Journey back 300 million years. Here at Spuren der Eiszeit am Piesberg, we are standing on the oldest rock in the UNESCO Geopark TERRA.vita. This isn’t just any hill. The Spuren der Eiszeit am Piesberg reveals a dramatic story etched in stone.
Welcome to the Spuren der Eiszeit am Piesberg. It is a place where the earth’s history is written in the rocks all around us. This landscape tells a tale of geological forces and ancient life.
The Spuren der Eiszeit am Piesberg began its formation roughly 70 million years ago. An underground volcano tried to push its way to the surface. It never erupted. Instead, it created the berg.
Mining reveals the Spuren der Eiszeit am Piesberg’s secrets. Since the Middle Ages, the Piesberg has been hollowed out. It is like a tooth due to intensive mining. It became one of Europe’s largest quarries because of constant quartzite sandstone extraction.
The Spuren der Eiszeit am Piesberg also holds secrets from the Carboniferous period. This area along with Schafberg and Hüggel shows the northernmost coal-bearing Upper Carboniferous in Germany. Over 70% of these sediments are sandstone and conglomerates.
Imagine a braided river system. It flowed north and west. Plant material accumulated in the floodplain. These became coal seams. The Spuren der Eiszeit am Piesberg’s sandstones were heated. This made the coal become anthracite.
The mining history of the Spuren der Eiszeit am Piesberg stretches back to the Stone Age. From the 15th century, miners extracted coal. Large-scale quarrying of sandstone began in 1859. The quarry became one of the largest in Central Europe.
Deep mining exposed coal seams. Spruce wood support pillars are still visible in the quarry walls. Today, sandstone and claystone are still mined. The usable rock volume should last another 15 to 20 years. After that, the quarry will become a protected geological site.
The 8 km Piesberg circular route provides views into the quarry. TERRA.vita experience stations share info about geology and mining. Visit the Hase shaft building. It now houses a museum of industrial culture. A mine tunnel extends 280 m. It goes to a depth of 30 m.
The Spuren der Eiszeit am Piesberg is a paleontological treasure. Its sediments contain plant and arthropod fossils. About 55 plant species and 25 insect species have been found. Many were first described here.
Upright tree trunks with roots have been found. The Museum am Schölerberg displays a Sigillaria root system. The Piesberg shales preserve complete plants. These include leaves, branches, trunks, and roots. Insect fossils help us understand the evolution of flying insects. Some insects are named after the Piesberg. Examples include Piesbergtupus hielscheri and Erasipterella piesbegensis. The shales also preserve spiders, scorpions, crabs, and shark egg capsules.
As you explore the Spuren der Eiszeit am Piesberg, remember its long history. The Spuren der Eiszeit am Piesberg has been a mine. It has geological significance and unique habitats. The Spuren der Eiszeit am Piesberg is a place where the past comes alive.