The cliffs that for decades have been attracting the attention of generations of climbers from all Europe and beyond are constituted from a geologic point of view of the formation "Pietra di Finale" datable to the Miocene, approximately between 16 and 10 million years ago. In fact this period in which the sedimentary successions were deposited has given the actual name to the same formation. In a very general sense the litotypes that they characterize vary from conglomerates and sands which are present however in a subordinate way inside of the succession, to bioclastic limekilns constituted mainly of colonial coral residuals and fragments of shells. The Formation of the "Pietra di Finale" is subdivided in its turn in five different members according to the specific geologic particularities that constitute them: Member of Knoll, Member of Tower Fortification, Member of Verezzi, Member of Rocks of the Orera and Member of Monte Cucco. Out of all of these the Member of Monte Cucco has by far the greatest extension and therefore specifically characterizes the "Pietra di Finale". Almost all of the walls with the major part of the climbs with the exception of the areas of the Caprazoppa and Cliffs of the Orera (both belong to the Cliff Member of the Orera) belong to this member. Capo Noli, however doesn't belong to the "Pietra di Finale", these rock formations belong to a much older period, which was formed more than 65 million years ago and is constituted from dolomite limekilns of the pre-terziario base. The Member of Monte Cucco is almost entirely constituted from calcite cemented bioclastic limestone of a coloration range from white to rose. The stratification is usually not very obvious with exception of some zones where a succession of layers is visible; as for example is the case at the amphitheatre of Monte Cucco, the Gola di Briganti or the Bocca di Bacco. At the base and within the limestone erinaceous discs or conglomeratic batches are present and they contain abundant organic material, mainly incrustation of colonial corals and algae and in subordinate way echinoids and fragments of shells and shark teeth. However, from the climber's point of view, the characteristic of greater interest turns out to be the difference in litologici terms between the inner parts of the rock, constituted from the bioclastic limestone, and those superficial ones. In fact it is possible to observe that the overwhelming majority of the rock surface is constituted from solid and compact limestone, often worked to holes, drops and cracks. The limestone is nevertheless layered with layers of varying thickness and there are some zones of variable extension where the top layer is much thinner or absent and where the bioclastic limestone therefore emerges. Such zones often give the cliff a characteristic coloration of rose / yellow. They convey an aspect of erosion and are sometimes less compact, frailer and even dusty in parts. These zones do however house some of the most visually attractive routes found in the sector of Pianarella or the west sector of Rocca di Corno, which have given birth to some unforgettable routes. Phenomena of carsismo both on the surface and underground are present practically everywhere. Often tufas run along the rock surface, bulges and small caves of varied shapes and dimensions are visible and reveal all their own usefulness in the case of rain. An underground system of caves is also not lacking and this attracts the attention of speologists, as for example the Cave of the Pollera and the Cave of the Buio. The great variety in the morphology of the cliffs and the various superficial characteristics offer very varied climbs: from athletic overhangs to vertical walls and technical slabs, from holes that seem artificial to delicate sequences of balance on micro holds. Aspect and style often change within one sector and often even within one route, and the fact that many lines have a violent single passage often seems like an annoying appointment...
DANIELE JACK CANALE
Photographer Marco (Thomas) Tomassini
geology
