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Riffelberg–Garten Unit, Valtournenche, Aosta Valley, Italyi
Regional Level Types
Riffelberg–Garten UnitFormation
ValtournencheCommune
Aosta ValleyAutonomous Region
ItalyCountry
Riffelberg–Garten Unit, Valtournenche (Val Tournenche), Aosta Valley, Italy

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
45° 55' 52'' North , 7° 40' 9'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
45.93120,7.66925
GRN:
N31E04
Type:
Formation
Köppen climate type:
Dfc : Subarctic climate
Mindat Locality ID:
470397
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:470397:9
GUID (UUID V4):
0


The RGU is the chaotic rock unit of the Zermatt–Saas Zone in Valtournenche and is well exposed around Lake Goillet. This rock assemblage has also been recognized in the Swiss portion of the ZSZ, as well as in the Ayas valley and near Verres. The RGU consists of metasediments with a carbonatic to quartzitic matrix, in which metabasite and minor ultramafite elements (clasts, blocks, lenses, layers, and boudins of different shapes and sizes) are included. Rounded to angular elements, of centimetric to metric size, are scattered within the metasedimentary matrix. The primary origin of this rock assemblage is highly debated but there is a general agreement to classify the RGU as a polygenetic mélange due to its multistage tectono-metamorphic evolution.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


16 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Actinolite
Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase
Formula: (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
ⓘ 'Amphibole Supergroup'
Formula: AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ 'Calcium Amphibole Subgroup'
Formula: AnCa2(Z2+5-mZ3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ 'Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. Hornblende'
Formula: AnCa2(Z2+5-mZ3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Chloritoid
Formula: Fe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
ⓘ 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'
ⓘ Diopside
Formula: CaMgSi2O6
ⓘ Edenite
Formula: NaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
ⓘ Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'
ⓘ 'Garnet Group'
Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Glaucophane
Formula: ◻[Na2][Mg3Al2]Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘ Hastingsite
Formula: NaCa2(Fe2+4Fe3+)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
ⓘ 'K Feldspar'
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Phengite
Formula: KAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Omphacite
Formula: (NaaCabFe2+cMgd)(AleFe3+fFe2+gMgh)Si2O6
ⓘ Pargasite
Formula: NaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ 'Pyroxene Group'
Formula: ADSi2O6
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘ Titanite
Formula: CaTi(SiO4)O
ⓘ 'White mica'

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘChloritoid9.AF.85Fe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
ⓘTitanite9.AG.15CaTi(SiO4)O
ⓘEpidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘDiopside9.DA.15CaMgSi2O6
ⓘOmphacite9.DA.20(NaaCabFe2+cMgd)(AleFe3+fFe2+gMgh)Si2O6
ⓘActinolite9.DE.10◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘEdenite9.DE.15NaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
ⓘHastingsite9.DE.15NaCa2(Fe2+4Fe3+)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
ⓘPargasite9.DE.15NaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
ⓘGlaucophane9.DE.25◻[Na2][Mg3Al2]Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘvar. Phengite9.EC.15KAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘvar. Oligoclase9.FA.35(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Unclassified
ⓘ'Amphibole Supergroup'-AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Feldspar Group'-
ⓘ'Calcium Amphibole Subgroup
var. Hornblende'		-AnCa2(Z2+5-mZ3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'-
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ'K Feldspar'-
ⓘ'Pyroxene Group'-ADSi2O6
ⓘ'Garnet Group'-X3Z2(SiO4)3
ⓘ'Serpentine Subgroup'-D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ'Calcium Amphibole Subgroup'-AnCa2(Z2+5-mZ3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ'White mica'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Hⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Hⓘ ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Hⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Hⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hⓘ Glaucophane◻[Na2][Mg3Al2]Si8O22(OH)2
Hⓘ HastingsiteNaCa2(Fe42+Fe3+)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Hⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
Hⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Oⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Oⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Oⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oⓘ Glaucophane◻[Na2][Mg3Al2]Si8O22(OH)2
Oⓘ HastingsiteNaCa2(Fe42+Fe3+)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Oⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Oⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Oⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Oⓘ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oⓘ Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
Oⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
Oⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
FFluorine
Fⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Fⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Fⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Naⓘ Glaucophane◻[Na2][Mg3Al2]Si8O22(OH)2
Naⓘ HastingsiteNaCa2(Fe42+Fe3+)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Naⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Naⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Naⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Mgⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ Glaucophane◻[Na2][Mg3Al2]Si8O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Mgⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Alⓘ ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Alⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Alⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Alⓘ Glaucophane◻[Na2][Mg3Al2]Si8O22(OH)2
Alⓘ HastingsiteNaCa2(Fe42+Fe3+)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Alⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Alⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Alⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Alⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Siⓘ ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Siⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Siⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Siⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siⓘ Glaucophane◻[Na2][Mg3Al2]Si8O22(OH)2
Siⓘ HastingsiteNaCa2(Fe42+Fe3+)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Siⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Siⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Siⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Siⓘ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Siⓘ Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
Siⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
Siⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
Siⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
ClChlorine
Clⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Clⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Clⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
KPotassium
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Caⓘ EdeniteNaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
Caⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caⓘ HastingsiteNaCa2(Fe42+Fe3+)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Caⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Caⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Caⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Caⓘ PargasiteNaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Caⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Caⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Caⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
Tiⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
FeIron
Feⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Feⓘ ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Feⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Feⓘ HastingsiteNaCa2(Fe42+Fe3+)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2
Feⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Feⓘ Muscovite var. PhengiteKAl1.5(Mg,Fe)0.5(Al0.5Si3.5O10)(OH)2

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate
  • AlpsAccretionary Complex
EuropeContinent
Italy

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References

[1]Rebay, Gisella; Gusmeo, Thomas; Spalla, Maria Iole; Zanoni, Davide (2026) Garnet-Free Mineral Assemblage at Eclogite-Facies Conditions in the Riffelberg–Garten Unit, Italian Western Alps. Minerals, 16 (1). doi:10.3390/min16010079
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