In 1863, the Compagnie du Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée (PLM) opened the railway between Toulon and Cannes. The proximity of the railway to the quarry site favoring the transportation, some local operators are starting to extract porphyry on some plots. Several operators and investors will follow one another.

The first contract for the exploitation of porphyry on this site was signed in 1864, on land located between the sea and the railway: the current landing esplanade. The neighborhood is not yet inhabited. Vegetation is practically absent. some buildings and dwellings will be gradually built.

Many quarries were opened but little exploited: the workers worked with pliers and powder and did not descend more than 5 meters. The transport was done wheelbarrow and dumper. In 1872, begins the industrial exploitation allowing deep mining. With the Toulon operators, the Bonnamy brothers, began high-yield production and the first dwellings to house the workers. There will be up to 14 extraction sites of all sizes.

The most important being the East quarry, corresponding to the current lake.