Abstract
Shaped as an “ellipsoid” of about 70 × 25 km, the Dora-Maira Massif is the crystalline basement of the Cottian Alps. It consists of an upper complex formed of pre-Carboniferous metasediments and metabasites, and a lower complex composed of (Permo)-Carboniferous metasediments. Both complexes contain meta-intrusives of granitic to dioritic composition, which are mainly regarded as Variscan. The sedimentary protoliths in the pre-Carboniferous basement are represented mostly by pelites with subordinate, more or less dolomitic limestones, whereas coarser clastic facies predominate in the (Permo)-Carboniferous cover. The Mesozoic sequence overlying the massif is similar to that of the other Penninic units.
The Alpine, tectono-metamorphic overprint is very strong throughout the massif: disregarding the “Polymetamorphic Unit” with its very high-pressure assemblages, the conditions of the early-Alpine metamorphic event in the massif are comparable with those of the other internal units of the Western Alps. The eclogite and blueschist facies stages were followed — and in some cases almost completely obliterated — by recrystallization into the greenschist facies. The Alpine metamorphism was accompanied by tectonic events including at least three phases of ductile deformation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Argand E (1911) Les nappes de recouvrement des Alpes pen-nines et leurs prolongements structuraux. Mat Carte Géol Suisse 31
Alderton DMH, Pearce JA, Potts PJ (1980) Rare earth mobility during granite alteration: evidence from southwest England. Earth Planet Sci Lett 49: 149–165
Bellion F (1982) Studio petrografico e geochimico delle meta-basiti del Massiccio cristallino Dora-Maira. Thesis, Univ Torino
Bonin B (1988) From orogenic to anorogenic environments: evidence from associated magmatic episodes. Schweiz Mineral Petrogr Mitt 68: 301–311
Bonioli L, Cadoppi P, Sacchi R (1992) Occurrence of metavolcanics in the southernmost Dora-Maira Massif (Italian Western Alps). In: Carmignani L, Sassi FP (eds) Contributions to the geology of Italy with special regard to the Paleozoic basements. A volume dedicated to Tommaso Cocozza. IGCP Proj 276, Newsletter 5: 237–240
Borghi A (1983) Studio geologico della media Val Chisone (versante sinistro). Thesis, Univ Torino
Borghi A (1983) Studio geologico della media Val Chisone (versante sinistro). Thesis, Univ Torino
Borghi A, Cadoppi P, Porro A, Sacchi R, Sandrone R (1984) Osservazioni geologiche nella Val Germanasca e nella media Val Chisone ( Alpi Cozie ). Boll Mus Reg Sci Nat Torino 2: 503–530
Borghi A, Cadoppi P, Poli G, Sacchi R, Sandrone R (1989) Metaintrusives in the north-central part of the Dora-Maira Massif ( Western Alps ). Period Mineral 58: 171–172
Cadoppi P (1990) Geologia del basamento cristallino nel settore settentrionale del Massiccio Dora-Maira (Alpi Occidentali). PhD Thesis, Univ Torino
Chopin C (1984) Coesite and pure pyrope in high-grade blueschists of the Western Alps: a first record and some consequences. Contrib Mineral Petrol 86: 107–118
Chopin C, Henry C, Michard A (1991) Geology and petrology of the coesite bearing terrain, Dora Maira massif, Western Alps. Eur J Mineral 3: 263–291
Dal Piaz GV, De Vecchi GP, Hunziker JC (1977) The Austroalpine layered gabbros of the Matterhorn and Mt. CollonDents de Bertol. Schweiz Mineral Petrogr Mitt 57: 59–88
De la Roche H, Leterrier J, Grandclaude P, Marchai M (1980) A classification of volcanic and plutonic rocks using R1R2-diagram and major-element analyses — Its relationships with current nomenclature. Chem Geol 29: 183–210
Desmons J, Ploquin A (1989) Chimisme du Briançonnais —Grand Saint-Bernard anté-mésozoïque (Alpes Occidentales): une vue synoptique. Géol Alp 65: 1–31
Grill E (1925) Contributo alla conoscenza litologica della Valle Germanasca. Mem R Accad Naz Lincei Cl Sci Fis VI 1: 498–532
Grill E (1929) Rocce e minerali dei giacimenti di talco del Pinerolese. Atti Soc Toscana Sci Nat 39: 187–221
Grill E, Pagliani G, Sacchi L (1955) La genesi del talco della Valle della Germanasca ( Alpi Cozie ). Ist Lombardo Sci Lett Cl Sci 88: 442–490
Hanson GN, Grünenfelder M, Soptrayanova G (1969) The geochronology of a recrystallized tectonite in Switzerland — the Roffna Gneiss. Earth Planet Sci Lett 5: 413–422
Kienast JR, Lombardo B, Biino G, Pinardon JL (1991) Petrology of very high pressure eclogitic rocks from the BrossascoIsasca complex, Dora Maira Massif, Italian Western Alps. J Metamorph Geol 9: 19–34
Laurent P, Etchecopar A (1976) Mise en évidence à l’aide de la fabrique du quartz d’un cisaillement simple à déversement ouest dans le Massif de Dora-Maïra ( Alpes Occidentales ). Bull Soc Géol Fr 18: 1387–1393
Lemoine M, Tricart P, Boillot G (1987) Ultramafic and gabbroic ocean floor on the Ligurian Tethys (Alps, Corsica, Apennines ): In search of a genetic model. Geology 15: 622–625
Marthaler M, Fudral F, Deville E, Rampnoux JP (1986) Mise en évidence du Crétacé supérieur dans la couverture septentrionale de Dora Maïra, région de Suse, Italie (Alpes Occidentales). Conséquences paléogéographiques et structurales. CR Acad Sci Paris 11302: 91–96
Michard A (1967) Etudes géologiques dans les zones internes des Alpes Cottiennes. Cent Natl Rech Sci, Paris
Monié P, Chopin C (1991) Ar/39Ar dating in coesite-bearing and associated units of the Dora Maira massif, Western Alps. Eur J Mineral 3: 239–262
Ogniben L, Parotto M, Praturlon A (eds) (1975) Structural model of Italy. CNR, Roma (Quaderni de “La Ricerca Scientifica”, vol 90 )
Pagliani G (1939) Su alcune rocce e minerali della Miniera di talco delle Fontane (Valle della Germanasca). Atti Soc Ital Sci Nat 78: 25–39
Pitcher WS (1982) Granite type and tectonic environment. In: Hsi KJ (ed) Mountain building processes. Academic Press, London, pp 19–40
Pupin JP (1980) Zircon and granite petrology. Contrib Mineral Petrol 73: 207–220
Sandrone R, Cordola M, Fontan D, Sacchi R (1986) PreVariscan granitoids in the Dora-Maira Massif ( Cottian Alps ). Atti Accad Sci Torino 120: 179–189
Sandrone R, Sacchi R, Cordola M, Fontan D, Villa IM (1988) Metadiorites in the Dora-Maira polymetamorphic basement ( Cottian Alps ). Rend Soc Ital Mineral Petrol 43: 593–608
Sandrone R, Borghi A, Carossi G, Morsetti C, Tagliano C, Zucchetti S (1990) Geometry of the Fontane talc deposit and the structural evolution of the area ( Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps). Boll Assoc Min Subalpina 27: 45–62
Tallone S (1990) Il Dora-Maira settentrionale e le sue coperture mesozoiche: relazioni tra litostratigrafia, struttura ed evoluzione metamorfica. PhD Thesis, Univ Torino
Tilton GR, Schreyer W, Schertl HP (1989) Pb-Sr-Nd isotopic behaviour of deeply subducted crustal rocks from the Dora Maira Massif, Western Alps, Italy. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 53: 1391–1400
Vialon P (1966) Etude géologique du Massif cristallin DoraMaira (Alpes cottiennes internes - Italie). Tray Lab Géol Grenoble, Mém 4, 293 pp
Vocke RDJr, Hanson GN, Grünenfelder M (1987) Rare earth element mobility in the Roffna Gneiss, Switzerland. Contrib Mineral Petrol 95: 145–154
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Sandrone, R., Cadoppi, P., Sacchi, R., Vialon, P. (1993). The Dora-Maira Massif. In: von Raumer, J.F., Neubauer, F. (eds) Pre-Mesozoic Geology in the Alps. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-84640-3_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-84640-3_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-84642-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-84640-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive