Factors Controlling the Extent of Contact Metamorphic Aureoles as Deduced by Field Evidence in the Western Alps

The shallow Biella and Traversella late-orogenic plutons are intruded in the Sesia Lanzo Zone(SLZ) the innermost structural element of the Western Alpine arc,a continental unit that records a pervasive metamorphic imprint related to the Alpine subduction. The country rocks consist of metapelites with minor metagranitoids,meta-aplites,metabasites and marbles. The pre-intrusive pervasive metamorphic imprint developed under eclogite facies conditions. The ductile syn-metamorphic deformation history