Gneiss
This stone feels stable and hard.
This gneiss is the oldest stone on display here – approximately 450 million years old. Before the formation of the Alps, it was a granite. It was only transformed into a gneiss by the immense pressure during the Alpine folding. In geology, such stones are called metamorphic rocks. Its trademark is the striped foliation.
What is schistosity?
The pressure during mountain formation aligns the plate-shaped minerals in parallel. Along these parallel surfaces, gneisses can be easily broken and processed into stone slabs.
Where is gneiss found?
Mainly at Macun and around Zernez.
Gneiss on Macun
