Alphonse Briart

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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 and geological structures found near Mons. They devised theories - now generally accepted - as to the geological history of the region. After Cornet's death in 1887, Briart continued to write alone.

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

[edit] 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