The Kalkberg is made up largely of gypsum (calcium sulphate) and comes from sediments that were deposited there around 250 million years ago by the Zechstein Sea. More recently (in geological terms), smaller disturbances have allowed the less dense Zechstein salts to flow together and force their way upwards into the younger, overlying rocks. Today these salts are near the Earth's surface. Through this process, the more geologically-recent layers of rock around the rising mass of salt were deformed, shattered, and lifted; the initially horizontally-lying layers of salt were tilted and folded as they were rose upwards. Near the surface, the resulting salt dome was leached by groundwater, so that only the less readily-soluble elements remained behind, such as carbonates and sulphates. These are the compounds that make up the Kalkberg today, and can also be seen to protrude through the surface around Lüneburg.
Today, the rock walls only have very sparse vegetation, attracting animals and plants typical of dry grassland habitats. On an area of 3.6 hectares (8.9 acres), one can find over 180 species of flowering plants, including several warmth-, light-, and chalk-loving types that otherwise grow only in south-central Europe. Several small caves are inhabited by bats.
The bulk of the Kalkberg has been quarried away over the centuries in order to use the gypsum as a building material. The former quarry is still recognizable from its steep, rugged walls. As a result of the depletion of the salt deposits and the increasing anhydrite content of the gypsum, the quarry was closed in 1923. Of particular geological interest are deposits of boracite and lüneburgite.[2] Other minerals present include anhydrite, calcite, gypsum, halite, hematite, hydroglauberite, jarosite, kalistronite, lepidocrocite, pyrite, quartz, sylvite, syngenite and thenardite.
The Kalkberg still has a height of 56.3 m above sea level. Originally it was about 80 m high. The Lüneburg surveyor Eduard Schlöbcke helped turn the Kalkberg into one of the first German nature reserves in 1932.
Sourcesedit
Eduard Schlöbcke: Der Kalkbergführer. 1000 Jahre Kalkberg und Gipsbruch in Lüneburg. Lüneburg 1928
Gerhard Stein: Der Lüneburger Kalkberg im Wandel der Zeiten. in: Jahrbuch Naturwiss. Verein Fürstentum Lüneburg, Bd. 39, 247-258, Lüneburg 1992
Erhard Poßin: Der Kalkberg, Bd. 4 der Lüneburger Hefte Hrsg.: Backsteinprojekt e.V., Lüneburg, 2008
Referencesedit
^"Der Kalkberg in Lüneburg" (in German). 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
^"Luneburgite Mineral Information". Retrieved 18 July 2011.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lüneburger Kalkberg.
lüneburg, kalkberg, confused, with, segeberger, kalkberg, rock, salt, dome, western, part, german, town, lüneburg, kalkberg, gypsum, mine, during, middle, ages, today, naturschutzgebiet, nature, reserve, common, meeting, place, city, residents, from, south, co. The Luneburg Kalkberg not to be confused with the Segeberger Kalkberg is the cap rock of a salt dome in the western part of the German town of Luneburg The Kalkberg was a gypsum mine during the Middle Ages but is today a Naturschutzgebiet nature reserve and a common meeting place for city residents Luneburg Kalkberg from the south Contents 1 Composition and geology 2 History 3 Sources 4 References 5 External linksComposition and geology edit nbsp View from the Luneburg Kalkberg at sunsetThe Kalkberg is made up largely of gypsum calcium sulphate and comes from sediments that were deposited there around 250 million years ago by the Zechstein Sea More recently in geological terms smaller disturbances have allowed the less dense Zechstein salts to flow together and force their way upwards into the younger overlying rocks Today these salts are near the Earth s surface Through this process the more geologically recent layers of rock around the rising mass of salt were deformed shattered and lifted the initially horizontally lying layers of salt were tilted and folded as they were rose upwards Near the surface the resulting salt dome was leached by groundwater so that only the less readily soluble elements remained behind such as carbonates and sulphates These are the compounds that make up the Kalkberg today and can also be seen to protrude through the surface around Luneburg Today the rock walls only have very sparse vegetation attracting animals and plants typical of dry grassland habitats On an area of 3 6 hectares 8 9 acres one can find over 180 species of flowering plants including several warmth light and chalk loving types that otherwise grow only in south central Europe Several small caves are inhabited by bats History editUntil February 1371 a castle stood on top of the Kalkberg from where the Principality of Luneburg Brunswick was governed 1 During the Luneburg War of Succession the castle on the Kalkberg was destroyed along with the nearby monastery The bulk of the Kalkberg has been quarried away over the centuries in order to use the gypsum as a building material The former quarry is still recognizable from its steep rugged walls As a result of the depletion of the salt deposits and the increasing anhydrite content of the gypsum the quarry was closed in 1923 Of particular geological interest are deposits of boracite and luneburgite 2 Other minerals present include anhydrite calcite gypsum halite hematite hydroglauberite jarosite kalistronite lepidocrocite pyrite quartz sylvite syngenite and thenardite The Kalkberg still has a height of 56 3 m above sea level Originally it was about 80 m high The Luneburg surveyor Eduard Schlobcke helped turn the Kalkberg into one of the first German nature reserves in 1932 Sources editEduard Schlobcke Der Kalkbergfuhrer 1000 Jahre Kalkberg und Gipsbruch in Luneburg Luneburg 1928 Gerhard Stein Der Luneburger Kalkberg im Wandel der Zeiten in Jahrbuch Naturwiss Verein Furstentum Luneburg Bd 39 247 258 Luneburg 1992 Erhard Possin Der Kalkberg Bd 4 der Luneburger Hefte Hrsg Backsteinprojekt e V Luneburg 2008References edit Der Kalkberg in Luneburg in German 2009 Retrieved 18 July 2011 Luneburgite Mineral Information Retrieved 18 July 2011 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Luneburger Kalkberg Naturschutzgebiet Kalkberg 53 14 58 00 N 10 23 47 00 E 53 2494444 N 10 3963889 E 53 2494444 10 3963889 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Luneburg Kalkberg amp oldid 1216002844, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
