Geological map of the Monviso massif (Western Alps)

Abstract

The 1:25,000 scale geological map of the Monviso massif encompasses an area of 61 km², where different tectonic units of the Monviso Meta-ophiolite Complex (i.e. the Basal Serpentinite Unit, the Lago Superiore Shear Zone, the Viso Mozzo Unit, the Forciolline Unit and the Vallanta Unit) and different Quaternary deposits (i.e. alluvial, gravitative, glacial and periglacial deposits) have been distinguished. The Monviso Meta-ophiolite Complex is an important remnant of the Mesozoic Tethyan lithosphere stacked in the Western Alps, and consists of various sequences of serpentinized peridotites, metagabbros, metabasalts and metasediments, that are deformed by syn- to late-metamorphic folds and displaced by syn- to post-metamorphic faults. The geological map presented here provides new detailed lithological, structural and morphological data regarding (i) the tectonostratigraphy of the central sector of the Monviso Meta-ophiolite Complex and (ii) the Quaternary glacial and post-glacial evolution of the Monviso massif.

Keywords:

• Monviso Meta-ophiolite Complex
• tectonostratigraphy
• Quaternary glacial/post-glacial evolution

Acknowledgements

The authors thank J. Abraham, L. Federico and L. Pellegrini for constructive reviews, and R. Compagnoni and A. Festa for helpful discussions. Field activities were funded by University of Torino and Compagnia di San Paolo (Project PROGEO-Piemonte).