Old poscards of Carrières de Maurin, Historical marble quarry in Vallon de Maurin, France
Old postcards of Carrières de Maurin document a green marble quarry in the Ubaye Valley of the French Alps, situated at elevations between 2000 and 2200 meters. The stone displays distinct color variations from pale ivory to deep emerald, with black and light green fragments mixed throughout.
The quarry began operating in 1840 under the Dervillé company with around hundred workers and continued until 1950. This century of extraction made the site a vital source of quality marble for France.
The green marble from this quarry was used in major Paris buildings and shapes how these places look today. Its presence shows how this remote Alpine location influenced the architecture of an entire city.
The site sits at high altitude and is difficult to reach, so visitors should bring proper mountain gear and be in good physical condition. The best time to explore is during warmer months when snow coverage is minimal.
The postcards reveal that the quarry was spread across multiple separate extraction sites, including the Blavettes site north and east of Maurin hamlet. This scattered layout shows the practical challenges workers faced operating across steep mountain terrain.
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