中央山脈地區佔了台灣一半以上的面積，而這個台灣的脊樑基本上是由變質岩所構成，包括板岩、片岩、片麻岩等；它們曾位於地下數十公里深處，受到板塊碰撞而抬升成山。過程中承受了地下深處的高溫及高壓，岩石發生變質作用，並伴隨強烈而複雜的塑形及脆性變形，造成了奇形怪狀的石頭，包括有經濟價值的礦石及美麗的寶石等。雖然變質岩不是安朔葉教授的主要研究範疇，但是神秘的中央山脈，卻也是他屢屢造訪、一直嘗試探索其奧祕的區域。1986、87年，兩度分別走過中橫、南橫等跨越中央山脈後，在90年代更是數次拜訪中央山脈不同的地點，例如三地門、壽豐、玉里、太麻里等。也對蛇紋岩的變形作用特別有興趣，數次在玉里、萬榮、瑞穗、豐田等礦場從事地質調查。很可惜的是安教授多年來在中央山脈的地質工作成果，一直沒能正式發表，不若花東縱谷及西部麓山帶前陸盆地，甚至澎湖等地的成果蜚聲國際；這也許是他感到有些遺憾的地方也說不定。

The Central Range covers more than half of the surface area of Taiwan, which is essentially composed of metamorphic rocks including slate, schist, and gneissic granite; they were once buried at great depth of a few tens of km and subsequently were uplifted due to plate collision. These rocks have been highly metamorphosed and strongly deformed with strange shapes that contain precious gem quality stones and economic mineral deposits. Although the metamorphic rock is not a major research topic of Professor Angelier, he has frequently visited the mysterious Central Range to probe the unknown region. In 1986 and 1987 he has twice visited the Central and Southern Cross Island Highway and in the 90s, he has also paid several visits to the Central Range at different locations such as the Santimen, the Shuifeng, the Yuli, the Taimali etc. He has also special interest on the deformation of the serpentinite, and has visited the Wenyuan, the Juisui, and the Fungtien mines several times to do geological studies. However, unlike the other parts of Taiwan such as the Huatung Longitudinal Valley, the western Foothill of the foreland basin, and the Pinghu area, Professor Angelier has not yet published his research on the Central Range. It may well be his regret.