The geological specificities of the Brive Basin
The morphological structure of the Brive basin is broken down into two large groups: a plateau area made up of crystalline rocks to the northeast, surrounding a hilly area in the center, made up of upper Paleozoic sedimentary formations, and to the southwest Mesozoic sedimentary rocks.
Geology of the Pays de Brive
Piedmont of the Massif Central, gateway to the Aquitain Basin, the Pays de Brive is a contact zone between two geological groups which marks the transition between the poor soils of a Hercynian massif and the more generous limestone soils of a sedimentary basin of secondary.
Several types of rocks
- The slate: often used for roof coverings, comes from metamorphic rocks resulting from the alteration of clay deposits under the effect of high pressures and temperatures. Its presence in the Brive Basin indicates the past existence of conditions favorable to this type of metamorphism, probably linked to ancient mountain ranges and the compression of sediments.
Don't miss the visit Pans de Travassac (open-air slate quarries), unique site in Europe!
- Red sandstone and yellow sandstone : Sandstone is a sedimentary rock formed by the cementing of grains of sand. The color of sandstone can vary depending on the minerals it contains: iron gives red hues, while lighter components can impart a yellow or gray color. The presence of sandstone in the Brive Basin testifies to ancient desert or coastal environments where sand was abundant.
Beige sandstone was used to construct beautiful buildings and remarkable monuments of Brive, Ussac, Objat. The red sandstone gave its very particular color to Collonges-La-Rouge as well as in Cosnac or St-Bonnet-La-Rivière...
- Limestone : Limestone is formed mainly of calcium carbonate, often from marine, lake or river deposits of shells, skeletons and other debris of calcifying organisms. Its presence indicates periods when the area was underwater or a floodplain rich in aquatic life.
The limestones of the margins of the Causse du Quercy or the Plaine d'Aquitaine, whose colors vary from white to beige through multiple shades of yellow. Don't miss the visit of Turenne or Noailles.
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