The Massif Central is one of the two large basement massifs in France, the other being the Armorican Massif. The Massif Central's geological evolution started in the late Neoproterozoic and continues
Geographical position of the Massif Central in France.
Neoproterozoic paragneis of the Arverne domain near Nontron, Dordogne. The light-coloured graywacke layer is boudinaged and dips steeply to the NNE.
Shatter cone from the Rochechouart impact structure
Paragneiss from the Arverne domain. This sample demonstrates the structural complexity found in the Massif Central. The left hand side shows a porphyroblast in C/S attitude with sense of movement top to the Southwest (D1-Phase). The right hand side also shows a porphyroblast in C/S attitude but with sense of movement top to the Northwest (D2-phase). The layers above it glide off to the right producing southeast-vergent small-scale folding (D4-phase)
Amphibolite
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Amphibolite is a metamorphic rock that contains amphibole, especially hornblende and actinolite, as well as plagioclase feldspar, but with little or no quartz. It is typically dark-colored and dense,
Geology of the Massif Central
…name), the western Marche, the northern Morvan, the Lyonnais and the Livradois (Haut-Allier). The now high-grade metamorphic rocks – essentially the amphibolite facies with medium-pressure high-temperature conditions was reached - were originally deposited as flysch sequences along Gondwanas northern continental slope…
An amphibolite boulder in the Botanical Gardens of Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Amphibolite from Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Garnet bearing amphibolite from Val di Fleres, Italy
Garnet amphibolite, sold as "Nordic Sunset Granite", reportedly from Murmansk area