The lime, a family history.

Te are a small family company producing lime since 1926.

My name is Jérome and I am the fifth generation of the family to make crushed quicklime. In 1926, François Labasse, my great-great grandfather originally from the Creuse, resumed the operation of lime kilns which were built in 1874 and 1876. The succession is then taken in 1939 by Georges Labasse, my great grandfather, then in 1970 by Rémy Labasse, my grandfather.

In 1974, due to the promiscuity of facilities and quarry, Rémy Labasse built a third oven to 100 meters from previous and operates according to the same technique. The two former ovens cease to function.

In recent years, after 15 years in the business as an associate, I took the society in 2008 to continue to perpetuate my job, a passion that my grandfather were forwarded me. I currently live on the site of the old lime kilns that I acquired and that I restored. My dwelling house is none other than the abode of François Labasse, my great-great grandfather.

François, Georges and Remy Labasse

Georges and his team on the lime kiln, 1960

The old lime kiln, now at rest

Georges and his team on the lime kiln, 1960

A deposit of limestone

The production site of our company is located at a place called "La Palisse". It belongs to the deposit of limestone, used for a long time on all commonly called "the hill of Nanteuil", which covers an area of several square kilometers in the Sèvre Niortaise river.
This is the quarry we operate is. This activity lime kiln has left its mark in the industry, both physical and administrative, since close some localities as the "field of the lime kiln" and "Lime Kiln".

Located on the edge of the threshold of Poitou and Aquitaine Basin, limestone deposit is located where our quarry is represented mainly by detrital white limestone, in phosphate level and has operated Bajocian limestones (Middle Jurassic) subhorizontal. You will discover numerous fossils, evidence of the presence of the sea in a very distant past.

Regarding the recovery of mineable ore, it is composed of Groies's land which are products of alteration of limestone from the Jurassic.

Outstanding fossils

The fossils found are typical of the marine fauna of the time, ammonites, brachiopods, belemnites etc.. Note that brachiopods are beautiful, the shell is often perfectly preserved. By cons they can only be released with the specific equipment at home (hammers, etc..), it is necessary to take the entire blocks.

Ammonites are harvested only in the state of internal casts. One feature of the site is the frequent "dissolution" of the umbilicus and some ammonites and recrystallization "ferns" very aesthetic. Moreover ammonites gender Teloceras reaching 30 cm in diameter have been harvested on the site.

The blocks containing the fossils are updated during blasting. On this occasion we can accommodate school and paleontology enthusiasts. If you are interested in these visits, thank you to contact us to learn about periods of mine blasts.