Granulites & Granulites 2024
Conference & Excursions
This international conference will focus on high-temperature processes in the middle and lower crust, including migmatite and granulite formation, crustal anatexis, melt extraction and transfer, structure and composition of the lower crust, and crust-mantle interactions.
Verbania in Italy | Sep 3-6, 2024
![](https://granulites2024.sfmc-fr.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Bandeau_Granulite.jpg)
Join us in Verbania (Italy)
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![](https://granulites2024.sfmc-fr.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Il-Maggiore.jpg)
When
The conference will take place from Tuesday 03 to Friday 06 September 2024, preceded by the Icebreaker Party on the evening of Monday 02 September. There will be a pre-conference excursion on 01-02 September and two post-conference excursions on 07-10 September.
Where
The conference will take place in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. Verbania is situated on the shore of Lake Maggiore, about 91 km (57 mi) north-west of Milan and about 40 km (25 mi) from Locarno in Switzerland. Find out how to get to Verbania or a selection of accommodation options.
Conference registration
Regular registration
450 €
Abstract submission
Conference (Tuesday, Wednesday morning, Thursday, Friday morning)
1 mid-conference activity (Wednesday afternoon)
Icebreaker party (Monday evening)
4 lunches & coffee breaks
Conference dinner (Thursday evening)
Transfer to and from Verbania train station (on request)
Reduced registration *
250 €
Abstract submission
Conference (Tuesday, Wednesday morning, Thursday, Friday morning)
1 mid-conference activity (Wednesday afternoon)
Icebreaker party (Monday evening)
4 lunches & coffee breaks
Conference dinner (Thursday evening)
Transfer to and from Verbania train station (on request)
* Reduced registration applies to PhD students and early postdocs who obtained their PhD after 01 January 2022. Proof of status may be requested to validate registration. Limited to 75 participants.
Excursions
The excursions will allow participants to observe in the field iconic sections of granulite to migmatite terranes and to discuss topics such as lower crustal structure and composition, mantle metasomatism, granulite-granite connection.
The number of participants on each excursion is limited on a first come, first served basis. Excursions will be cancelled if the minimum number of participants is not reached.
![](https://granulites2024.sfmc-fr.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Alps.jpg)
Ivrea Zone | Sep 1–2, 2024
Pre-conference excursion
This two-day excursion will visit the Ivrea-Verbano Zone in the Italian Alps, which is one of the most complete and best studied archetypal continental crust–upper mantle sections on Earth. The topics include regional amphibolite- to granulite-facies metamorphism and partial melting associated with lower crustal magma emplacement, crustal assimilation, transcrustal magmatism including a super-eruption during the Permian. We will visit outcrops in Val Sesia (day 1) and Val Strona (day 2) that expose peridotites, lower crustal gabbros, migmatites (kinzingites), granulites (stronalites), a garnet-bearing granite and a caldera breccia. Daily transfers by minibus from Verbania in groups of maximum 30 people.
Itinerary of the excursion
- 01 September: Verbania – Val Sesia (Borgosesia to Balmuccia) – Verbania
- 02 September: Verbania – Val Strona (Forno) – Verbania
Logistics and accessibility
Travel in minivans (or small bus) on major roads; short walks (a few minutes each way) to outcrops on trails or tracks; picnic lunches (not included).
Cost: 80 €
Included: transport (each day a round trip from and to Verbania), coffee stops.
Excluded: lunches (picnic lunch should be purchased the day before), dinners, accommodation.
Limited to 60 participants
Southern Calabria | Sep 7–10, 2024
Post-conference excursion A
Three and a half days in Calabria (Serre Massif, Capo Vaticano Promontory and Palmi area) to explore the deep- to intermediate levels of a continuous and almost complete cross-section of late Variscan continental crust. We will start the field trip from metagabbros equilibrated at a depth of c. 35 km, and continue upward along the crustal section, visiting different types of felsic granulites, amazing outcrops of metapelitic migmatites and finally the deepest magmatic units of the c. 13-km thick Serre Batholith, consisting of quartz diorites/tonalites and overlying porphyritic granodiorites and granites. The topics will include: deep crustal metagabbros of debated protolith age and significance; crustal differentiation into residual lower crust and granitoid middle-upper crust; mechanisms and conditions of crustal melting; effects of magma emplacement at the lower crustal floor of the Serre Batholith; processes of magma-mush interaction; comparison with the Ivrea-Verbano Zone and Serie dei Laghi in the Southern Alps.
Itinerary of the excursion
- 06 September: Independent transfer from Verbania to Lamezia Terme airport (flights from Malpensa airport, not included). Overnight in a hotel in Lamezia Terme.
- 07 September: Acconia – Curinga – Francavilla Angitola – Amaroni – Soverato
(overnight stay) - 08 September: S. Vito sullo Ionio – Pietragrande Beach – Squillace – Vibo Marina –
Ricadi (overnight stay) - 09 September: Santa Maria Beach – Coccorino Beach– Michelino Beach – Ricadi
(overnight stay) - 10 September: Palmi Scoglio dell’Isola – Palmi turistic harbour – Palmi Ulivarella
Beach (drop off at Lamezia Terme airport/train station at ca. 3 p.m.)
Logistics and accessibility
Travel by minivans (or small bus) on major or, sometimes, narrow roads; short walks to outcrops on trails, tracks or beaches. Picnic lunches. Accommodation in twin rooms with private bathroom in local hotels; single rooms might be available on request, at an additional cost.
Participants must arrive in Lamezia Terme by plane from Milano Malpensa airport on the evening of 6 September. Flight suggestions will be published on the website as soon as the full summer timetable is available from the airlines. A shuttle service from Lamezia airport to the hotel will be offered to all participants.
Contacts
Please contact patrizia.fiannacca@unict.it and/or antonio.langone@unipv.it if you have any questions about the excursion.
Cost: 680 €
Included: transport during the excursion + 4 nights in hotel in twin rooms, 3 dinners, 4 lunches.
Excluded: transport to and from Lamezia Terme airport.
Limited to 24 participants
Finero + Central Alps | Sep 7–9, 2024
Post-conference excursion B
The two and a half day excursion will visit classical outcrops in the Ivrea Zone and the Central Alps. We will follow an orogenic cycle from extension to oceanic crust formation and from subduction to collision. The first day in Finero will focus on the response of the lower crust and upper mantle during crustal extension, including mantle metasomatism, pyroxenite and gabbro formation, and granulite-facies metamorphism. The second day will focus on the high-pressure, high-temperature metamorphism of the iconic Alpe Arami garnet peridotite and associated kyanite eclogites related to Alpine subduction. We will also visit outcrops of Barrovian metamorphism and anatexis in the Zona di Bellinzona, related to Alpine collision. On the morning of the third day we will focus on structure and metamorphism related to the exhumation of the Central Alps.
Itinerary of the excursion
- 7 September: Verbania – Finero – Ascona (overnight stay)
- 8 September: Ascona – Alpe Arami – Bellinzona – Valle Verzasca – Ascona
- 9 September: Ascona – Arcegno – Ponte Brolla – Locarno (drop off at the train station at around 1 pm)
Logistics and accessibility
Travel in minivans on windy, sometimes narrow roads; short walks (up to 15 minutes each way) to outcrops on trails or tracks; picnic lunches (not included); accommodation in twin rooms with private bathroom at a hotel in Ascona; individual dinner in Ascona on Saturday (not included), group dinner at the hotel on Sunday (included).
Cost: 380 €
Included: transport (from Verbania in Italy to Bellinzona in Switzerland) + 2 nights in hotel in twin rooms in Ascona, Switzerland + 1 dinner + coffee stops.
Excluded: lunches (packed lunches can be purchased the day before); 1 dinner in Ascona.
Limited to 24 participants
Mid-conference activity
Option 1
Excursion “A walk across the Moho”
Visit to outcrops of peridotite, pyroxenite, gabbro, granulite and mylonite of the Ivrea-Verbano Zone in Val D’Ossola.
Priority will be given to delegates who have not registered for the pre-conference excursion. Transport by minibus, 3-hour walk on roads and easy paths.
Limited to 30 participants
Option 2
Excursion “A geo-heritage marble”
Guided visit to the spectacular quarry of the pink granulite-facies marble used to build the Duomo of Milano. The visit also includes the workshop where the marble is cut. More information on the quarry can be found here.
Travel by minibus, minimal walking.
Limited to 50 participants
Option 3
Workshop “Phase Equilibrium Modelling with MAGEMin”
This workshop will introduce participants to the phase equilibrium modelling software MAGEMin and associated thermodynamic models. In a short practical session, led by developer Nicolas Riel, delegates will gain hands-on experience with the application. More information can be found here.
On site, including coffee break and closing drinks.
Unlimited number of participants
Option 4
Excursion “Visit to the picturesque botanical gardens of Villa Taranto”
“Walking through the gardens of Villa Taranto is like travelling through foreign lands”.
The Villa is situated at walking distance from the conference centre. The visit includes a 2-hour self-guided tour and drinks on the lakeside. More information on the Villa can be found here.
Unlimited number of participants
Discover our keynote speakers
Important dates
15 March
Registration opens
15 May
Registration closes
31 May
Abstract submission deadline
September
Conference & Excursions
Download conference programme here (pdf)
Organising Committee
- Alberto Zanetti, Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, CNR, Italy
- Daniela Rubatto, Institute of Geological Sciences, Universität Bern, Switzerland (Chair)
- Othmar Müntener, Institute of Earth Sciences, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland
- Antonio Langone, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Università di Pavia, Italy
- Pierre Lanari, Institute of Geological Sciences, Universität Bern, and SFMC
- Jörg Hermann, Institute of Geological Sciences, Universität Bern, Switzerland
- Jacob Forshaw, Institute of Geological Sciences, Universität Bern, Switzerland
- Patrizia Fiannacca, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Università di Catania, Italy
- Christian Chopin, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Paris (ENS), CNRS, SFMC, France
- Bernardo Cesare, Dipartimento di Geoscienze, Università di Padova, Italy