuy, Dax (department of Landes) and others. High concentrations of table salt are found in the sea waters of the Mediterranean coast, especially in the department of Bouches-du- Ron.

Sulfur deposits, characterized by a generally low quality of ores, are concentrated in Languedoc and Provence. The most significant deposit of Malvezi, northwest of the city of Narbon, discovered in 1892 and explored in 1942, is represented by finely dispersed sulfur dissemination in the Upper Oligocene horizons of clays, marbled limestones and gypsum. Content S 8-10%. Sulfur reserves are also found in the Lac and Pont d'As Mayon fields, whose natural gas contains up to 15% H 2 S.

Fluorite reserves are concentrated in vein ore deposits, characterized by medium scale, but relatively high quality ores containing 40-55% CaF 2 , often 10-25% BaSO 4 The most important deposits are: Fontsante (Department of Bap), Escaro (eastern Pyrenees), Monroc and Mulinal (Department of Tarn). The Fonsante deposit (hydrothermal medium-temperature by genesis) is the only one in the world containing in ores in industrial concentrations (in addition to fluorite) up to 15-20% sellaite (MgF 2). The deposit is represented by a system of sublatitudinal veins 400-500 m long and 1-2 m thick among late Paleozoic gneisses. The veins are composed mainly of fluorite, barite and sulfides. At the Eskaro deposit, ore mineralization is represented by metasomatic deposits of siderite and intersecting quartz-fluorite veins in the Cambrian-Ordovician shale sequence. Fluorite reserves are 1 million tons. The largest of the deposits of stratiform metasomatic ores are Le Bourque (Tarn department) and Le Rossignol (Indre department). Fluorite mineralization of the stratiform type (CaF 2 content 35-40%), concentrated mainly within the Morvan syncline, in the southeastern part of the Paris Basin, is associated with Mesozoic rocks transgressively overlying the Hercynian basement.

The main part of the reserves of phosphorites, represented by low-grade ores (P 2 O 5 2.1-20%) such as phosphated chalk and phosphorite nodules, is concentrated in the Paris Basin (the Beauval deposit).

The largest deposits of gypsum are known in the Paris Basin (Taverny, Panchard, Vaujour). The Vozhur deposit is represented by 2 layers: at a depth of 27 m (thickness 19 m) and 33 m (thickness 6 m).

Large reserves of kaolin are localized mainly in the deposits of high-quality raw materials of Brittany (Keccya in the Côtes-du-Hop department; Ploermel in the Morbihan department; Berien in the Finistère department), as well as in the Massif Central.

France occupies one of the leading places in the world in terms of talc reserves. The largest deposits of Trimun and Luzenac are located in the department of Ariège.

France also has significant reserves of diatomite, feldspar (Saint-Chelis-d'Apchet deposit in the Loser department), andalusite (Glomel deposit in the Côte-du-Hop department), kyanite, quartz sand, limestone, building materials (including facing stones, gravel, sand, roofing slate), bituminous limestones (Avezhan deposit in the Gard department and Pont du Chateau in the Puy-de-Dome department).

History of the development of mineral resources. The oldest evidence of the use of stone for the manufacture of tools in France dates back to the early Acheulean (about 700-500 thousand years ago). Flint and quartzite artifacts from this period have been found at the Paleolithic site at Teppa-Amata (Nice). The famous sites and locations of Levallois belong to a somewhat later time: Le Moustier cave gave its name to the latest culture of the early Paleolithic - Mustier (100-40 thousand years ago); the names of other sites indicate the phases of development of the Late Paleolithic - Aurignac, Solutre, Madeleine (40-12 thousand years ago). The beginning of regular mining with the construction of mines up to 10-15 m deep, adits and other extended workings coincides mainly with the Neolithic era (5-3 millennium BC). Traces of hundreds of such objects of this time were found in over 50 regions of France. The most significant regions with traces of ancient flint mining are noted in the interfluve of the Seine and the Somme, in the Larg river valley (eastern Alps), southwest of Metz. Of greatest importance were the numerous developments of high-quality flint deposits near Le Grand Presigny (Vienne River, Indre-et-Loire departments). Products made of flint dispersed throughout France, as well as beyond its borders, up to Northern Germany. For driving the workings, the burning method was used. The breed was fought back with stone hammers and horn pickles and wedges. Numerous collections of these tools were collected during the clearing of ancient workings in Nointel, Le Grand Presigny, Saint-Michel, Mur-de-Barre and other places. In the 4-3rd millennium BC. the mining of building stone for the construction of numerous religious and tomb structures such as menhirs and dolmens begins on a large scale. Stone construction reached a special scale after the conquest of France (formerly Gaul) by Ancient Rome in the 1st century BC. BC. and the inclusion of Gaul in the Roman Empire as a province. The first copper appears on the territory of France around the 4th-3rd millennium BC. The ore sources for its smelting remain uncertain. In the 3rd - the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. occasionally copper-arsenic alloys or bronzes are used. From the 16th-15th centuries BC. the number of bronze products increases sharply. Products are cast mainly from tin bronzes: the sources of tin, apparently, were in England (Cornwall) and on the Iberian Peninsula. Iron tools are relatively widespread in the 1st quarter of the 1st millennium BC.

Under the Romans, in the first centuries of our era, significant stone mining is noted. So in Nimes

07.09.2018 Jewelry house Cartier introduced new bracelets and pins in the Juste un Clou collection
The Juste un Clou collection from the Cartier jewelry house has long been gaining universal recognition for its original forms. Recently, the company has presented the traditional autumn update of this series - new precious bracelets, as well as eye-catching pins and cufflinks for clothes. Now the famous nail bracelets have become thinner and are made in white, yellow and rose gold. The original pin from the new series is a massive precious nail, fully encrusted with diamonds.

29.01.2018
At the Haute Couture Week, which ended in Paris, the Dior jewelry department presented the latest part of the collection dedicated to Versailles - Dior à Versailles, Pièces Secrètes. The jewelry included in this series is still luxurious, like the main residence of the French kings, but this time the main theme of the collection is royal secrets. Dior jewelry designers have created an intriguing mystery in each of them: a gold ring with a magnificent opal, which has a secret compartment, precious rings reminiscent of fragments of ancient mirrors, with ghosts of the past reflected in them - this is a long history of French royal dynasties, performed in the secret rooms of the palace and often full of drama.

25.01.2018
This is not the first time that the French brand Van Cleef & Arpels has created an elegant jewelry watch with a hidden dial: it entered the history of the jewelry house back in 1936, when the firm's craftsmen first developed such a bracelet. The new collection of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelery watches was presented in Geneva as part of the haute horlogerie show. Watches from the Le Jardin series are precious flowers, with a skillfully disguised clockwork, striking with the splendor of precious stones and virtuosity of execution.

19.01.2018
The flower, which has become a kind of emblem of Chanel - camellia - once again inspired the masters of the jewelry department of the famous brand. In the Bouton de Camélia collection, delicate buds bloom in the brilliance of diamonds and gold. The precious flower has become the main accent of expensive but discreet accessories that are equally well suited to evening wear and tweed, as well as eye-catching yellow gold jewelry designed for a special occasion.

12.01.2018
The famous jewelry house Boucheron celebrated its 160th anniversary with the opening of the Vendôrama exhibition at the Paris Mint. The exposition will run from the twelfth to the twenty-eighth of January 2018. Visitors will be able to get acquainted with the history of the brand and follow the entire path of creating its jewelry masterpieces - from sketches to finished jewelry. The venue for the exhibition was not chosen by chance. Vendôrama will be the first event in the cultural program of the Paris Mint, for which a special pavilion will be built.

10.01.2018
The creation of a new jewelry collection by the masters of the French brand Chanel was inspired by famous friends and admirers of Coco Chanel from Russia: Sergey Diaghilev, the organizer of the Russian Seasons in Paris, dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, Prince Dmitry Romanov and composer Igor Stravinsky. The line includes rings and bracelets divided into four sets. The Russian Inspiration collection is a combination of luxury and style, expressed in an abundance of unique gems.

22.12.2017
In the last year of the twentieth century, the famous fashion house Christian Dior blunted the release of his own jewelry collections. The author of this line of jewelry was the designer Victoria de Castellane, who never ceases to amaze fans of the fashion brand with her art to this day. This time, Victoria's jewelery reflects Dior's iconic designs and recognizable elements of the fashion house's décor: the famous Cyclone whirl dress, the new look silhouette, a ball gown with lace and ribbons, and the architectural elements of Diorama and Cocotte dresses.

30.11.2017
French designer Franck Montialou creates jewelry in which skulls are not a sign of subculture commitment, but an eccentric and stylish solution that can suit a variety of styles. Creating each of them manually, the author uses not only bold solutions, but also catchy colors, emphasizing the exclusivity of each of his creations. Many of the images that inspire the author are very recognizable: among them you can find the skull of Mickey Mouse or the pirate Jack Sparrow.

29.11.2017
A brooch as a fashion accessory and expensive piece of jewelry is now at the peak of popularity again. To a large extent, this was facilitated by a new collection of jewelry from the famous French brand Chomet, which combines the best traditions of jewelry art and modern trends. The brooches of this jewelry brand have been famous since its inception in 1780.

27.11.2017
At an auction recently held in Fontainebleau, several hundred items related to Napoleon Bonaparte were sold. One of the most interesting lots for collectors was a golden bay leaf from the emperor's crown, made especially for his coronation ceremony. The total cost of the gold leaf was seven hundred thirty-five thousand dollars.

General information

The bowels of France are rich in iron ore, bauxites, potash and rock salts; significant reserves of natural gas, coal, oil, uranium ores. The main iron ore deposits are confined to the Jurassic limestone beds of Lorraine; less important are the iron ores of Normandy and Brittany associated with the Paleozoic folded structures of the Armorican massif.

The main bauxite deposits are concentrated in the south of France among the Jurassic limestones (Danguedoc, Alpes-Maritimes). Potash salt occurs in the tectonic depressions of Alsace, rock salt - in Lorraine and Jura. Coal deposits are confined to the foothills of the Hercynian mountains in northern France and Lorraine, and there are small deposits of coal in the Massif Central. The largest deposits of oil and natural gas in France are located in the pre-Pyrenean trough in the south of Aquitaine, as well as in Alsace.

There are many mineral springs in France, concentrated mainly in the volcanic regions of the Massif Central. More important energy resources are the uranium reserves in the Massif Central and the energy of the mountain rivers, especially the Rhone and its Alpine tributaries. In the future, it will be possible to use large reserves of energy from sea tides, reaching a height of 12-16 m off the coast of the country. The country is rich in natural building materials