Zentralgneis, Geological formation in Tyrol and South Tyrol, Austria.
Zentralgneis is a crystalline rock formation in the Eastern Alps composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica arranged in distinct layered bands. It covers a wide area across Tyrol, Salzburg, Carinthia, and South Tyrol, forming the core of the high mountain terrain.
The formation originated during intense metamorphism in the Carboniferous and Permian periods when tectonic processes transformed and compressed the rock. Later, during the Alpine mountain-building phase, the region was deformed again and acquired its present structure.
Geologists from research institutions regularly visit this formation to study the complex tectonic processes that shaped the Eastern Alps mountain range.
Numerous marked hiking trails provide access to the formation, particularly around the Hohe Tauern Window and surrounding mountain areas. The best time to explore is during warmer months when trails are snow-free and easy to walk.
The rock shows traces of two distinct mountain-building phases, revealing its complex geological past. Hikers can directly observe these layered structures exposed in the mountain faces along the trails.
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