Servette-Chuc mining complex, Saint-Marcel, Aosta Valley, Italyi

Regional Level Types
Servette-Chuc mining complex	Mining Area
Saint-Marcel	Commune
Aosta Valley	Autonomous Region
Italy	Country

An ancient Fe-Cu mining complex located in the lower Saint-Marcel valley in the meta-ophiolites of the Zermatt-Saas Unit. It consists of the Servette and Chuc deposits, on the right and left side of the valley, respectively.

The Servette deposit is situated between 1717 and 1890 m in altitude. The Fe-Cu ore, consisting mainly of pyrite and chalcopyrite, is included in meta-ophiolite rocks (interlayered chlorite schists, talc schists, glaucophanite, quartzite, slices of eclogite-facies metagabbro and serpentinite). It is concentrated in two main ENE-dipping layers of 3-4 m in thickness, and some minor levels (less than 1 m) located at the boundary between chlorite schists and glaucophanite, but it is also disseminated throughout the surrounding rocks. The uppermost gallery was opened at 1829 m in glaucophanite and Mn-rich quartzite layers that grade into carbonate-rich mica schists.

The Servette deposit was exploited in ancient (Roman or maybe even pre-Roman) times, surely in the Middle Ages, as indicated by the slag radiocarbon dating and the existence of old excavations. During the 18th century, it was exploited by the Challant family, as reported by Nicolis di Robilant (1786-87). However, most of the still visible mining remains date from the last period of exploitation between 1854 and 1950.

The Chuc deposit is situated between 1283 and 1443 m in a geological environment quite similar to that of Servette. It includes five main mineralized levels, WNW-trending and SSW-dipping, that are located at the boundary between chlorite schists and glaucophanite. The mined ore was sent via cable way to a wash plant on the left bank of the Saint-Marcel brook. There it was crushed and enriched in sulphides, and then transported down to Saint-Marcel by a 4-km-long pipe, or in the last years, by a cable way. Mining operations ceased in 1957.

The abandoned mining village of Chuc at 1422 m is located on the right side of the valley along the old “Cavour road” (Strada Cavour), i.e., the pathway that connects Plout village to the current main path Druges-Servette-Prabornaz mine. It was inhabited by the miners from 1854 to 1950 and linked to the Servette and Chuc mines through cable ways.

Other sites connected with mining operations are the Servette slag heaps [http://www.mindat.org/loc-216201.html] and the spectacular streamlet Eva Verda (also reported as Eau Verte or Fontaine Verte in the old literature) [http://www.mindat.org/loc-251177.html].

Localities in this Region

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References