Arthur de Buyer Coal Mine

The Arthur de Buyer Coal Mine, or coal mine #11, was one of the major Ronchamp coal mines, which is in the area of the commune of Magny-Danigon in the French region of Franche-Comté. Digging started in 1894 in an attempt to ensure the future of the company, which was in a difficult position at that time. The project was directed by Leon Poussigue, director of the company since 1891. He was responsible for organizing the excavation, designing buildings and installing each machine. The seat is named as a tribute to Arthur de Buyer (the same family of the De Buyer owner), the president since 1876. He retired during the commissioning activity of the mine. Active from 1900 to the early 1950s, it was 1010 meters deep, making it the deepest mine in France in the early 20th century and the first to pass the symbolic depth of 1,000 meters. After it had produced coal for almost half a century, there were, up to the 21st century, several conversion attempts.