ABSTRACT
This region, located in north-eastern Italy, is considered almost entirely mountainous. It is therefore a region in which it is possible to obtain a large amount of both igneous and sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
Among the igneous rocks are Porfido Trentino and Predazzo: the first one, a rhyodacite pertaining to a thick series of Permian vulcanites; the second one, a granite with alkaline feldspars pertaining to the intrusive body of Predazzo. Thanks to its mechanical features, Porfido has always been used for road paving, while Predazzo has been used in architecture since the late 19th century.
Two other rocks are used as building stones: Rosso di Trento and Giallo di Mori, both chemical sedimentary (nodular limestone) of the Mesozoic and employed as block, slab and for decorative purposes.
Finally, the white marble of Lasa concludes the list of stones of this region, a regional metamorphic rock of the Austro-Alpine system (Pre-Permian metamorphic basement); sometimes groups of little elongated black spots with shaded rims are present, and an appropriate cut may produce a particular graphic effect (called “Fantastico Lasa”).
