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Post by paleoflor on Feb 15, 2011 17:35:58 GMT -5
Steinhardt near Sobernheim (Germany) is known for its barite concretions, referred to as ‘Steinhardt peas’. These rocks contain plants of Oligocene (Rupelian, Unter Meeresand) age. During middle Oligocene times, the Mediterranean and North Sea were connected, and the Steinhardt area formed a subtropical coastal milieu at the edge of the Mainz basin. It is very difficult to find literature on this specific locality. Therefore, any additional information or comments on the Steinhardt quarry are more than welcome! Attachments:
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Post by paleoflor on Feb 15, 2011 17:36:49 GMT -5
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Post by paleoflor on Feb 15, 2011 17:37:40 GMT -5
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Post by paleoflor on Feb 15, 2011 17:38:28 GMT -5
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Post by paleoflor on Feb 15, 2011 17:39:05 GMT -5
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Post by paleoflor on Feb 15, 2011 17:40:02 GMT -5
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Post by hallucygenia on Feb 18, 2011 7:29:21 GMT -5
Interesting! I haven't heard of this deposit before. How are the plants preserved within the nodules - are they replaced by minerals, or is the original carbon still there?
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Post by paleoflor on Feb 19, 2011 6:53:58 GMT -5
Generally, the original plant tissue is (almost?) completely replaced by barite. Leafs are imprints. I found some interesting German texts on the locality yesterday, when I have had the time to translate them I will probably have more detailed information...
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Post by paleoflor on Mar 4, 2011 13:45:08 GMT -5
Haven't found much more on the taphonomy of the pine cones, but this might be fun to share:
The occurrence of the strange concretions in the fields around Steinhardt led to a fantastic local story. My translation from German to English might contain some errors, but I think it goes more-or-less like this: according to the Legend of the Steinhardter Erbsen, a very rich but cold-hearted farmer lived in the village of Steinhardt a long time ago. In the spring he went out onto his fields to sow peas. When he was almost done with planting, a poor old man came to him. The elderly fellow greets the rich farmer and asked politely for just enough peas so he and his family could eat soup that evening. In response, the rich farmer sneered he would rather see all his peas turn to stone before he would give only a handful and rudely dismissed the begging old man. Deeply grieved, the old man turned away and left. Swearing about the improper request just asked to him, the rich farmer continued sowing peas. However, while the number of peas in the sack on the rich farmer’s back should be decreasing, the sack became heavier and heavier. Then he noticed with dismay that the peas had been transformed into round stones. Not only had the peas in the sack on his back, but also those already sowed. Even today one can still find those strange rock formations in the fields and vineyards around Steinhardt…
Haha, I love it!
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