Kallmünzer (geology)

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Zyprianstein (largest Kallmünzer in Germany)

As Kallmünzer silicified be sandstones referred that during the regression of the Upper Cretaceous sea caused by failing weathering solutions. The sandstone blocks that stand out from the rest of the area and are scattered around are called Kallmünzer. They did not get their name, as often wrongly assumed, from the type locality near the town of Kallmünz . The word Kallmünzer has only been used in its current form since the mid-1960s. The origins of the word are “Kalminzer”, “Kulmitzer” or “Kalmünzer”. Like the word Kulm, these words are of Slavic origin. These words were incorrectly used for basalt in the early 19th century . It was not until the middle of the 19th century that the name Kallmünzer came into use in its current form. The stones are also called tertiary quartzite , chalk quartzite or Cyclops stones .

The 70 to 80 million year old witnesses to the development of the landscape are now scattered as boulders in the woods and fields.

Typical deepening

Because of their channels and bowl-like depressions, the iron-hard blocks are associated with prehistoric cult sites. They are also popularly called devil, witch or sacrificial stones.

In contrast to dolomite blocks , these hard, quartzitic sandstones have sharp edges, smooth sides and little vegetation. Depending on the limonite content , their color can vary from whitish-yellow to rust-brown. In places there is also iron-rich banding. Because of their hardness, they sound when you hit it; the break is angular and rough.

distribution

Remnants of the former sand cover can be found in the Veldenstein Forest and on the Alb plateau . Many of these Kallmünzers are designated as geotopes and natural monuments . See also the list of geotopes in the district of Bayreuth and the list of geotopes in the district of Amberg-Sulzbach . Probably the largest cyprian stone, weighing around 100 tons and measuring 16 m in circumference, is located near Rinnenbrunn .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The history of the development of the Franconian Alb in the Jura (accessed on January 31, 2015)
  2. ↑ Catalog of the German National Library (accessed on January 31, 2015)
  3. ↑ Geotope: Kallmünzerfeld am Steinberg near Rinnenbrunn (accessed on February 15, 2015)

Web links