Geological path

1. THE S'ARANELLA LIGHTHOUSE

We can start our itinerary at the lighthouse from where we can see the entire bay. Right there we can see the pegmatite, a rock that forms folds that fit into the schists. Pegmatite is a rock that stands out for its light colors, and in which a large number of quartz crystals (transparent), feldspars (white), white mica (very marked brilliance) and some black tourmaline crystals can be seen. This rock has been formed by the cooling of molten material injected into the cracks of the schists.

 

2. THE BEACH OF LA VALL

Following the coastal path we can see the coastal silhouette with several islets and reefs. Before arriving at the beach of La Vall, we will pass over a series of caves caused by the erosive action of the waves. Result of this same erosion, and already in Platja de la Vall, we can see very worked and round stones, among which we can distinguish all kinds of minerals and rocks that have come here dragged by the stream that comes down from the mountains of Sant Pere de Rodes.

 

3. THE ROUND WAY

If we continue along the same path towards the town, we will find a series of small cliffs and numerous coves. Along the way there is abundant coastal vegetation adapted to saline environments such as bufalaga, lemon, sea fennel, sea marigold (maritime armeria), etc.

 

4. THE GNEISS OF EL PORT DE LA SELVA

We must cross the town and head to its northern end towards El Pas, Clisques and Violetes beaches, formed as a result of the exploitation of gneiss quarries. The gneiss of El Port de la Selva is characterized by its fine grain, greyish color and uniform appearance. It is a very compact rock that presents abundant microplexes that show a certain plasticity in its formation. Wind erosion and health conditions mean that in some areas these gneiss have holes.

4.1 EL PAS: El Pas is a cove of rounded pebbles resulting from the erosive action of the wind and waves. As mentioned above, this area has been modified by humans. Around this beach, an open-pit quarry was exploited from which marble and schist were extracted.

4.2 VIOLETES AND CLISQUES: These are ideal beaches to contemplate the modeling of schists, which have been caused by erosion processes. If we carefully observe the rocks that make up the beach, we will realize that they are full of shapes:

- Tafoni: Metric cavities developed in vertical or moderately inclined walls of unaltered rock.

- Alveoli and honeycombs: Cavities similar to the tafoni but with centimetric measurements. When the alveoli are very numerous and close together, they are called honeycombs.

- Microprotuberances: Small protuberances and cavities developed by the differential weathering of rock crystals.

- Ribs: Elongated centimetric projections that are formed by differential weathering of the existing seams.

We will have to follow the itinerary along the road, which borders the coast and leaves the beaches below.

 

5. PUNTA DE LA CREU

Following the path along the seashore we will arrive at Punta de la Creu, where there is another outcrop of pegmatite that has a certain symmetry with that of s'Aranella. Here and below the road, the characteristics of the shale are seen in detail. In this area the first seams of pegmatites (orange or light-colored rocks that contrast with the black color of the schists) appear, which have their mineralogy and the arrangements in the form of folded discs that accompanied the magmatism that gave rise to the pegmatites.

 

6. CALA TAMARIUA AND THE QUARRY

From the road we will follow the street that goes up to the right. We will walk 700m until we reach the end point. Once we have gone around the mountain, on our left we will have a beautiful view of the Tamariua beach and its valley, where there is another old gneiss quarry that for a few years supplied cobblestones to pave the streets of Barcelona. In this area of ​​Tamariua we also observed some pegmatite seams enclasped in the middle of the schists.

Additional information