Geopark LM 3 Englisch 2007.indd - Geopark Harz

The undercut river bank of the
Innerste River reveals the series of
strata. The Cretaceous profile begins
with the Hils Sandstone of the Lower
Cretaceous, which lies here discordant
on Upper Jurassic clays. After
that, shallow strata of Minimus Clay
and gravely, greyish-yellow speckled
Flammenmergel follow. Following
these are limestones of the Lower Kanstein
Muschelkalk, which in turn are followed
by Rotpläner and Turon limestones as well as Coniac
beds. These were quarried in a large quarry to the right of the
road, the Langelsheim Quarry of the Rohstoffbetriebe Oker
GmbH & Co. If the strata have been steep to overtilted up to
here, now the transition to nearly flat layering can be seen in
the profile. Searching for fossils in the Kanstein quarry is worthwhile.
It also offers a view of the fissuring and faulting
system in the rocks of the area. Along the tectonic structures,
movement of larger rock bodies occurred, and, intensified by
the influence of tectonic caves, caused rockfall and continuing
danger of landslides, making the relocation of the county road
neces–sary. At the top of the Kanstein the remains of a
Carolingian fortress were found.
Lutter Basin 12
Back in Langelsheim, we continue
our drive in the direction of Seesen
and soon reach the Lutter Basin.
Framing this are, in the east, ranges
of hills consisting predominately
of Hils Sandstone, which in
this area is particularly firmly formed
and was formerly quarried
extensively near Ostlutter. The Lutter Basin
church in Lutter is an outstanding
example of the local stonemasons’ craftsmanship. The forested
ridge on the western edge of the Lutter Saddle consists,
in contrast, of the hard limestone of the Lower Muschelkalk.
To the south the Harz Palaeozoic closes the Lutter Basin. Here
the Harznordrand Thrust runs out within a short distance.
Lutter became known through the Battle of Lutter on
Barenberg which took place here in 1626. The imperial-ligistic
troups under TILLY so completely defeated the army of the
Danish King CHRISTIAN IV that they had to retreat to Holstein.
Unsuccessful endeavours
Kupferschiefer mining near
Neuekrug-Hahausen
13
Near Hahausen we leave the B 82
and drive along the B 248 in the
direction of Seesen to the car park
between Neuekrug and the junction
with the county road to
Bornhausen. We walk back along
the bicycle path adjacent the road
for 700 m, then left along the
asphalt agricultural access road,
Colliery spoils near Neuekrug