Aar-Massiv

Representation and status

Color CMYK
N/A
Color RGB
R: 241 G: 237 B: 239
Rank
mountainous massif
Validity
Unit is in Use
Status
valid

Nomenclature

Deutsch
Aar-Massiv
Français
Massif de l'Aar
Italiano
Massiccio dell'Aare
English
Aar Massif
Origin of the Name

Quellgebiet des Flusses Aare

Historical Variants

massif de l'Aar (Argand 1911b), Massiccio dell'Aare (Godenzi 1963), Aar massive [sic] (Purdy & Stalder 1973), Aarmassiv s.str. (Büchi & Trümpy 1976), Aar Massif (Berger et al. 2017, Gouffon et al. 2024)

Hierarchy and sequence

Subordinate units

Geography

Geographical extent
Zwischen unteren Lötschental im Westen und Tödi bzw. Surselva im Osten.

Palaenography and tectonic

Tectonic unit (resp. main category)
Kind of protolith
  • tectonic

References

Definition
Gouffon Yves (Editor) (2024) : Tectonic Map of Switzerland 1:500000, Explanatory notes. Federal Office of Topography swisstopo, Wabern

p.33: The Aar Massif and its autochthonous-parautochthonous sedimentary cover occupies a belt about 20 km wide and 160 km long in the central part of the Alps, between Sierre in Valais and Landquart in Graubünden. It is subdivided by several faults into a large External Aar Massif, making up almost the entire width of the Aar Massif in its central part, and a thinner Internal Aar Massif, which is subdivied into two submassifs: the Baldschieder-Gletsch Submassif, which crops out in upper Valais region, south of the Rote Kuh - Gampel Shear Zone – a reactivated paleofault – and its possible continuation between Aletsch and Rhône glaciers, and the Trun-Punteglias Submassif in the Surselva (Graubünden). North of the Lötschental, the External Aar Massif overthrusts the Gastern Submassif. The contact is marked by a thin band of Triassic and Jurassic sediments (the “Jungfrau Wedge”), which includes overturned sediments of the External Aar Massif. The entire Aar Massif is made up of a pre-Variscan to Variscan polycyclic metamorphic basement with Variscan intrusions. Several large-scale structures follow the general strike of the External Aar Massif. They include longitudinal faults and very tight synclines exposing Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic sediments.

  • Externes Aar-Massiv

    Rank
    tectonic domain
    Status
    valid
    In short

    The External Aar Massif is situated north of the Rote Kuh-Gampel Shear Zone and makes up almost the entire width of the Aar Massif in its central part. North of the Lötschental, it overthrusts the Gastern Submassif with a contact marked by a thin band of Triassic and Jurassic sediments («Jungfrau Wedge»), which includes overturned sediments of the External Aar Massif. Several large-scale structures follow the general strike of the External Aar Massif. They include longitudinal faults and very tight synclines exposing Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic sediments.

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  • Rote-Kuh–Gampel-Scherzone

    Name Origin

    Gampel (VS)

    Rank
    tectonic
    Status
    informal term
    In short

    The Rote Kuh-Gampel Shear Zone is a reactivated paleofault separating the External Aar Massif to the north-west from the Internal Aar Massif to the south-east.

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  • Internes Aar-Massiv

    Rank
    tectonic domain
    Status
    valid
    In short

    The Internal Aar Massif is restricted to a thin band situated south of the Rote Kuh-Gampel Shear Zone and its possible continuation between Aletsch and Rhône glaciers. It is subdivied into two submassifs: the Baltschieder-Gletsch Submassif in upper Valais region, and the Trun-Punteglias Submassif in the Surselva (Graubünden), with an autochthonous sedimentary cover preserved in part locally.

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    • Plammis Nappe

      Name Origin

      Plammis (VS), Alp oberhalb Varen

      Rank
      nappe
      Status
      valid
      Nomenclatorial Remarks
      <p>(inkl. autochthone Sedimentbedeckung des internen Aar-Massivs)</p>
      In short

      The Plammis Nappe is a Lower Helvetic tectonic nappe of the Western Swiss Alps, constituted by a Jurassic sedimentary series interpreted as the detached part of the autochthonous cover of the Internal Aar Massif (Baldschieder-Gletsch Submassif). On the slopes between Sierre and Gampel, the Plammis Nappe overlies the autochthonous cover of the External Aar Massif and the Doldenhorn Nappe. It is itself overlain by the Jägerchrüz Nappe.

      Age
      Middle Jurassic
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    • Raron-Synklinale

      Name Origin

      Raron (VS)

      Rank
      tectonic
      Status
      informal term
      In short

      Gefaltete autochtone Sedimentbedeckung des internen Aar-Massivs.

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    • Ausserberg–Avat-Zone

      Name Origin

      Ausserberg (VS) und Piz Avat (GR)

      Rank
      tectonic zone
      Status
      valid
      Nomenclatorial Remarks
      <p>Entspricht die&nbsp;«Südliche Gneiszone».</p>
      In short

      Prävariszisches polyzyklisches Altkristallin des internen Aar-Massivs südlich des Zentralen Aare-Granits bzw. des Südwestlichen Aare-Granits.

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      • Engi-Granit

        Name Origin

        Engi (VS) im Obergoms

        Rank
        lithostratigraphic Formation
        Status
        informal term
        In short

        Stark deformierter porphyrischer alkalinischer Granit, der durch Migmatitisierung (Neosom) entstanden ist.

        Age
        Precambrian
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      • Gärsthorn-Gneiskomplex

        Name Origin

        Gärsthorn (VS)

        Rank
        lithostratigraphic Formation
        Status
        informal term
        In short

        Prävariszische polyzyklische granitische Gneise (Augengneis und grobkörniger Zweifeldspargneis) der Ausserberg-Avat-Zone.

        Age
        Precambrian
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        • Geimen-Augengneis

          Name Origin

          Geimen (VS)

          Rank
          lithostratigraphic unit
          Status
          local name (informal)
          In short

          Lokaler grobporphyrischer Augengneis innerhalb der Ausserberg-Avat-Zone.

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        • Bitschji-Augengneis

          Name Origin

          Bitschji (VS)

          Rank
          lithostratigraphic unit
          Status
          local name (informal)
          In short

          Lokaler grauer granodioritischer Serizit-Augengneis innerhalb der Ausserberg-Avat-Zone.

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      • Sogn-Placi-Gneiskomplex

        Name Origin

        Val Sogn Placi (GR)

        Rank
        lithostratigraphic Formation
        Status
        informal term
        In short

        Prävariszische polyzyklische metasedimentäre Gneise (Meta-arkose, Metapsammite, Schiefer und Zweiglimmer-Phyllit) der östliche Ausserberg-Avat-Zone.

        Age
        Proterozoic
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      • Massa-Gneiskomplex

        Name Origin

        Untere Massaschlucht (VS)

        Rank
        lithostratigraphic Formation
        Status
        informal term
        In short

        Prävariszische polyzyklische Migmatite und migmatitische Gneise der Ausserberg-Avat-Zone. Leukokratische migmatitische Gneise treten häufig mit mafische bis ultramafische Gesteine (Amphibolite, Gabbros, Hornblendite) zusammen und verleihen der Einheit ein gebändertes Aspekt.

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      • Pulanera-Gneiskomplex

        Name Origin

        Val Pulanera (GR)

        Rank
        lithostratigraphic unit
        In short

        Feinkörniger Biotitgneis bis -schiefer der östliche Ausserberg-Avat-Zone, z.T. gebändert, lokal migmatitisch.

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    • Trun-Punteglias-Teilmassiv

      Rank
      tectonic domain
      Status
      valid
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  • Trun-Punteglias-Teilmassiv

    Rank
    tectonic domain
    Status
    valid
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