> The Granite of Neuplanchas <
The Neuplanchas quarries, located near Saint-Jouvent in Haute-Vienne, are renowned for the quality of their granite, used in particular in the construction of the cathedral! In the subsoil of the village, metamorphic rocks are found, representing ancient granite sediments or volcanic deposits and flows. The granitic rocks are intercalated in the form of massifs or injections that deform or cut the metamorphic rock layers. Quarries located in Neuplanchas have been exploited for several centuries: in 1323, they supplied the construction site of Limoges Cathedral and provided excellent quality granite.
The granite extracted from these quarries is a two-mica granite, mainly composed of quartz, feldspars, and white mica (muscovite). It is characterized by a medium-grained isogranular texture, providing good mechanical strength and durability, appreciated in structures such as the cathedral before you!
The exploitation of these quarries played a vital role in the architectural development of Limoges, providing a high-quality local material for the city's iconic buildings.