Brachiopoda Kingena

Schwaney Quarry Panoramic

Reconnaissance into Schwaney Quarry

Shown below are some of the more exemplary specimens found during our first fossil hunt in Schwaney Quarry.

The fossils are good markers of the age of the limestone formation which is Late Cretaceous, There were several different clear strata in the rock face with several faults within this relatively small exposure.

The face of the exposure is very unstable and anybody venturing here would do well to pay close attention when gathering close to the walls.

Collage of specimens as they were extracted from the rock.

Terebratulidae Dallinidae, kingena

Terebratulidae Dallinidae, kingena

Terebratulidae Dallinidae, kingena

This kingena sample is my particular favourite, I intend on having it cut in half to examine the inside as it seems to be a complete specimen and has crystallized on the inside.

Arcoida Glycymerididae, glycymeris

Arcoida Glycymerididae, glycymeris

Arcoida Glycymerididae, glycymeris

Terebratulidae Dallinidae, kingena 

Ammonitida Acanthoceridae, mantelliceras saxbii

Ammonitida Acanthoceridae, mantelliceras saxbii

Greywacke, Arkose & Mudstone, Externstein. Germany

I found these rock samples whilst walking around the Externstein park, NRW, Germany. They were deposited on the footpaths so I assume they were transported here through erosion, I should try and identify the source the next time I am there.

They required no hammering except to gain a fresh surface to examine.

Greywacke

• Coarse-fine Quartz, Fedspar and dark coloured mafic minerals
• Seem to result from a rapid deposition in a turbulent marine environment.

Arkose

• Quartz. Feldspar (Mica)
• Coarse Sandstone made from the sediment of a granite structure
• Indicative of a rapid uplift, matches geological occurrences in the area.

Mudstone

• Contains clays, quartz and sometimes calcite
• Clay or silt sized particles are lithified rather than laminated
• Marine or Glacial sediment, both of which fit for the locale

Limestone & Calcite in 1!

Here is a limestone rock I picked up whilst walking through the forest above the Bielefeld Tier park in Germany. The fact that it is largely limestone shows that this area when it was submerged in the shallow sea had an abundance of life.

Interesting to note the mineralised calcite on the surface fig 1 This rock differs from what is found further south down Teutoburg ridge which is predominantly Sandstone. The rock formations in this area were uplifted during the Late Cretaceous (~90 Ma) this tectonic movement was an effect of the continents of Africa and Europe colliding, placing horizontal pressure on the European continent. The same Oregonian event created the Alps in southern Germany.

More info can be found here at the Geographical Commission for Westphalia: 

WESTPHALIA IN THE UNDERGROUND: TECTONIC UNITS

fig1

fig2

Paderborn Dom Paleogeology

Rochelle and I were walking through Paderborn on a nice Sunday stroll when I decide to have a closer look at the Sandstone used to build our cathedral when to our surprised we found fossils embedded in the wall!

We quickly started to take some photos of what we assumed were shells of  Brachiopoda fig1 and 

coral's fig 2

If anybody has any better clues then please do post below, I have also posted the location where you can view these yourselves the next time you are in town.

fig 1 (Brachiopod Shell)

fig 1 (Brachipod Shell Closeup)

fig 2 (Coral)

fig 2 (Coral & Shell)

Location of the fossils

Externstein Rock Exposure

Below is a Sandstone exposure which is part of the Externestein rock formation, this particular exposure is ~300m to the west of the main monument, it was formed as part of the regional uplift which happened ~90ma ago. 

(Open in new tab to enlarge)

More info at this link (German)

Here is a piece sandstone gathered from the right of the formation. 

Notice the minute stratification at a,b & d and especially where it has broken along the line a.

Also worth noticing is the red colouration in the middle of the rock, this is indicative of a high iron content when the sediment was laid.

(Open in new tab to enlarge)

This sandstone bed was in fact a shallow sea floor (Westfalen Bay) prior to it being uplifted, the Externsteine formation was pivoted on an axis, subsequent glaciation & weathering has led to create the distinctive exposures we see today