Ollomont Mines Infopoint
Located in the heart of the historic Ollomont mining area, the Infopoint is a discovery and learning centre where visitors can immerse themselves in the rich history and significance of local mining. Through informative panels and engaging videos, the Infopoint offers an educational journey through time, revealing mining techniques, the lives of miners and the impact of mining on the local community.
This space is perfect for anyone interested in exploring the cultural and industrial heritage of Ollomont, offering an in-depth perspective on the importance of mining in the region’s history. Whether you are a history buff, a student, or simply curious, the Ollomont Mines Infopoint is an essential stop to understand the mining heritage of this fascinating area of the Aosta Valley Alps.
Laboratory of archaeometallurgy
Near the infopoint, discover the fascination of Bronze Age metallurgy in this interactive workshop. Here you can follow the path of copper, from its extraction to its transformation into artefacts, through two main stages:
- From Ore to Metal: This phase includes the extraction and selection of ore, enrichment to remove impurities, roasting to transform copper sulphides into oxides, and smelting to separate the iron oxide from the metalline. Finally, conversion or second smelting loses the iron sulphide and produces copper ore.
- From Metal to Manufactured: This phase begins with the refining of black copper to obtain the purest ‘rosetta copper’, followed by casting, where copper is melted and mixed with tin and lead to obtain bronze. The process concludes with the finishing of the tools (axes, arrowheads, etc.), which can also be moulded in wood.
The workshop offers a unique educational experience, allowing you to understand the complexity and ingenuity of ancient metallurgical techniques. Come and explore the secrets of transforming minerals into precious objects of daily use on a journey back in time, to the heart of Ollomont’s mining history.
