History

A glacial and Rhenish past

In the heart of the Vosges Mountains, Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines draws its identity from its peculiar geography.

About 40 million years ago, Europe went through a tearing process along its north-south axis, leading to the creation of the Rhine rift which divided the existing mountains, resulting in the formation of the Vosges and the Black Forest.

Then, during the Quaternary period, the Vosges were impacted by glaciers which sculpted their current morphology. The Val d’Argent, watered by the Lièpvrette, is thus a former glacial trough, spreading over 38 square miles mostly covered by forests.

The early days of mining

The region was populated during the 8th and 10th centuries, around the time two monasteries were built. Mines were dug as early as 938 in the mining district, divided by the rift in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, although remnants of a Roman occupation were recently discovered.

The 16th century was a golden age for silver exploitation, with 91 mines on the Alsatian front and 113 on the Lorraine front. Some of these mines go as deep as 790 feet!

At this time, the liquation process is widely used in the valley due to the profusion of lead, and turns the town into a prosperous city. However, the Thirty Year’s War accelerates the decline of mining.

A checkered mining history

In the 18th century, the mines are exploited again, especially the silver mines. According to Pierre Fluck, “rather than trying to uncover new veins, the operators aim for a deeper exploitation of existing mines.” This is when the ancestor of cobalt was discovered in the mines in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. Regardless of a few noteworthy discoveries, the French Revolution puts an end to mining.

In the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution sparkles a new economic interest, leading daring investors to seek metals such as zinc. The Arsenic company, which received its permit in 1935, has extracted as much as 90 tons of native arsenic! This lasted until 1940, when war interrupted the exploitation of mines, putting a definite end to the industrial era in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.

Although the industrial era has come to an end in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, the town still boasts a significant fame in mineralogy circles. Some of the impressive minerals found in the Val d’Argent are currently exhibited in the mineralogy museum of Strasbourg as a testimony of the exceptional mineral heritage of the region.

New horizons for the valley

From the middle of the 20th century, a major transformation takes place, with the advent of a new era dedicated to leisure and science. In this context, a growing interest for the mining heritage arises and leads to the creation of the Association des Amis des Anciennes Mines (“Association of Friends of the Old Mines”, AAM).

A “Mine Day” takes place in 1963, which later evolves into the first mineral exchange of France. Mine exploration then arises in the valley as a separate activity, adventuring in a unique environment compared to the usual karst.

The year 1981 sees a turning point with the creation of the ASEPAM, a branch of the AAM dedicated to archeological research, to the spreading of knowledge and to local activities with the creation of paths around the mines and tourist trails.

A world-renowned exchange

In 1996, the exchange reaches new extents with over 10,000 visitors, characterizing itself as a professional event. In 2004, a company, Mineral Concepts, takes charge of the organization of the event and places the fair into a prime international position, gathering more than 700 exhibitors from 55 countries and welcoming over 25,000 visitors.

The following years comfort the event in its growing success, boasting 34,000 visitors in 2011. In 2012, the city administration takes over the organization and solidifies the exchange’s rank as the third-largest event in the world in the mineral field and an unmissable gathering.

2015 sees the creation of the SPL Événementiel en Val d’Argent which becomes the pilot entity to organize Mineral & Gem, currently prestigiously ranked as the #2 in the world, behind Tucson. In 2023, with nearly 1,000 exhibitors, the show sets a new record by welcoming over 42,000 visitors.

Past, present and future

This rich and fascinating story is a reflection of the unique evolution of Mineral & Gem along the years, seducing a larger and larger crowd of visitors by its international outreach and commitment to the mining heritage.