Alphonse Briart

Alphonse Briart (1825-1898) was supervisor of the coal mines at Bascoup and Mariemont near Morlanwelz in the Hainaut province of Belgium, and a geologist who studied that region. During the period 1863-1896 he and Francois Cornet[?] published a number of books and papers describing fossils found near Mons. After Cornet's death in 1887, Briart continued to write alone.

The mineral Briartite is named for his grandson, Gaston Briart.

Life events

• 1825 Born at Chapelle-lez-Herlaimont
• 1844 Graduates with diplôme d’ingénieur from the École des Mines in Mons
• 1844 Practical mining training at Mons
• 1846 Joins the coal mines of Mariemont and Bascoup
• 1855 Marries Elise Deltenre
• 1863 First geological publication, in collaboration with Fr. Cornet
• 1866 A. Briart and Fr. Cornet receive gold medal of Société des sciences, arts, et lettres du Hainaut for a paper on the Cretaceous terrain of Hainaut.
• 1867 Flint discoveries at Mesvin with Cornet & de Lehaie
• 1867 Correspondent member, Royal Academy of Belgium
• 1868 Named Chief Engineer of the coal mines of Mariemont and Bascoup
• 1871 Founder member of Société géologique de Belgique
• 1874 Full member, Royal Academy of Belgium
• 1875 Chevalier de l’Ordre de Léopold
• 1877 Publishes memoir Sur le relief du sol en Belgique après les temps paléozoïques
• 1888 President, the alumni association of the École des Mines in Hainaut
• 1890 Officier de l’Ordre de Léopold
• 1894 Receives décoration spéciale de première class for promoters/administrators of mutual societies
• 1894 Publishes La Géologie des environs de Fontaine-l'Évêque et de Landelies
• 1895 Geological trip to Chile
• 1897 Commandeur de l’Ordre de Léopold
• 1898 Dies at Morlanwelz

Web link

• http://www.somali.asso.fr/fossils/taxis.php?A=A2151&list=1
• http://www.morlanwelz.be/histoire/Hubinont/historique.htm#Géologie.