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:
Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, Switzerland

Oldest recorded age at locality: 131.8
Youngest recorded age at locality: 0

mindat Locality ID: 7686
mindat URL: http://www.mindat.org/loc-7686.html

Tectonic Settings:

Total number of sublocalities beneath "Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, Switzerland": 66
Total number of bottom-level sublocalities: 46

Number of Child Localities: 3
Child Localities:
Matt Valley
Monte Rosa Massif
Saas Valley

Latitude: 46°2'45"N
Longitude: 7°52'11"E
Decimal Degree (lat, lon): 46.045833333333,7.8697222222222

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: Al As B C Ca Cu F Fe H K Li Mg Mn Na Nb Ni O P Pb S Sb Si Ti U V W Zn Zr 

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

Structural Groups for minerals in this locality: 
AllophaneAluniteAmphiboleAnalcimeApatiteArsenopyriteAuricuprideAxiniteBrackebuschiteBraunite
BrochantiteBrookiteBruciteCalciteChalcopyriteChloriteChloritoidClayClinozoisiteCopper
DiasporeEpidoteEpsomiteFeldsparFluoriteGarnetHexahydriteHumiteLazuliteMalachite
Meta-autuniteMicaNatroliteNickelineNoneNot in a structural groupOlivinePentlanditePerovskitePrehnite
PyritePyrophyllitePyroxeneQuartzRhodoniteRocksaltRutileScheeliteSerpentineSphalerite
SpinelStauroliteStilbiteTalcTitaniteTourmalineVesuvianiteZircon

102 IMA Minerals at location:
Actinolite  (*)Albite  (*)Alleghanyite  (*)Almandine  (*)Analcime  (*)
Anatase  (*)Andradite  (*)Antigorite  (*)Arsenopyrite  (*)Augite  (*)
Awaruite  (*)Axinite-(Fe)  (*)Azurite  (*)Barroisite  (*)Bearthite  (*)
Berlinite  (*)Beudantite  (*)Braunite  (*)Brochantite  (*)Brookite  (*)
Brucite  (*)Calcite  (*)Chalcopyrite  (*)Chloritoid  (*)Chrysocolla  (*)
Chrysotile  (*)Clinochlore  (*)Clinohumite  (*)Clinozoisite  (*)Cookeite  (*)
Copper  (*)Cuprite  (*)Diaspore  (*)Diopside  (*)Dolomite  (*)
Enstatite  (*)Epidote  (*)Fluorapatite  (*)Fluorite  (*)Forsterite  (*)
Gahnite  (*)Galaxite  (*)Glaucophane  (*)Grossular  (*)Hausmannite  (*)
Heazlewoodite  (*)Jacobsite  (*)Jadeite  (*)Jarosite  (*)Kyanite  (*)
Lansfordite  (*)Laumontite  (*)Lazulite  (*)Magnesiochloritoid  (*)Magnesite  (*)
Magnetite  (*)Malachite  (*)Manganosite  (*)Margarite  (*)Meta-autunite  (*)
Metatorbernite  (*)Metazeunerite  (*)Morenosite  (*)Muscovite  (*)Natrolite  (*)
Nesquehonite  (*)Nickelhexahydrite  (*)Omphacite  (*)Paragonite  (*)Pentlandite  (*)
Perovskite  (*)Phlogopite  (*)Piemontite  (*)Prehnite  (*)Preiswerkite  (*)
Pyrite  (*)Pyrophyllite  (*)Pyroxmangite  (*)Pyrrhotite  (*)Quartz  (*)
Rhodochrosite  (*)Rhodonite  (*)Roscoelite  (*)Rutile  (*)Scheelite  (*)
Schorl  (*)Siderite  (*)Spessartine  (*)Sphalerite  (*)Spinel  (*)
Stellerite  (*)Stibiocolumbite  (*)Talc  (*)Tenorite  (*)Tephroite  (*)
Titanite  (*)Uraninite  (*)Uranophane-α  (*)Vesuvianite  (*)Zincostaurolite  (*)
Zircon  (*)Zoisite  (*)
Mineral nameStructural GroupsIMA FormulaMax Age (Ma)Min Age (Ma)# of Sublocalities containing mineralLOCALITY IDs, not mindat ids# of localities containing mineral
Actinolite  (*)Amphibole   Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe2+0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)211153413419
Albite  (*)FeldsparNa(AlSi3O8)10115284,115286,115290,115303,115307,115311,115312,115335,115336,1153418803
Alleghanyite  (*)HumiteMn2+5(SiO4)2(OH)2111529877
Almandine  (*)GarnetFe2+3Al2(SiO4)311153362353
Analcime  (*)AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6)·H2O11153121627
Anatase  (*)Not in a structural groupTiO24115286,115299,115335,1153372162
Andradite  (*)GarnetCa3Fe3+2(SiO4)310115304,115307,115310,115311,115314,115320,115335,115340,115341,1153421534
Antigorite  (*)Serpentine ClayMg3Si2O5(OH)41115322708
Arsenopyrite  (*)ArsenopyriteFeAsS2115286,1152939052
Augite  (*)Pyroxene(Ca,Mg,Fe)2Si2O611153312060
Awaruite  (*)Auricupride PerovskiteNi3Fe1115322166
Axinite-(Fe)  (*)AxiniteCa4Fe2+2Al4[B2Si8O30](OH)22115317,115318260
Azurite  (*)Not in a structural groupCu3(CO3)2(OH)211153095509
Barroisite  (*)Amphibole   (NaCa)(Mg3Al2)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2131.824.82115297,11533349
Bearthite  (*)BrackebuschiteCa2Al(PO4)2(OH)11153179
Berlinite  (*)QuartzAl(PO4)111529328
Beudantite  (*)AlunitePbFe3+3(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)61115293413
Braunite  (*)BrauniteMn2+Mn3+6O8(SiO4)1115298483
Brochantite  (*)BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)611153401633
Brookite  (*)BrookiteTiO21115286700
Brucite  (*)BruciteMg(OH)21115304462
Calcite  (*)CalciteCa(CO3)16115285,115287,115292,115294,115299,115304,115307,115310,115311,115312,115319,115331,115334,115335,115341,11534527770
Chalcopyrite  (*)ChalcopyriteCuFeS22115293,11530927198
Chloritoid  (*)ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)238323115281,115294,115331376
Chrysocolla  (*)Allophane(Cu2-xAlx)H2-xSi2O5(OH)4·nH2O11153133531
Chrysotile  (*)Serpentine ClayMg3Si2O5(OH)48115304,115310,115311,115313,115314,115320,115335,115341951
Clinochlore  (*)Chlorite ClayMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8383214115294,115304,115307,115310,115311,115312,115319,115331,115332,115335,115340,115341,115342,1153451756
Clinohumite  (*)HumiteMg9(SiO4)4F21115331236
Clinozoisite  (*)Clinozoisite EpidoteCa2Al3[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)383201025
Cookeite  (*)Chlorite Clay(Al,Li)3Al2(Si,Al)4O10(OH)81115281181
Copper  (*)CopperCu11153413846
Cuprite  (*)Not in a structural groupCu2O3115340,115341,1153452970
Diaspore  (*)DiasporeAlO(OH)1115281481
Diopside  (*)PyroxeneCaMgSi2O6383212115294,115304,115305,115307,115311,115312,115326,115335,115340,115341,115342,1153454135
Dolomite  (*)NoneCaMg(CO3)22115286,1152899895
Enstatite  (*)PyroxeneMg2Si2O61115331944
Epidote  (*)Epidote ClinozoisiteCa2(Al2Fe3+)[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)383212115294,115304,115305,115311,115312,115318,115331,115332,115334,115335,115341,1153458173
Fluorapatite  (*)ApatiteCa5(PO4)3F38327115294,115307,115311,115312,115335,115340,1153412740
Fluorite  (*)FluoriteCaF211152939617
Forsterite  (*)OlivineMg2(SiO4)11153311188
Gahnite  (*)SpinelZnAl2O41115281445
Galaxite  (*)SpinelMn2+Al2O4111529843
Glaucophane  (*)Amphibole   Na2(Mg3Al2)Si8O22(OH)2131.824.84115294,115295,115297,115333286
Grossular  (*)GarnetCa3Al2(SiO4)3383214115294,115304,115307,115310,115311,115312,115314,115335,115336,115340,115341,115342,115344,1153451544
Hausmannite  (*)SpinelMn2+Mn3+2O41115298350
Heazlewoodite  (*)NoneNi3S21115322205
Jacobsite  (*)SpinelMn2+Fe3+2O41115298172
Jadeite  (*)PyroxeneNaAlSi2O61115331154
Jarosite  (*)AluniteKFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)611152932228
Kyanite  (*)Not in a structural groupAl2OSiO4131.824.85115281,115296,115297,115317,1153361507
Lansfordite  (*)NoneMg(CO3)·5H2O111530217
Laumontite  (*)Not in a structural groupCaAl2Si4O12·4H2O11153181271
Lazulite  (*)LazuliteMgAl2(PO4)2(OH)23115316,115317,115324232
Magnesiochloritoid  (*)ChloritoidMgAl2O(SiO4)(OH)238323115294,115317,11533212
Magnesite  (*)CalciteMg(CO3)11153321487
Magnetite  (*)SpinelFe2+Fe3+2O4131.824.89115297,115304,115310,115312,115319,115331,115332,115335,11534114899
Malachite  (*)MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)22115309,11534512537
Manganosite  (*)RocksaltMnO111529873
Margarite  (*)Mica ClayCaAl2Si2Al2O10(OH)21115281168
Meta-autunite  (*)Meta-autuniteCa(UO2)2(PO4)2·6H2O1115293388
Metatorbernite  (*)NoneCu(UO2)2(PO4)2·8H2O1115293443
Metazeunerite  (*)NoneCu(UO2)2(AsO4)2·8H2O1115293182
Morenosite  (*)EpsomiteNi(SO4)·7H2O6115304,115312,115321,115322,115335,11534184
Muscovite  (*)Mica ClayKAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)244.839.14115290,115296,115317,11533617380
Natrolite  (*)NatroliteNa2(Si3Al2)O10·2H2O11153121236
Nesquehonite  (*)NoneMg(CO3)·3H2O111532280
Nickelhexahydrite  (*)HexahydriteNi(SO4)·6H2O5115304,115312,115321,115322,11534137
Omphacite  (*)Pyroxene(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)Si2O62115331,115332229
Paragonite  (*)Mica ClayNaAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)22115296,115332247
Pentlandite  (*)Pentlandite(Ni,Fe)9S811153221512
Perovskite  (*)PerovskiteCaTiO36115304,115310,115319,115331,115332,115341495
Phlogopite  (*)Mica ClayKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)211153172273
Piemontite  (*)EpidoteCa2(Al2Mn3+)[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)2115298,115341260
Prehnite  (*)PrehniteCa2Al(Si3Al)O10(OH)29115305,115312,115318,115327,115331,115334,115335,115337,1153411898
Preiswerkite  (*)MicaNaAlMg2(Si2Al2)O10(OH)22115331,11533314
Pyrite  (*)PyriteFeS27115286,115293,115299,115322,115334,115335,11534139462
Pyrophyllite  (*)Clay PyrophylliteAl2Si4O10(OH)21115289771
Pyroxmangite  (*)NoneMn2+SiO31115298147
Pyrrhotite  (*)NickelineFe7S82115292,1153229056
Quartz  (*)QuartzSiO219115284,115285,115286,115287,115288,115289,115290,115296,115298,115299,115304,115306,115317,115318,115331,115334,115335,115336,11533761156
Rhodochrosite  (*)CalciteMn(CO3)11152981711
Rhodonite  (*)RhodoniteCaMn3Mn(Si5O15)1115298969
Roscoelite  (*)MicaKV3+2(Si3Al)O10(OH)21115293253
Rutile  (*)RutileTiO211152865614
Scheelite  (*)ScheeliteCa(WO4)12010011153284894
Schorl  (*)TourmalineNaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)11153002705
Siderite  (*)CalciteFe(CO3)11152876417
Spessartine  (*)GarnetMn2+3Al2(SiO4)311152981214
Sphalerite  (*)SphaleriteZnS5115304,115310,115319,115331,11534121482
Spinel  (*)SpinelMgAl2O4383201934
Stellerite  (*)StilbiteCa4(Si28Al8)O72·28H2O1115341189
Stibiocolumbite  (*)NoneSbNbO4111528413
Talc  (*)Clay TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)24115291,115317,115332,1153363337
Tenorite  (*)NoneCuO11153451101
Tephroite  (*)OlivineMn2+2(SiO4)1115298240
Titanite  (*)TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O383215115294,115304,115307,115310,115311,115312,115318,115319,115331,115334,115335,115336,115340,115341,1153454899
Uraninite  (*)FluoriteUO211152932718
Uranophane-α  (*)NoneCa(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2·5H2O1115293890
Vesuvianite  (*)Vesuvianite(Ca,Na)19(Al,Mg,Fe)13(SiO4)10(Si2O7)4(OH,F,O)10383213115294,115304,115305,115307,115310,115311,115312,115318,115335,115340,115341,115342,1153451395
Zincostaurolite  (*)StauroliteZn2Al9Si4O23(OH)11152816
Zircon  (*)ZirconZr(SiO4)2115304,1153365251
Zoisite  (*)EpidoteCa2Al3[Si2O7][SiO4]O(OH)4115308,115311,115332,1153361025



Locality Notes from all Ages at Locality:
Age IDLocality Notes
Michelle_549Near-surface occurrence. Recently forming oxalate associated with lichen, in Valais


17 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
Michelle_54900Recent Age of whewellite mineralizationhigh    Whewellite 134374Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandTaschtalHofmann and Bernasconi (1998)10.1016/S0009-2541(98)00043-6CG149_127See Table 1. occurrences of Oxalate minerals. Age given as "recent lichen."
Michelle_72841.938.740.3±1.6Rb-Sr phengiteT89-13    134374Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandTäschalp thrust zoneBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 2. Rb-Sr Mica Data
Michelle_729413839.5±1.5Rb-Sr phengiteT89-13    134374Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandTäschalp thrust zoneBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 2. Rb-Sr Mica Data
Michelle_73042.141.341.7±0.4Rb-Sr phengiteT89-39    134374Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandTäschalp thrust zoneBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 2. Rb-Sr Mica Data
Michelle_73139.939.339.6±0.3Rb-Sr phengiteT89-39    134374Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandTäschalp thrust zoneBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 2. Rb-Sr Mica Data
Michelle_73241.440.841.1±0.3Rb-Sr phengiteT89-39    134374Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandTäschalp thrust zoneBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 2. Rb-Sr Mica Data
Michelle_73345.643.644.6±1Rb-Sr phengiteT89-44    134374Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandTäschalpBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 2. Rb-Sr Mica Data
Michelle_73443.740.942.3±1.4Rb-Sr phengiteT89-50    134374Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandTäschalpBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 2. Rb-Sr Mica Data
Michelle_74240.939.140.0±0.9Ar-Ar muscoviteT89-13  Muscovite  134374Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandTäschalp thrust zoneBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 4. Ar-Ar Analyses of White Micas
Michelle_74344.84343.9±0.9Ar-Ar muscoviteT89-39  Muscovite  134374Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandTäschalp thrust zoneBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 4. Ar-Ar Analyses of White Micas
Michelle_735383235±3U-PbAge of vein formationhightitanite, albite50320    157673Mellich Glacier (Mellichen Glacier), Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandSouth of Mellichen (glacier)Barnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 3. U-Pb Data for Sample 50320
Michelle_73747.245.246.2±1.0Ar-Ar paragoniteB83175  Paragonite  134375Pfulwe, Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandPfulweBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 4. Ar-Ar Analyses of White Micas
Michelle_73851.238.444.8±6.4Ar-Ar paragoniteKAW 656  Paragonite  134375Pfulwe, Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandPfulwe - FluhalpBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 4. Ar-Ar Analyses of White Micas
Michelle_739474043.5±3.5Ar-Ar paragoniteKAW 657  Paragonite  134375Pfulwe, Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandPfulwe - FluhalpBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 4. Ar-Ar Analyses of White Micas
Michelle_740131.824.878.3±53.5Ar-Ar paragoniteKAW 661  Paragonite  134375Pfulwe, Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandPfulwe - FluhalpBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 4. Ar-Ar Analyses of White Micas
Michelle_74149.143.946.5±2.6Ar-Ar paragoniteKAW 654  Paragonite  134375Pfulwe, Täsch Valley, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandPfulwe - FluhalpBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279See Table 4. Ar-Ar Analyses of White Micas
Michelle_722120100100-120 Age of high pressure metamorphism      187977Monte Rosa Massif, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, SwitzerlandMonte Rosa MassifBarnicoat et al. (1995)10.1029/94TC02017T14_279Age of high pressure metamorphism


SampleSource LocalityReference URL
R060596Gorner Glacier Area, Zermatt, Matt Valley, Zermatt - Saas Fee Area, Valais, Switzerlandhttps://rruff.info/R060596


All locality data graciously provided by mindat.org

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