Mineral Evolution Database
Created and maintained by the Mineral Evolution Project in partnership with RRUFF and mindat.
Mineral locality data provided by mindat.org



The Mineral Evolution database is currently under development.

The goal of this page is to present localities at which the mineral is found, and estimates of the oldest possible geologic age of the minerals at these localities.


Locality Name:
Les Marécottes, Le Trient Valley, Valais, Switzerland

Oldest recorded age at locality: 298.9
Youngest recorded age at locality: 0

mindat Locality ID: 134466
mindat URL: http://www.mindat.org/loc-134466.html

Tectonic Settings:

Total number of sublocalities beneath "Les Marécottes, Le Trient Valley, Valais, Switzerland": 9
Total number of bottom-level sublocalities: 6

Number of Child Localities: 5
Child Localities:
Creusier
Emosson
La Creusa U Prospect (La Creusaz U Prospect)
La Creusaz
Slate Outcrops

Latitude: 46°5'18"N
Longitude: 6°58'12"E
Decimal Degree (lat, lon): 46.088333333333,6.97
AThis mineral is Anthropogenic.
GThis mineral is directly dated.
BThis mineral is reported as having this age.
YThis mineral is using an age reported as an element mineralization period.
OThis mineral is using an age calculated from all data at the locality.
RThe age displayed for this mineral originates from a different, non-child locality.
PThe age displayed for this mineral is the range of ages for this mineral at all of this locality's children.
This mineral's age has not yet been recorded.

This Mineral list contains entries from this locality, including sub-localities. Minerals in bold are reported by mindat.org as occurring directly at this locality, and do not occur at any children (sublocalities) of this locality.

Elements at this locality, including sub-localities: Ag Al As Ba Bi C Ca Ce Cu F Fe H K Mg Na Nd O P Pb S Se Si Ti U V W Y Zn Zr 

Elements from minerals reported directly at this locality: Al Ca Fe H O Si 

Structural Groups for minerals in this locality: 
AllaniteAluniteApatiteAragoniteArsenicArsenopyriteAutuniteBaryteBismutiteBrannerite
BrochantiteBrookiteCalciteChalcopyriteChloriteClayClinozoisiteCompreignaciteCopperCoquimbite
CorundumDevillineDiasporeEpidoteFluoriteFritzscheiteGuilleminiteGypsumHalotrichiteJohannite
KobelliteKtenasiteLepidocrociteLillianiteMalachiteMarcasiteMeta-autuniteMicaMixiteMonazite
NickelineNoneNot in a structural groupPhosphuranylitePyriteQuartzRocksaltRutileRömeriteScheelite
SchoepiteSmectite-vermiculiteSphaleriteStibniteSulphurTetradymiteTitaniteVoltaiteWölsendorfiteZippeite
Zircon

110 IMA Minerals at location:
Allanite-(Ce)  (*)Anatase  (*)Anglesite  (*)Antlerite  (*)Arsenopyrite  (*)
Arsenuranospathite  (*)Baryte  (*)Bassetite  (*)Becquerelite  (*)Beudantite  (*)
Billietite  (*)Bismuth  (*)Bismuthinite  (*)Bismutite  (*)Brannerite  (*)
Brochantite  (*)Brookite  (*)Calcite  (*)Cerussite  (*)Chalcopyrite  (*)
Chamosite  (*)Clinochlore  (*)Coconinoite  (*)Coffinite  (*)Compreignacite  (*)
Copper  (*)Coquimbite  (*)Cuprite  (*)Dewindtite  (*)Djurleite  (*)
Dolomite  (*)Epidote  (*)Fluorapatite  (*)Fluorite  (*)Fourmarierite  (*)
Françoisite-(Ce)  (*)Françoisite-(Nd)  (*)Galena  (*)Goethite  (*)Gypsum  (*)
Halotrichite  (*)Hematite  (*)Nováčekite-I  (*)Jáchymovite  (*)Jarosite  (*)
Johannite  (*)Kainosite-(Y)  (*)Kasolite  (*)Ktenasite  (*)Laitakarite  (*)
Langite  (*)Lepidocrocite  (*)Lillianite  (*)Magnesiozippeite  (*)Malachite  (*)
Marcasite  (*)Marécottite  (*)Marthozite  (*)Masuyite  (*)Meta-autunite  (*)
Metakahlerite  (*)Metanováčekite  (*)Metatorbernite  (*)Metatyuyamunite  (*)Metazeunerite  (*)
Mixite  (*)Monazite-(Ce)  (*)Muscovite  (*)Natrozippeite  (*)Uranophane-β  (*)
Phosphuranylite  (*)Plumbojarosite  (*)Pseudojohannite  (*)Pyrite  (*)Pyrrhotite  (*)
Quartz  (*)Rabejacite  (*)Römerite  (*)Rosickýite  (*)Rutherfordine  (*)
Rutile  (*)Scheelite  (*)Schoepite  (*)Schröckingerite  (*)Selenium  (*)
Siderite  (*)Sillénite  (*)Sklodowskite  (*)Sphalerite  (*)Studtite  (*)
Titanite  (*)Torbernite  (*)Tyuyamunite  (*)Uraninite  (*)Uranophane-α  (*)
Uranopilite  (*)Uranospathite  (*)Uranospinite  (*)Vandendriesscheite  (*)Vermiculite  (*)
Vochtenite  (*)Voltaite  (*)Walpurgite  (*)Weibullite  (*)Wittite  (*)
Wölsendorfite  (*)Yingjiangite  (*)Zeunerite  (*)Zippeite  (*)Zircon  (*)
Mineral nameStructural GroupsIMA FormulaMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)# of Sublocalities containing mineralLOCALITY IDs, not mindat ids# of localities containing mineral
Allanite-(Ce)  (*)Allanite EpidoteCaCe(Al2Fe2+)[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)1115123706
Anatase  (*)Not in a structural groupTiO2351511151212162
Anglesite  (*)BarytePb(SO4)298.9011151212734
Antlerite  (*)Not in a structural groupCu2+3(SO4)(OH)4298.901115121246
Arsenopyrite  (*)ArsenopyriteFeAsS351511151219052
Arsenuranospathite  (*)NoneAl(UO2)2(AsO4)2F·20H2O0.140.14111512114
Baryte  (*)BaryteBa(SO4)298.903115120,115121,11512311547
Bassetite  (*)NoneFe2+(UO2)2(PO4)2(H2O)100.140.14111512151
Becquerelite  (*)NoneCa(UO2)6O4(OH)6·8H2O0.140.14111512192
Beudantite  (*)AlunitePbFe3+3(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)60.140.141115121413
Billietite  (*)NoneBa(UO2)6O4(OH)6·8H2O0.140.142115121,11512538
Bismuth  (*)ArsenicBi298.9011151211966
Bismuthinite  (*)StibniteBi2S3298.9011151211935
Bismutite  (*)BismutiteBi2O2(CO3)298.901115121716
Brannerite  (*)BranneriteUTi2O61115123248
Brochantite  (*)BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6298.9011151211633
Brookite  (*)BrookiteTiO21115126700
Calcite  (*)CalciteCa(CO3)298.903115118,115121,11512327770
Cerussite  (*)AragonitePb(CO3)298.9011151214979
Chalcopyrite  (*)ChalcopyriteCuFeS224615111512127198
Chamosite  (*)Chlorite Clay(Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)835151115121577
Clinochlore  (*)Chlorite ClayMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)835152115121,1151251756
Coconinoite  (*)NoneFe3+2Al2(UO2)2(PO4)4(SO4)(OH)2·20H2O0.140.1411151219
Coffinite  (*)ZirconU(SiO4)·nH2O35151115121566
Compreignacite  (*)CompreignaciteK2(UO2)6O4(OH)6·7H2O0.140.14111512127
Copper  (*)CopperCu298.9011151213846
Coquimbite  (*)CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12·6H2O298.901115121136
Cuprite  (*)Not in a structural groupCu2O298.9011151212970
Dewindtite  (*)PhosphuranyliteH2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4·12H2O0.140.14111512182
Djurleite  (*)NoneCu31S16298.901115121300
Dolomite  (*)NoneCaMg(CO3)211151239895
Epidote  (*)Epidote ClinozoisiteCa2(Al2Fe3+)[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)298.9008173
Fluorapatite  (*)ApatiteCa5(PO4)3F11151232740
Fluorite  (*)FluoriteCaF2298.9011151219617
Fourmarierite  (*)SchoepitePb1-xO3-2x(UO2)4(OH)4+2x·4H2O0.140.14111512161
Françoisite-(Ce)  (*)NoneCe(UO2)3O(OH)(PO4)2·6H2O0.140.1411151212
Françoisite-(Nd)  (*)NoneNd(UO2)3O(OH)(PO4)2·6H2O0.140.1411151215
Galena  (*)RocksaltPbS246153115118,115120,11512124243
Goethite  (*)DiasporeFeO(OH)298.9011151217437
Gypsum  (*)GypsumCa(SO4)·2H2O298.9011151216890
Halotrichite  (*)HalotrichiteFe2+Al2(SO4)4·22H2O298.901115121409
Hematite  (*)CorundumFe2O3298.90111512114640
Nováčekite-I  (*)NoneMg(UO2)2(AsO4)2·12H2O0.140.14111512155
Jáchymovite  (*)None(UO2)8(SO4)(OH)14·13H2O0011151213
Jarosite  (*)AluniteKFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6298.9011151212228
Johannite  (*)JohanniteCu(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2·8H2O00111512169
Kainosite-(Y)  (*)NoneCa2Y2(SiO3)4(CO3)·H2O111512099
Kasolite  (*)NonePb(UO2)(SiO4)·H2O0.140.141115121198
Ktenasite  (*)Ktenasite DevillineZnCu4(SO4)2(OH)6·6H2O298.90111512175
Laitakarite  (*)TetradymiteBi4(Se,S)3246232111512130
Langite  (*)NoneCu4(SO4)(OH)6·2H2O298.901115121593
Lepidocrocite  (*)LepidocrociteFe3+O(OH)298.901115121581
Lillianite  (*)LillianitePb3-2xAgxBi2+xS635151115121128
Magnesiozippeite  (*)ZippeiteMg(UO2)2(SO4)O2·3.5H2O00111512114
Malachite  (*)MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2298.90111512112537
Marcasite  (*)MarcasiteFeS2298.9011151215674
Marécottite  (*)NoneMg3O6(UO2)8(SO4)4(OH)2·28H2O00111512110
Marthozite  (*)GuilleminiteCu2+(UO2)3(Se4+O3)2O2·8H2O0.140.1411151212
Masuyite  (*)NonePb(UO2)3O3(OH)2·3H2O0.140.142115118,11512123
Meta-autunite  (*)Meta-autuniteCa(UO2)2(PO4)2·6H2O0.140.141115121388
Metakahlerite  (*)NoneFe2+(UO2)2(AsO4)2·8H2O0.140.14111512118
Metanováčekite  (*)NoneMg(UO2)2(AsO4)2·8H2O0.140.14111512126
Metatorbernite  (*)NoneCu(UO2)2(PO4)2·8H2O0.140.141115121443
Metatyuyamunite  (*)FritzscheiteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2·3H2O0.140.141115121129
Metazeunerite  (*)NoneCu(UO2)2(AsO4)2·8H2O0.140.141115121182
Mixite  (*)MixiteCu6Bi(AsO4)3(OH)6·3H2O0.140.141115121168
Monazite-(Ce)  (*)MonaziteCe(PO4)1115120945
Muscovite  (*)Mica ClayKAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)2298.90111512117380
Natrozippeite  (*)ZippeiteNa5(UO2)8(SO4)4O5(OH)3·12H2O00111512141
Uranophane-β  (*)NoneCa(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2·5H2O0.140.141115121144
Phosphuranylite  (*)PhosphuranyliteKCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4·8H2O0.140.141115121182
Plumbojarosite  (*)AlunitePb0.5Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6298.901115121477
Pseudojohannite  (*)NoneCu3(OH)2[(UO2)4O4(SO4)2]·12H2O00111512110
Pyrite  (*)PyriteFeS2298.9201.33115120,115121,11512339462
Pyrrhotite  (*)NickelineFe7S8298.9011151219056
Quartz  (*)QuartzSiO2298.903115121,115123,11512561156
Rabejacite  (*)NoneCa2[(UO2)4O4(SO4)2](H2O)800111512111
Römerite  (*)RömeriteFe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4·14H2O298.901115121115
Rosickýite  (*)NoneS298.90111512122
Rutherfordine  (*)None(UO2)(CO3)0.140.14111512158
Rutile  (*)RutileTiO2298.902115121,1151235614
Scheelite  (*)ScheeliteCa(WO4)298.902115121,1151224894
Schoepite  (*)Schoepite(UO2)4O(OH)6(H2O)600111512194
Schröckingerite  (*)NoneNaCa3(UO2)(SO4)(CO3)3F·10H2O001115121128
Selenium  (*)SulphurSe0.140.141115121143
Siderite  (*)CalciteFe(CO3)24623211151216417
Sillénite  (*)NoneBi12SiO20298.90111512126
Sklodowskite  (*)NoneMg(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2·6H2O0.140.14111512156
Sphalerite  (*)SphaleriteZnS2462322115120,11512121482
Studtite  (*)None(UO2)(O2)(H2O)2·2H2O0.140.14111512125
Titanite  (*)TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O11151234899
Torbernite  (*)NoneCu(UO2)2(PO4)2·12H2O11151251059
Tyuyamunite  (*)NoneCa(UO2)2(VO4)2·5-8H2O0.140.141115121628
Uraninite  (*)FluoriteUO2298.9201.32115118,1151212718
Uranophane-α  (*)NoneCa(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2·5H2O0.140.144115118,115120,115121,115125890
Uranopilite  (*)None(UO2)6(SO4)O2(OH)6·14H2O00111512194
Uranospathite  (*)None(Al,   )(UO2)2F(PO4)2·20H2O0.140.14111512120
Uranospinite  (*)NoneCa(UO2)2(AsO4)2·10H2O0.140.14111512151
Vandendriesscheite  (*)NonePb1.6(UO2)10O6(OH)11·11H2O0.140.14111512152
Vermiculite  (*)Clay Smectite-vermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4·8H2O298.901115121652
Vochtenite  (*)NoneFe2+Fe3+(UO2)4(PO4)4(OH)·12-13H2O0.140.1411151215
Voltaite  (*)VoltaiteK2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12·18H2O298.901115121111
Walpurgite  (*)NoneBi4O4(UO2)(AsO4)2·2H2O0.140.14111512138
Weibullite  (*)KobelliteAg0.33Pb5.33Bi8.33(S,Se)183515111512110
Wittite  (*)NonePb8Bi10(S,Se)233515111512115
Wölsendorfite  (*)WölsendorfitePb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4·12H2O0.140.14111512143
Yingjiangite  (*)PhosphuranyliteK2Ca(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)6·6H2O0.140.1411151219
Zeunerite  (*)AutuniteCu(UO2)2(AsO4)2·12H2O0.140.141115121185
Zippeite  (*)ZippeiteK2[(UO2)4(SO4)2O2(OH)2](H2O)4001115121175
Zircon  (*)ZirconZr(SiO4)11151235251


Locality Notes from all Ages at Locality:
Age IDLocality Notes
Giersdorf_00000541Hydrothermal breccia veins found in the contact between the Aiguilles Rouges Massif and the Vallorcine Granide near the village of Les Marécottes
Giersdorf_00000542Hydrothermal breccia veins found in the contact between the Aiguilles Rouges Massif and the Vallorcine Granide near the village of Les Marécottes
Giersdorf_00000543Hydrothermal breccia veins found in the contact between the Aiguilles Rouges Massif and the Vallorcine Granide near the village of Les Marécottes
Giersdorf_00000544Hydrothermal breccia veins found in the contact between the Aiguilles Rouges Massif and the Vallorcine Granide near the village of Les Marécottes
Giersdorf_00000546Hydrothermal breccia veins found in the contact between the Aiguilles Rouges Massif and the Vallorcine Granide near the village of Les Marécottes


5 Ages assigned to this locality:

Excel IDMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)Age as listed in referenceDating MethodAge InterpretPrioritized?Sample SourceSample NumRun NumAge from other LocalityDated MineralMinerals explicitely stated as having this ageAge applies to these ElementsMinDat Locality IDDated Locality (Max Age)Location as listed in referenceReferenceReference DOIReference IDAge Notes
Giersdorf_00000541246232239±7Pb-PbAge given for the secondary mineralization event of the La Creusazlaitakarite   LaitakariteChalcopyrite, Galena, Laitakarite, Siderite, Sphalerite 23617La Creusa U Prospect (La Creusaz U Prospect), Les Marécottes, Le Trient Valley, Valais, SwitzerlandLa Creusaz U ProspectMeisser et al. (2010)10.2138/am.2010.3413AM95_1527age of secondary mineralization
Giersdorf_00000542351535-15 alpine metamorphismwittite, weibullite, albite, clinochlore, chamosit   Albite, Anatase, Arsenopyrite, Chalcopyrite, Chamosite, Clinochlore, Coffinite, Galena, Lillianite, Titanite, Weibullite, Wittite 23617La Creusa U Prospect (La Creusaz U Prospect), Les Marécottes, Le Trient Valley, Valais, SwitzerlandLa Creusaz U ProspectMeisser et al. (2010)10.2138/am.2010.3413AM95_1527Mobilization event in the Tertiary Alpine Metamorphic event
Giersdorf_000005430.140.140.14U-ThAge of diversification of uranium minerals, specifically françoisite-(Ce) crystallized during this time.francoisite-(ce)   Francoisite-(Ce)Francoisite-(Ce)U, P, Se, As23617La Creusa U Prospect (La Creusaz U Prospect), Les Marécottes, Le Trient Valley, Valais, SwitzerlandLa Creusaz U ProspectMeisser et al. (2010)10.2138/am.2010.3413AM95_1527Age of ice-sheet melting event which caused rapid weathering, rapid decompression, uplift, and erosion. Oxidation of pyrite and arsenopyrite produced an acid that interacted with the uraninite and led to the formation of a complex assemblage of Uranyl-bearing minerals.
Giersdorf_00000544298.9201.3Permo-triassic Age of precipitation of uraninite and pyrite in breccia veinsuraninite, pyrite   Pyrite, Uraninite 23617La Creusa U Prospect (La Creusaz U Prospect), Les Marécottes, Le Trient Valley, Valais, SwitzerlandLa Creusaz U ProspectMeisser et al. (2010)10.2138/am.2010.3413AM95_1527Suspected Permo-Triassic mineralization event
Giersdorf_00000546000 Minerals formed after acidification brought on by oxidation of the sulfides following exploration    Jachymovite, Johannite, Magnesiozippeite, Marecottite, Rabejacite, Schoepite, Schrockingerite, Natrozippeite, Uranopilite, Zippeite, Pseudojohannite 23617La Creusa U Prospect (La Creusaz U Prospect), Les Marécottes, Le Trient Valley, Valais, SwitzerlandLa Creusaz U ProspectMeisser et al. (2010)10.2138/am.2010.3413AM95_1527Since the end of the underground exploration in 1981, exposed veins and stockpiled U ore have been subjected to acid mine drainage water and atmospheric oxygen in the abandoned galleries. Oxidation of the sulfides (mainly pyrite and chalcopyrite) in the presence of strong bacterial activity resulted in the production of acid (pH ~ 3.1), sulfate-rich waters. These waters reacted with uraninite, clinochlore, illite, calcite, and siderite to form a rich assemblage of neoformed uranyl minerals, including the new minerals marécottite Mg3(UO2)8(SO4)4O6(OH)2·28H2O (Brugger et al. 2003a) and pseudojohannite Cu5(UO2)6(SO4)3(OH)16·14H2O (Brugger et al. 2006b), as well as jáchymovite (UO2)(SO4)(OH)14·13H2O, johannite Cu(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2·8H2O, magnesiozippeite Mg(UO2)2(SO4)O2·3.5H2O, natrozippeite Na(UO2)2(SO4) O(OH)·2H2O, rabejacite Ca(UO2)4(SO4)2(OH)6·6H2O, schoepite (UO2)8O2(OH)12·12H2O, schröckingerite NaCa3(UO2) (CO3)3(SO4)F·10H2O, uranopilite (UO2)6(SO4)(OH)10·12H2O, zippeite K(UO2)2(SO4)O(OH)·2H2O, and an unnamed Al-equivalent of coconinoite Al4(UO2)2(PO4)4(SO4)(OH)2·20H2O.

SampleSource LocalityReference URL
R070057La Creusa U Prospect (La Creusaz U Prospect), Les Marécottes, Le Trient Valley, Valais, Switzerlandhttps://rruff.info/R070057

All locality data graciously provided by mindat.org

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