Mapping course in the Dolomites (always in September)

The Dolomites are situated between the Central Alpine crystalline zone (north) and the Veneto Basin (south). The mountains composed mainly of Permo-Mesozoic volcano-sedimentary sequences, but both the pre-Permian basement and Tertiary sediments are present.

What makes the Dolomites excellent for geological excursions and mapping courses?
- The exposures of the formations are very good due to the steep, mountainous topography and thin soil cover.
- The sequences represent high lithological and facies variousness. Beyond the different dolomites -from where the name comes- shallow and deep marine limestone, siliciclastic lithologies, evaporite, basalt, its tuff and different peperites, further rhyolite and granitoids are present in very small-scale. The intrusive bodies created contact zones with very coloury calc-silicate assemblages.
- The Permo-Mesozic sequence is rich in manifold sedimentological features, from tiny, but well visible traces of rain drops in desert sediments until deep marine slumps. The interfingering of the platforms with their slope facies are visible from distances of more kilometres.
- The climate is excellent; the September is usually dry (see blue sky on photos - they were mainly made in autumn).
- The accommodation is relatively cheap in off-season.

Photos of the 2005 mapping course
Photos of the 2006 mapping course
Photos of the 2008 mapping course
Photos of the 2011 mapping course

Schematic stratigraphy of the mapping areas

landscape	outcrop photos	from literature
The very characteristic landscape of the Dolomites is dominated by the isolated and well exposed Triassic reefs	The dolomite forms steep faces and between them there are some marl horizons	Map of Southern Alps (after Bosselini, 1994)
Erosional towers of Middle Triassic dolomite	Olistholite in a deep marine sequence - Passo di Sella	Map of Dolomites (from Bosselini, 1994)
Perche e stupendo	Basalt and andesite dikes penetrating Triassic limestone	Schematic stratigraphy of the three major structural blocks
Marmolada at the background	Megalodus in Upper Triassic limestone	The architecture of the Civetta Group (Doglioni, 1991)
Morphology follows the lithology	Folded evaporitic sequence	The structure of Col Bechei reflect Paleogene and Neogene thrusting (Doglioni, 1991)
Sella plateau - the Gross Glockner at the background	The smallest klippe of the world - only a tiny Triassic block indicate an overthrust plane