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Metamorphic rocks are represented on the site by micaschists (FougĂšres micaschists, with two micas and garnet, feldspathic micaschists, etc.), numerous gneisses (leptynite, Fresselines amygdalar gneiss, grey gneiss, etc.) and amphibolites.
The metamorphic formations of the Variscan orogeny originate from crustal material compressed and buried in the mantle during the formation of the Hercynian chain. The buried rocks underwent pressure increase (depth), temperature increase (heat transfer), as well as flattening and/or stretching. The contrasting compositions of the initial rocks (sediment, granite, basalt, etc.) and the varying degrees of modification (depth and burial conditions) explain the varied nature of the rocks encountered in the metamorphic series. Outcrops of the metamorphic basement are characterized by a superimposed bedding pattern, and the samples present a laminated structure. This is determined either by abundant micas arranged on parallel surfaces in micaschists, or by alternating ribbons of dark (black mica, amphibole) or light (quartz, feldspar) minerals in gneisses.
Magmatic rocks,
are derived from the crystallization, by cooling, of high-temperature liquids known as magmas. They are formed by the partial melting of crustal rocks, sometimes with the addition of liquids from the mantle. The typical texture of magmatic rocks corresponds to an association of minerals in grains with no particular orientation; this is the even grained texture of granitic rocks. However, in a viscous magma that is cooling, flow or flattening may occur, causing the orientation of the first minerals to appear in the liquid: black mica lamellae, amphibole needles, feldspar tablets. The magmatic formations in which the SĂ©delle valley, or the Creuse valley in the median part of the site, was carved out, correspond to 2-mica leucogranites (biotite and muscovite). They belong to the Crozant massif, which covers an area of almost 60 km2. This leucogranite massif is roughly aligned with those of Orsennes.Â
The mineralogical composition is fairly constant throughout the massif, with the rock consisting of approximately 35% quartz, 50-55% feldspar (orthoclase, microcline and plagioclase), 3-7% biotite and 5-10% muscovite.