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Natural Monuments

Posidonia Shale Quarry (Geological Natural Monument)

Natural Monuments

Posidonia Shale Quarry (Geological Natural Monument)

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Posidonia Shale Quarry (Geological Natural Monument)

Recommended by 85 hikers out of 95

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Location: Wittelshofen, Landkreis Ansbach, Middle Franconia, Bavaria, Germany

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Best Hikes to Posidonia Shale Quarry (Geological Natural Monument)

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1. Orchards, meadows and summit panoramas on the Hesselberg | Tour 209

12.8km

03:39

280m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.9

(99)

410

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2. Hesselberg Summit – Southern Ridge Trail loop from Untermichelbach

10.8km

03:15

350m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.7

(29)

128

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3. View from Hesselberg – Hesselberg Summit loop from Röckingen

19.7km

05:48

540m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Tips

Grimmi

September 20, 2020

This is the start of the geological educational and hiking trail. Parking is readily available.

Translated by Google •

Martin

July 26, 2021

Wittelshofen Slate Quarry
The hiking parking lot in Wittelshofen and the start of the geological educational and hiking trail is a former slate quarry!
The slate quarry is designated a natural monument!
There are tables and benches for resting, as well as an information board at the parking lot.
hesselberg-panorama.de/geologischer-lehr-und-wanderpfad.html

Other quarries on the Hesselberg:
Stone was quarried in many places on the Hesselberg, three more of which are still clearly visible today.

Röckinger Quarry
...The Röckinger Quarry is located on the hiking trail from the parking lot on Lindenallee towards the EBZ (Evangelical Education Center), about halfway along the trail. This was formerly circular hiking trail 12.

Summit Quarry
...The summit quarry is located west of the TV tower and west of, and slightly below, the summit cross on the "Hesselberg Path" hiking trail and is the high point of the geological educational and hiking trail.

Osterwiese Quarry
...The Osterwiese Quarry is located on the southern slope below Osterwiese. Near the "Wolfsblüte" viewpoint, thick bolts from a cable car can still be found in the area. These bear witness to earlier mining activities. The quarry is still clearly visible today as a gravel-covered mountain cut.

Translated by Google •

🚲CyklistCR🚲

December 19, 2023

The Posidonia Slate Mine is located on the western edge of the Hesselberg,
the highest mountain in Middle Franconia.

The Hesselberg formed approximately 200 million years ago as an inselberg in the Jurassic Sea. It consists of three main geological layers: black, brown, and white Jurassic, with intercalated oil shale.

This slate mine is a "geological natural monument" and part of the "Hesselberg Geological Trail."

The Posidonia Slate, also known as oil shale,
formed in the shallow marginal zone of the Jurassic Sea during the Mesozoic Era.

The dead organic material trickled down and, together with other substances, formed a sludge. Due to the lack of oxygen, this sludge developed into oil shale over long periods of time.

The oil shale is known for its outstanding fossil preservation. Due to the low-oxygen and partially anoxic, so-called euxinic, environment at the time of deposition, very well-preserved crinoids, ammonites, fish, and ichthyosaurs have been found.

geocaching.com/geocache/GC2E8H5_posidonienschiefergrube

Translated by Google •

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Informations

Elevation 460 m

Weather

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Saturday 25 October

10°C

7°C

70 %

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Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h

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Location: Wittelshofen, Landkreis Ansbach, Middle Franconia, Bavaria, Germany

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Posidonia Shale Quarry (Geological Natural Monument)

1. Orchards, meadows and summit panoramas on the Hesselberg | Tour 209

2. Hesselberg Summit – Southern Ridge Trail loop from Untermichelbach

3. View from Hesselberg – Hesselberg Summit loop from Röckingen

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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