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