Two Summers in the Alps That Changed Our View of the Earth

M. P. T. Chin-A-Lien – June 2026
Founding Partner & Chief Architect
GLIAG – Golden Lane Investments Advisory Group

During the summers of 1973 and 1974, four geology students from the University of Leiden, The Netherlands—Arie Schaap, André van der Meulen, Marcel Chin-A-Lien and Ray Bergval—spent nearly six months mapping the Montgenèvre–Chenaillet Ophiolite in the Cottian Alps of France and the Dora Maira Massif of Italy under the guidance of Prof. Dr. E. den Tex.

Our doctoraal fieldwork took us across one of the world’s best-preserved fragments of Jurassic oceanic lithosphere.

We mapped mantle peridotites, gabbros, sheeted dykes and pillow basalts, learning that these rocks once formed the floor of the ancient Ligurian–Piedmont Ocean.

During the Alpine collision, most of this oceanic crust disappeared into a subduction zone.

A small fragment escaped destruction, was obducted onto the continental margin and incorporated into the Alpine nappe system.

Today, erosion exposes this remarkable section at more than 2,650 metres above sea level.

For us, the Montgenèvre Ophiolite became much more than a thesis area.

It was a natural laboratory where the emerging theory of plate tectonics became reality beneath our boots.

More than fifty years later, the science remains timeless, the mountains remain magnificent, and the friendships remain unforgettable.

The photograph captures more than four young geology students.

It captures four Ophiolite Chasers, standing on the preserved upper mantle of an ocean that disappeared millions of years before humanity existed.

Dedicated to Prof. Dr. E. den Tex, and to my fellow field companions Arie Schaap, André van der Meulen and the late Ray Bergval, with gratitude for two unforgettable summers in the Alps.

“Turning Geoscience into Geological Intelligence.”

M. P.T. Chin-A-Lien
Founding Partner & Chief Architect
GLIAG – Golden Lane Investments Advisory Group

For whom may be interested in the geology of this area, following is a curated list for your convenience.

Annex – Montgenèvre–Chenaillet Ophiolite
Curated Geological, Geophysical and Geotectonic References

The Montgenèvre–Chenaillet ophiolite, straddling the French–Italian border, is widely recognized as one of the best‑preserved remnants of the Ligurian–Piedmont oceanic domain in the Western Alps. It exposes serpentinized mantle rocks, gabbros, volcanic sequences and sedimentary cover with comparatively limited Alpine metamorphic overprint, making it an exceptional natural laboratory for studying Jurassic oceanic crust, slow‑spreading ridge processes and the tectonic evolution of the Alpine Tethys.[insu.hal +3]

This Annex provides a curated, trusted list of geological, geophysical and geotectonic publications focused on the Montgenèvre–Chenaillet massif and the Chenaillet ophiolite. It is designed as a concise, embeddable bibliography for technical essays and field‑based analyses.

A. Selection Logic
The publications below were selected using four criteria:
• Direct relevance to the Montgenèvre–Chenaillet massif or Chenaillet ophiolite.
• Strong geological, petrological, geochemical, geochronological or geotectonic content.
• High value as either foundational references or modern reinterpretations.

B. Core Curated Reference List [1] [5] [6] [2] [3][7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [4] [13]

Priority	Reference	Main contribution	Why it is trusted / useful
Essential	Manatschal, N., Picazo, S., Müntener, O., et al. “The Chenaillet Ophiolite in the Western Alps.”	Modern synthesis of the Chenaillet–Montgenèvre ophiolite as a key remnant of the Piemont–Liguria oceanic basin.	Provides a comprehensive geological and tectonic overview; excellent starting point for context and significance.
Essential	Cordey, F. & Bailly, F. “Alpine ocean seafloor spreading and onset of pelagic sedimentation: new radiolarian data from the Chenaillet–Montgenèvre ophiolite.”	Radiolarian biostratigraphy constraining oceanic spreading and timing of pelagic sedimentation.	Crucial for age control on oceanic crust and sediment cover, and for integrating Chenaillet into the Alpine Tethys opening history.
Essential	Lemoine, M. et al. Le massif du Chenaillet. Montgenèvre (Alpes franco‑italiennes). Les ophiolites et l’océan disparu.	Regional synthesis and field‑oriented description of the Chenaillet–Montgenèvre massif and its ophiolitic context.	Classic French‑language reference widely cited in later work; indispensable for regional geology and field relationships.
Essential	Costa, S. & Caby, R. “Evolution of the Ligurian Tethys in the Western Alps: Sm/Nd and U/Pb geochronology and rare‑earth element geochemistry of the Montgenèvre ophiolite (France).”	Geochronology and REE geochemistry of the Montgenèvre ophiolite.	Key paper for temporal constraints and magmatic evolution of Ligurian Tethys oceanic crust.
Essential	Picazo, S., Cannat, M., Delacour, A., et al. “The Chenaillet Ophiolite in the French/Italian Alps: An ancient analogue for an Oceanic Core Complex?”	Interprets the Chenaillet ophiolite as an ancient oceanic core complex (OCC) in a magma‑poor spreading setting.	Highly relevant for modern tectonic models, slow‑spreading ridges and ocean–continent transition processes.
Important	Chalot‑Prat, F. et al. “L’ophiolite du Chenaillet (Montgenèvre, Alpes franco‑italiennes).”	Broad geological treatment of the Chenaillet ophiolite, including lithology and structural relationships.	Accessible French synthesis useful for petrography, structure and educational purposes.
Important	Pusztaszeri, L. Étude pétrographique du massif du Chenaillet (Hautes‑Alpes, France).	Early petrographic study of the massif.	Foundational historic petrographic reference frequently cited in subsequent work.
Important	Bertrand, J., Dietrich, V., Nievergelt, P., & Vuagnat, M. (major and trace element geochemistry of gabbroic and volcanic sequences, Montgenèvre ophiolite).	Comparative major and trace element geochemistry of gabbros and volcanic rocks.	Important for magmatic affinities and internal lithological comparisons within the ophiolite.
Important	Picazo, S. et al. “The Chenaillet Ophiolite: a fossil Oceanic Core Complex?” (EGU abstract).	Abstract‑level precursor to the full OCC interpretation.	Useful for tracing the development of OCC concepts applied to Chenaillet.
Important	Oceanic sedimentary processes and Alpine metamorphic events in the Chenaillet–Montgenèvre ophiolite.	Focuses on sedimentary processes and Alpine metamorphic overprint.	Valuable for distinguishing primary oceanic features from later Alpine modification.
Recent	“To be or not to be Alpine: New petrological constraints on the Chenaillet Ophiolite.”	New petrological constraints refining the extent of Alpine overprint.	Important modern reference for assessing preservation versus metamorphic reworking.
Supporting	“Nouvelle interprétation de l’ophiolite du Chenaillet.”	Updated or alternative structural/tectonic interpretation of the massif.	Useful as a comparative source where tectonic models differ, and for discussion of current debates.

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C. Recommended Thematic Use in Essays

1. Geological framework and field relationships
   For regional and structural context, Manatschal et al., Lemoine et al. and Chalot‑Prat et al. together provide a robust framework. They establish the massif’s architecture, its position in the Ligurian–Piedmont domain, and its value as an unusually well‑exposed fragment of Jurassic oceanic lithosphere.[sciencedirect +3]
2. Petrology and geochemistry
   For petrography and magmatic evolution, Pusztaszeri and Bertrand et al. remain foundational, while Costa and Caby add modern Sm/Nd and U/Pb geochronology plus REE geochemistry. These are the best sources for mantle–gabbro–volcanic relationships and the timing of crust formation within the Ligurian Tethys.[access.archive-ouverte.unige +2]
3. Oceanic spreading and sedimentation
   Cordey and Bailly’s radiolarian study constrains the onset of pelagic sedimentation and refines the oceanic history of the Chenaillet–Montgenèvre domain. This is particularly useful when connecting the massif to broader Tethyan opening models.[sciencedirect +1]
4. Tectonic interpretation and oceanic core complex models
   Picazo et al. (full paper and abstract) are essential for the interpretation of Chenaillet as a fossil oceanic core complex developed in a magma‑poor spreading environment. This reframes the massif as a tectonic analogue for slow‑spreading and hyperextended oceanic domains, beyond a traditional “layered ophiolite” view.[sciencedirect +1]
5. Alpine overprint and preservation state

• The recent petrological constraints paper, combined with work on sedimentary processes and Alpine metamorphic events, helps answer how far Chenaillet preserves primary Jurassic ocean features versus Alpine reworking. These are critical when discussing “Alpine versus oceanic” signatures in rocks and structures.[onlinelibrary.wiley +1]

D. Suggested Shortlist for Concise Citation

If only six to eight references can be included in a compact essay, a balanced shortlist would be:[insu.hal +1]

1. Manatschal et al. – overall geological and tectonic synthesis.[insu.hal]
2. Cordey & Bailly – radiolarian data and sedimentation timing.[hal]
3. Costa & Caby – geochronology and REE geochemistry of Montgenèvre.[sciencedirect]
4. Picazo et al. – oceanic core complex interpretation of Chenaillet.[sciencedirect]
5. Lemoine et al. – regional and field‑based synthesis of the massif.[hal]
6. Chalot‑Prat et al. – French overview of the ophiolite.[free]
7. Pusztaszeri – classic petrography of Chenaillet.[access.archive-ouverte.unige]
8. Bertrand et al. – comparative geochemistry of gabbros and volcanics.[mindat]

• This shortlist provides a strong backbone for most geological, tectonic and geophysical arguments about the Montgenèvre–Chenaillet ophiolite.