He worked as a mines engineer in Algeria and became a specialist in north African vertebrate fossils.

He studied at the Lycée de Clermont and earned his licence ès sciences.

[3] Pomel was also a prolific botanist, naming and describing many plant species and some genera as well.

[4] The genus Pomelia (Durando ex Pomel) from the family Apiaceae is named in his honor.

[2] He was the author of nearly 100 publications on North Africa;[5] his works include Sur les Alcyonaires fossiles Miocenes de l'Algerie (1868) [6] and Des races indigènes de l'Algérie et du rôle que leur reservent leurs aptitudes (1871).