Plâtrières de Surba, Gypsum quarry in Surba and Arignac, France.
Plâtrières de Surba is a gypsum quarry extending across land near Surba and Arignac in the Ariège region. The site displays exposed mineral layers and former extraction zones where workers removed gypsum deposits.
Gypsum extraction at this site supported construction and industry for centuries, becoming vital to the region's development. The quarry reflects how local resources shaped building practices and economic activity in rural Ariège.
The quarry reflects the industrial life that once defined these small villages, where families worked generations in mineral extraction. Walking through the site, you can sense how this work shaped the community's identity and daily rhythms.
The site is accessible by local roads from Surba and Arignac and sits in rural countryside. Wear sturdy footwear since the ground is uneven and weather can shift quickly in this region.
The quarry gained official recognition in 2019 as an important industrial heritage site threatened by abandonment. This designation highlights how abandoned mining sites preserve evidence of regional economic life and working traditions.
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