Fig. 7

Building stones quarries map (1:500′000) by Niggli et al. (1915). The map is shown in its full extent in order to get an overview of the areas that were explored the most. Details are not readable at that map scale. See the full resolution of this map in Additional file 2. Explanation of circle symbols colours: blue: limestones, yellow: sandstones, blue-grey: roof slates, red: granites, purple: gneisses, brown: mica schists, green: serpentinites & talcschists. The size of the circles represents the amount of extracted material. Empty circles highlight abandoned quarries. Note that limestones occur and were mined along both the Jura and the Helvetic Nappes of the Alps; sandstone quarries were located exclusively in the Molasse Basin