Molana Quarry
The Dark Memory of the Earth
There is a place in the upper Val Graveglia where rock tells the story of time in a silent voice. It is the former “Bresa” quarry, known locally as Cava Molana, a small extraction site opened within the basalt formation near Pontelagoscuro. Here, the mountain reveals itself in its most authentic form, unveiling a fragment of geological history rooted in distant eras.
Lava Pillows Born from the Sea
The uniqueness of this quarry lies not in its size, but in its extraordinary rock face. Along its dark walls emerge the characteristic “pillow” structures: rounded, overlapping forms created by the rapid cooling of basaltic lava in an underwater environment. Millions of years ago, incandescent lava flowed into the sea, solidifying instantly upon contact with water and forming these fascinating globular shapes. Today, that process remains clearly visible in the stone, like an open page from an ancient natural book.
From Quarry to Open-Air Classroom
In recent years, Cava Molana has returned to the spotlight thanks to an environmental restoration project. The initiative does not merely aim to heal the scars left by quarrying activities, but also looks toward the future: part of the basalt pillow rock face is set to be preserved for educational purposes. This thoughtful intervention transforms a former extraction site into a place of learning, where students, enthusiasts, and visitors can closely observe tangible traces of the area’s geological evolution.
A Bridge Between Past and Future
What was once a quarry now becomes a bridge between past and future: a memory of the Earth and a place of discovery, capable of telling the story of the primordial forces of fire and water that together shaped the landscape of Val Graveglia.
Sources
Geoportale Regione Liguria_Geositi
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