𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐫
From a geological point of view, the »Steinernes Meer« is a heap of scree made from weathered material from the Weiselberg. From a geological point of view, this sea of rocks at the foot of the mountain is a work of the Ice Age. The last ice age only ended around 10,000 years ago. Magma rising underground got stuck under the earth's surface and solidified into mostly pentagonal column formations, quite typical of slowly cooling basalt rock. Over the course of millions of years, the surrounding softer sedimentary rock was removed by erosion. In geology, the very hard rock, which shines deep black when cut and is reminiscent of a starry sky with its bright feldspar particles, has been given the name »Weiselbergite«. The frost change climate during this geological epoch caused extreme weathering and erosion processes that were able to separate the blocks and columns weighing several tons from the rock structure. Not least because of the extreme daily temperature fluctuations, the steep southern slope of the Weiselberg with the typical vertical basalt columns offered the best conditions for the formation of the Felsenmeer. The boulders collected on the mountainside and have since been exposed to weathering. Covered with mosses, the »Steinernes Meer« repeatedly gave rise to eerie legends: Whether wild cyclopes played with it or the remains of an enchanted castle are left to the imagination of the observer. The Romans were already digging for agates on the surface of the Weiselberg. From the 15th century, when only little was to be found above ground and a veritable agate boom began, the agate seekers went deep. Some tunnels buried today bear witness to this. After the war there were concrete considerations to dismantle the Weiselberg as a quarry. This was prevented by the designation as a nature reserve in October 1950. In earlier times, the minerals of this region such as agate, chalcedony, jasper and petrified wood were processed in the gemstone metropolis of Idar-Oberstein. 3000 of these precious stones can be viewed in the Mineralogical Museum in the old school in Oberkirchen (0 68 55/332) and in the Mineral Museum (2000 exhibits) in Freisen (0 68 55/13 25). In the Gemstone Dorado in Freisen, treasure hunters can search for gemstones themselves. (0 68 55/1849 31) Source: Text information board