Discovering the Unique Geology of the Bergell Alps

Foreword.- Preface.- 1. Introduction (history, background).- 2. The geological frame (plate tectonics, continental collision, Alps, intrusion of Tertiary granite).- 3. Six highlights of Bergell Geology.- 3.1 Minerals and rocks in the Bergell Alps.- 3.2 The Bergell Granite, one of the youngest on Earth.- 3.3 Microstructures of rocks, their composition and formation conditions.- 3.4 The recent history: glaciers and moraines.- 3.5 Landslides.- 3.6 Mining quarrying and water: Copper, lime, gneiss, gravel, lavez, water/electricity.- 4. Geological excursions in the Bergell Alps.- 4.1 Easy hikes.- 4.1.1. Alp Cavloccio: Tectonic units and contact rocks.- 4.1.2. Maloja: Moraines, peat bogs and glacier mills.- 4.1.3. Val Maroz: Greenschist, Bündnerschiefer (calcareous schist), travertine, serpentinite.- 4.1.4. Albigna Hut: Bergell Granit (with cable car).- 4.1.5. Pranzaira: Introduction to Bergell rocks in the river.- 4.1.6. Piuro-Chiavenna: Old lavez quarries, Marmitte dei Giganti, Chiavenna city.- 4.1.7. Valle San Giacomo: Outcrops with Tambo granite in the Liro river, Cimaganda landslide.- 4.2 Longer excursions.- 4.2.1. Val Forno, Muretto: Bergell granite, contact zone, glacial features, pillow.- structures.- 4.2.2. Maloja, Pass Lunghin, Piz Lunghin: nappes, serpentinite, Triassic marble.- 4.2.3. Plaun da Lej-Grevasalvas-Fuorcela Grevasalvas: Higher nappes, radiolarite, old granites (Lagrev, Julier). Lime kiln at Crap da Chuern.- 4.2.4. Casaccia-Val Maroz-Val da la Duana (Piz Duan detour)-Cadrin-Löbbia-Soglio: Landslide (Maroz-Dent), upper Pennine nappes (Avers, Suretta, Tambo).- 4.2.5. Roticcio-Val Furcela-Val da Cam- Piz Cam descent to Vicosoprano/Roticcio: Young diabase dikes, stratigraphy of Suretta nappe, Mn-silicates, quartzites.- 4.2.6. Val Albigna (Funicola), Day1 Pass da Casnil, Day 2 Pass Cacciabella: Bergell granite, pegmatite and aplite dikes, xenolith inclusions, orbicular granite.- 4.2.7. Lavinair Crusc-Piz Salacina: Calcareous silicates in contact zone.- 4.2.8. Bondo-Ciresc-Lera d'Sura-Denc dal Luf: Al2SiO5 triple point, Gruf migmatites, moraines.- 4.2.9. Bondo Cugian Cap. Sasc Fura (Val Bondasca): Contact zone with Bergell granite, ultramafic xenoliths, deformed granite, view on 2018 landslide.- 4.2.10. Overview: Via Panoramica from Casaccia to Soglio.- 4.2.11. Bondo-Ciresc-Tegiola-Val Codera-Novate Mezzola: Gruf migmatite, mylonites, high temperature mineral assemblages, Novate granite.- 4.2.12. Val Malenco-Val Sissone: Southern contact zone with tonalite, serpentinite.- Bibliography.- Index.