La protection des anciennes mines: contribution à la protection du patrimoine géologique : l'exemple de la France de l'Est.

International audienceSince 1982, the ancient mines were included in a crossdisciplinary research programme under the direction of the Ministry of Culture (Archaeology Department) and the CNRS (National Scientific Research Council). Underground networks, waste deposits in the different sites are currently being looted thourought different ways by mineral collectors and traffickers for sale on a more or less legal international market for rocks and minerals. The study of the oldest traces of mining cannot be dissociated from that of the various mineralized elements which inspired them. A lot of important mineral deposits coincides exactly with these ancient mining sites of complex and multiple origin and technological design. Thus, the preservation of these sites bearing the imprint of man may be integrated within the actual framework of archaeology. For about twenty years, mining archaeologists and naturalits have been working closely to preserve this heritage : underground galleries as well as surface remains. They rely on the possibilities of the legislative apparatus, spectacular survey dispositifs and educational programmes for the population and elected officials. By recently filling up a legal void on the basis of two major lawsuits , the ancient mining heritage has just been transferred in France under control of the blue-print law of archaelogy. The active preservation of ancient mining sites thus open new alternatives of great interest for the preservation of geological and mineral heritage in general