Amongst the duties assigned it by the government, BRGM’s Mine Safety and Risk Prevention Department is responsible for informing the public, notably through mine notification, and it ensures the management of intermediate mining-related technical archives (ATI).
DPSM includes a Post-mining technical management branch (DTAM), based in Orléans, together with four territorial post-mine units (UTAM): North, East, Centre-West and South.
This guide is intended for members of the public who wish to consult the intermediate mining-related technical archives.
Archive collections
Each UTAM holds intermediate technical archive collections pertaining to the geographical sectors under its responsibility; the elements are packaged in boxes, bins, bundles and tubes, and kept in specific storage areas. Their conversion from space-consuming material media supports to digital form is already in progress.
An associated database allows the collection to be managed in common.
Document search
A search can be conducted on the spot at an UTAM (by appointment) by the archivist who manages the computerized ATI catalogue.
Accessing archives
All ATI documents (in particular, cessation of operations and concession abandonment applications) are open for consultation subject to certain conditions. The four UTAM’s are open for the purpose Monday through Friday from de 2 to 5 p.mon appointment made by telephone (specifying the object of the consultation). Contacts: UTAM North, UTAM East, UTAM Centre West, UTAM South.
Consultation is free of charge but Xerox copies are payable according to the standard fee in effect at BRGM (the copying process complies with copyright legislation). Any request for reproductions is conditional upon signature by the Director of the concerned UTAM.
Lending is permitted only to institutions that have signed an agreement with BRGM.
The National Archives of the Employment Sector contain a wealth of documents passed on to them by Charbonnages de France, no longer in existence, and notably by the this administration’s Communications Department. They are recorded on a variety of media : in print, CD’s, slides, films, audio recordings, video cassettes... Contact the archives to find out how these documents can be consulted (camt@culture.gouv.fr).