This book aims to introduce scientists and educated laymen to the fascinating geology of the Bergell Alps, first with some background information on geology, tectonics, minerals and rocks and then to lead readers on excursions to observe geological features in the field. We believe the best way to make readers familiar with local geology is to lead them to intriguing outcrops. Such books are common in North America, but missing in Europe, particularly for the Alps. With this work, we use hands-on experience at a series of sites to educate readers how individual outcrops, moraines, landslides or other features contribute to our broader understanding of the region's unique geology.

Foreword.- Preface.- 1. Introduction (history, background).- 2. The geological frame (plate tectonics, continental collision, Alps, intrusion of Tertiary granite).- 3. Six highlights of Bergell Geology.- 3.1 Minerals and rocks in the Bergell Alps.- 3.2 The Bergell Granite, one of the youngest on Earth.- 3.3 Microstructures of rocks, their composition and formation conditions.- 3.4 The recent history: glaciers and moraines.- 3.5 Landslides.- 3.6 Mining quarrying and water: Copper, lime, gneiss, gravel, lavez, water/electricity.- 4. Geological excursions in the Bergell Alps.- 4.1 Easy hikes.- 4.1.1. Alp Cavloccio: Tectonic units and contact rocks.- 4.1.2. Maloja: Moraines, peat bogs and glacier mills.- 4.1.3. Val Maroz: Greenschist, Bündnerschiefer (calcareous schist), travertine, serpentinite.- 4.1.4. Albigna Hut: Bergell Granit (with cable car).- 4.1.5. Pranzaira: Introduction to Bergell rocks in the river.- 4.1.6. Piuro-Chiavenna: Old lavez quarries, Marmitte dei Giganti, Chiavenna city.- 4.1.7. Valle San Giacomo: Outcrops with Tambo granite in the Liro river, Cimaganda landslide.- 4.2 Longer excursions.- 4.2.1. Val Forno, Muretto: Bergell granite, contact zone, glacial features, pillow.- structures.- 4.2.2. Maloja, Pass Lunghin, Piz Lunghin: nappes, serpentinite, Triassic marble.- 4.2.3. Plaun da Lej-Grevasalvas-Fuorcela Grevasalvas: Higher nappes, radiolarite, old granites (Lagrev, Julier). Lime kiln at Crap da Chuern.- 4.2.4. Casaccia-Val Maroz-Val da la Duana (Piz Duan detour)-Cadrin-Löbbia-Soglio: Landslide (Maroz-Dent), upper Pennine nappes (Avers, Suretta, Tambo).- 4.2.5. Roticcio-Val Furcela-Val da Cam- Piz Cam descent to Vicosoprano/Roticcio: Young diabase dikes, stratigraphy of Suretta nappe, Mn-silicates, quartzites.- 4.2.6. Val Albigna (Funicola), Day1 Pass da Casnil, Day 2 Pass Cacciabella: Bergell granite, pegmatite and aplite dikes, xenolith inclusions, orbicular granite.- 4.2.7. Lavinair Crusc-Piz Salacina: Calcareous silicates in contact zone.- 4.2.8. Bondo-Ciresc-Lera d'Sura-Denc dal Luf: Al2SiO5 triple point, Gruf migmatites, moraines.- 4.2.9. Bondo Cugian Cap. Sasc Fura (Val Bondasca): Contact zone with Bergell granite, ultramafic xenoliths, deformed granite, view on 2018 landslide.- 4.2.10. Overview: Via Panoramica from Casaccia to Soglio.- 4.2.11. Bondo-Ciresc-Tegiola-Val Codera-Novate Mezzola: Gruf migmatite, mylonites, high temperature mineral assemblages, Novate granite.- 4.2.12. Val Malenco-Val Sissone: Southern contact zone with tonalite, serpentinite.- Bibliography.- Index.