Alpine gneiss with crustose lichens and iron oxidation
The gneiss surface is covered by extensive colonies of crustose lichens, growing along the rock's irregularities and the subtle discontinuities of its metamorphic structure. Pale tones blend with rust-red, violet and grey hues, created by different lichen species together with the oxidation of iron-bearing minerals.
Over time, slow biological colonization and surface weathering have transformed the rock into a natural composition rich in texture and depth, where each colour records a different stage of its evolution.
The Al Legn area belongs to the crystalline Gotthard Massif, composed predominantly of gneiss formed during the Alpine orogeny. Exposed to the elements for thousands of years, these rocks provide an ideal substrate for lichens, among the first organisms capable of colonizing bare mineral surfaces.
Their extremely slow growth accompanies the gradual alteration of the stone, transforming geology into a surface where time leaves visible traces.
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