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Our main objective was to examine the crust-mantle boundary and associated outcrops of gabbro and serpentinized peridotite (as mapped by Don Blackstone, a former head of the Geology & Geophysics Department at UW) to compare the pre-Alpine style of deformation to that of the oceanic rocks that we observed at Totalp, Marmorea, and Falotta. Unfortunately, the rocks at this location were far more affected by Alpine deformation than any of the previous locations that we visited. We agreed that many of the rocks we encountered were of mafic and ultramafic origin, but pre-Alpine structures were largely unpreserved.
Our traverse took us by this waterfall in the valley near Septimer Pass (a pass used by the Romans to cross the Alps), apparently you're looking at a uplifted crust-mantle boundary.
Bobbie cruises along the river valley towards the outcrop.
Bobbie and Mike institute a new policy: the wild flock of students (Grimes & the 'shrimpo') must wear cowbells as tracking devices. The Swiss continue to think we’re crazy Americans