Adventure Geotope Lindle

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National Geopark Ries

Adventure Geotope Lindle

Geopark Ries Nature Trail

Nature trail

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Geopark Ries Nature Trail

The National Geopark Ries opened its first adventure geotope with nature trail at the “Lindle” near Holheim. The former limestone quarry is a very imposing, publicly accessible exposure in the Geopark Ries. Along the nature-trail loop with a total of 13 info-panels, the visitor gets a look into the megablock zone and tectonic processes of the impact event, the special geology of the Ries and the resulting natural and landscape features.

Many geological phenomena can be observed here, up close and in person.

Adventure Geotope Lindle

Longer loop trail:

about 3.3 km

Walking time:

1-2 hours

Large boards, called info- panels (in the map - ), explain interesting facts about the Geopark Ries.

A brief summary of the contents is provided on the following pages.

In addition, signs along the way point to side trips and scenic outlooks:

These signs show the path of the Geopark Ries Nature Trail.

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Vervielfältigung nur als PDF oder in analoger Form für den eigenen Gebrauch 0100200300400500 (m)

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Vervielfältigung nur als PDF oder in analoger Form für den eigenen Gebrauch

Lachberg

Holheim

Shepherd‘s Way B 466

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Shorter loop trail:

about 1.8 km

Aussichtsplattform, 400 m

Erlebnis-Geotop Lindle

Aussichtspunkt am Lehrpfad ErLEbnis-GEotop LindLE

Viewpoint 1 13

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ADVENTURE GEOTOPE LINDLE

Geopark Nature Trail with 13 info-panels and 7 scenic outlooks

View from a scenic-outlook platform of the Adventure Geotope Lindle

The Geopark Ries designated its first geotope nature trail—

here in Lindle—in summer 2012, following the success of its thematic hiking trails the Shepherd’s Way and 7-Hills Trail. Lindle’s 3.3-km-long loop trail is signposted with

“Erlebnis-Geotope Lindle”

directional signs. Thirteen info- panels (of various sizes) describe geological, natural and settlement-history features and relate exciting stories. Seven locations offer scenic vantage points with sensational views into the Ries and to the crater rim, weather permitting.

As an alternative, a shorter loop trail of 1.8 km is also marked but omits some info-panels and vantage points. The nature trail runs on gravel and natural paths in the quarry, woods and mea- dows. There are some slightly uphill sections. Thus it is not suitable for baby strollers and wheelchairs, and sturdy shoes are recommended.

The Geopark Nature Trail in Ad- venture Geotope Lindle can be explored on your own or with a guided tour (further information is available at www.geopark- ries.de). Groups may book a tour of Lindle with certified Geopark Ries tour guides at any time.

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The area belongs to the United Charities Foundations of Nördlingen administered by the City of Nördlingen. It served as a quarry for over 70 years. For over 30 years, up to the mid-1990s, the Arlt company extracted mainly limestone for road building. The area is located in a protected area designated “Dry grassland network on the edge of the Nördlinger Ries” FFH (Flora-Fauna-Habitat). Because of nature preservation measures, the former quarry could not be filled in after excavation ceased. An additional requirement calls for the area to remain open. Goats help to remove continuously growing shrubbery and thereby reduce maintenance costs. In this way, the quarry walls remain free of vegetation. The

elaborate concept to maintain the quarry walls, the appreciation of habitats as well as the alignment of guided trails and designation of protected zones has resulted in the establishment of an explorative and educational site in an environmentally sensitive and valuable area.

FROM QUARRY TO GEOTOPE

Valuable habitat for plants and animals

Primary and secondary crushing plant with dust extraction, intermediate screening, silo and loading facilities

Loading raw material for transport to the primary crusher 1

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The site of the former Lindle quarry is now a four-hectare-large geotope and biotope. Because quarries are very valuable living spaces and refuges for many endangered species whose original habitat has been and is extensively destroyed by man, Lindle is specially protected as a very valuable biotope. A broad spectrum of habitats result from the typically variable conditions of the rock underground—from extremely dry and rocky to deep, damp ground.

In addition, the visible rock formations of the large cliff-like exposures illustrate many effects of the meteorite impact. Geotope Lindle truly is a “window into the Earth.”

The National Geopark Ries developed its first Adventure Geotope with Nature Trail in the former quarry Lindle near Holheim.

Geotopes (Greek: géo “Earth” and tópos “site”) are geolog- ical formations of inanimate nature that convey knowledge of the development of the Earth. Also called geosites, they include exposures of stone, soils, minerals and fossils as well as individual natural creations and nature landscape components.

A biotope (Greek: bio “life” and tópos “site”) is the habitat of a biocoenosis—an ecological community living in an area.

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**UPPER-JURASSIC LIMESTONE* AND BUNTE BRECCIA**

The former quarry—a view of intense disruption Lindle is located inside the

southwestern crater rim, in the megablock zone, a belt formed after the actual impact and characterized by large blocks of rock (Schollen). The geotope and its surroundings encompass one of the blocks that slid into the crater just to a small degree (parautochthonous = slightly displaced). The exposed rock consists of Jurassic thick-bed ded limestone, locally perme- ated with abundant flint nodules, intermeshed with massive limestone, originally the result of former glass-sponge reefs. Part of the area is covered by a layer of Bunte Breccia.

*Upper Jurassic = formerly White Jurassic = German Weißjura

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The geological map shows the juxtaposition of intensively shattered rock

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a ,,f ,L lol Sv

ki1 ox d al2 al1 I kmF RIS

Anthropogenic (man-made) fill Recent valley filling Loamy coverage, e.g., weathered Bunte Breccia Loess loam/clay, silt

Ries-Lake limestone and dolomite (post-Ries) Suevite, impact breccia, mostly crystalline, containing glass (Ries event)

Bunte Breccia, mostly sedimentary components (Ries event), a) with high amount of Upper-Jurassic limestone Massive limestone, a) partly heavily shattered, b) massive limestone with transitions to layered limestone, partially with flinty nodules (Upper Jurassic, formerly Middle to Upper Malm) Layered limestone /

marl interbedding (Upper Jurassic) Lime marl (Lower Upper Jurassic) Brown, sandy clay (Middle Jurassic, formerly Dogger)

Iron sandstone (Lower Middle Jurassic, formerly Lower Dogger)

Black-gray clay-marl, Opalinus clay (Lower Middle Jurassic)

Black clays (Lower Jurassic, formerly Lias)

Feuerletten (Trossingen Formation), dark-red claystone (Middle Upper Triassic, formerly Middle Keuper)

Disturbance: a) proven, b) probable a) b)

ki2-ti1 ,Xba)

b

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“STEEL OF THE STONE AGES”

Feuerstein was turned into tools

A geologist’s hammer is the most suitable tool to use to strike smaller pieces out of rock.

The rock can then be unequivo- cally identified—from how it felt to strike the rock, the appear- ance of fractured surfaces, and analysis in the laboratory. The boulders located here have been brought from various walls of the quarry. In the Ries, nodules of flint—also called Feuerstein

(firestone)—can sometimes be found some rock. Flint—the

“steel of the Stone Ages”—was used by our ancestors to make various tools. Due to its readily available deposits of flint, the southern Ries was probably a production center for stone tools with which barter trade could be carried out. One of the oldest hand axes was found in a field near Mündling.

GOATS AS LANDSCAPE CONSERVATIONISTS

Grazing maintains exposures and dry grasslands The Adventure Geotope Lindle

is located in the FFH (Flora- Fauna-Habitat) area called the

“Dry grassland network on the edge of the Nördlinger Ries.”

Due to nature conservation laws, the quarry and

exposures must be permanently kept open, that is, free of vegetation. This is accomplished by a small herd of goats regularly held in a defined area in order to reduce vegetation growth and prevent scrub encroach- ment. The Valais Blackneck goat is considered to be very robust and is primarily raised for landscape maintenance. Goats are excellent climbers and can reach the steeper and otherwise inaccessible quarry floors and cliff walls (protected natural refuges). The area is fenced off and not accessible to the public. Grazing contributes to the preservation of the flowing herbaceous vegetation and the dry grasslands.

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Goats prefer fresh shoots and leaves above all. Thus they help to reduce the growth of shrubs.

In 1960 and 1962, together with Edward Chao, Eugene Shoemaker (pictured) produced evidence that the Ries Crater was created by a meteorite impact—and not a volcano. During a visit to the Ries for a film production in the 1990s, Eugene Shoemaker collected additional samples with this geologist’s hammer (property of Gisela Pösges).

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SHALLOW WATER

Habitat with great biodiversity In spite of limestone’s high water permeability, pools of shallow water can form in depressions through soil compaction and inflow of loamy soil. These periodically wet sites are fed by precipitation and dry out—

depending on the location—

relatively quickly and completely.

They are spawning waters for the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata), natterjack toad (Bufo calamita), smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) and alpine newt (Triturus alpestris), devel- opmental space for insect larvae such as dragonflies, habitat for water insects and water snails as well as a source of water for insects, birds and small

mammals. Natterjack toads and yellow-bellied toads are pioneer species adapted to the partly extreme conditions in shallow bodies of water and also evidence of successful propagation.

FRAGMENTATION

(Almost) beyond recognition The shockwave of the Ries impact intensely affected the original massive limestone and fragmented it (almost) beyond recognition. The result is so- called “grit.” This matrix of rock pulverized by high pressure also contains small angular

fragments. The structural fabric is consistent with a “mortar texture” (geological: monomic- tic deformation breccia). The bedded limestone to the right displays less mechanical stress with “jointed slabs”.

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The yellow-bellied toad is identified most of all by the yellow color on its underside.

Störung Störung Störung Gries

B B

Massive limestone exposure with “mortar texture”

Above: B = Banked structure (layers); the jointed slabs (yellow arrows) run at a steep angle to the banking and bor- der on the platy geometrical bodies

(„Gries“ = grit;

„Störung“ = disruption)

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THE RIES CATASTROPHE IN ROCK FORMATIONS

The block mosaic in Lindle conveys the impression of destruction

that was compressed and even originally overrun by a crater-outward surge of Trüm- mermassen (debris). Other areas are conspicuous for the small angular fragments due to intensive fracturing (so-called brecciation). Noteworthy are also the Schollen (blocks) of gray-black Lower-Jurassic clay and red-brown Middle- Jurassic ferruginous (iron) sandstone. On the basis of the 7

Störung Störung Störung Gries

F B M Störung

B

kleine Stö

rung

Gries M Gries

B

B D

M B

M

The Eurasian eagle-owl uses rock ledges for nesting and feeding.

fabric elements marked in these rock formations, the visitor can interpret and compare this picture with nature, impressively tracing the chaotic coexistence of the Ries rocks and therefore the extent of the destruction. The quarry’s open cliff faces are among those of highest value for the bird world. As a substitute habitat for natural cliff faces, their crevices and lateral ridges, A panoramic view of the quarry

can convey a certain impression of the various levels of disruption experienced by the entire Lindle megablock. The rock shows distinctive mechanical stresses. The impact resulted in compressions and intensive fragmentation of the original rock formations of the Alb high- lands. Evident on the walls are impressively bent-up bedded (layered, stratified) limestone

for example, serve as nesting places for Eurasian eagle-owls (Bubo bubo), which are especially vulnerable to disturbance.

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CLIFF-TOP LANDSCAPE

with typical small-growth (coppice) forest management

Expanses of dry grasslands are often found at the edges of quarries and in environs transi- tioning from the barren quarries and surrounding landscape.

Specialized animal and plant species often colonize from here to suitable locations in the quarry.

That also includes the rocky, cliff-edge landscape with typical small-growth utilization.

Coppice is the designation for a form of forest management in which deciduous trees like the large-leaved linden (Tilia platyphyllos) and European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) are felled repeatedly in a cycle of 10 to 30 years. It must involve a species of tree that can regenerate through stump shoots from rootstocks. This form of forest management is known from the Stone Ages but is rarely practiced today. It leads to thinned, heterogene- ous areas with shrubby trees that are five to ten meters high.

HUNTING GROUNDS OF THE SAND LIZARD

Dry grassland and medieval castle sites East of the Holheim forest

rises a conspicuous rounded hill—an allochthonous block of White-Jurassic (Upper Juras- sic) limestone. Finds of broken fragments as well as the field names “Burschlwiesen” and

“Burschlacker” indicate a me-

dieval Burgstall (site of a castle).

Probably a motte-and-bailey castle (wooden or stone keep on a hill or raised earthwork), a seat of the lords of Holheim, occupied this hill in the 12th up to the 14th century. This so-called Abuck is a protected biotope complex with valuable dry grassland. The location has turned out to be shallow, lean and dry. Accordingly it supports typical flora such as pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris), broad-leaved thyme (Thymus pulegioides) and Carthusian pink (Dianthus carthusianorum). Be- sides insects such as butterflies, grasshoppers and crickets, sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) use the sun-exposed slopes to warm up and as hunting territory.

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The shoots of the large-leaved linden, characteristic of the economics of coppice forest management.

The male sand lizard can be recognized by his intense green color.

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FOSSIL-RICH LIMESTONE SAND

from the period of the Ries Lake After the asteroid impact, the crater basin had no outlet and a nutrient-rich salt lake gradually formed. Clays and oil shales were deposited. On the shore- line of the crater lake and in the shallows of the crystalline walls, calcareous green-algae reefs as well as fossil-rich limestone sand

formed. Consisting primarily of small salt-water snails (Hydrobia trochulus), insect larva and ost- rocods (Strandesia risgoviensis), the fauna was extremely individual rich but species poor—

comparable to today’s salt and soda lakes in dry regions.

OPPOSITES RIGHT BESIDE EACH OTHER:

Alternating dry grassland and wet areas In the Adventure Geotope

Lindle, contrasting neighbors—

rocky walls, dry grasslands, wet shallows—are located directly beside each other. Typical for the megablock zone, the soil changes abruptly, which can be traced back to the numerous blocks and ejected rock in the outer crater-rim region.

Characteristic features such as rendzina, pararendzina, brown and gley soils form over the underlying rock units (Upper- Jurassic limestone, Ries-Lake sediments, Middle-Jurassic iron sandstone/Opalinuston Forma- tion, Upper-Triassic sandstone/

Trossingen Formation). The waterlogged soils in forests are characterized by growths of European ash (Fraxinus 11

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During mating season in the springtime, male alpine newts are easily recognized by the blue color on their backs.

excelsior) and grass-like sedges;

oaks (Quercus robur), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) thrive in in shallow rocky soil. Periodically wet depressions serve as spawning grounds for newts including alpine newts (Triturus alpestris).

Stromotolite structures (created by cyanobacteria)

Water snails and ostracods in the fossil-rich Ries-Lake sediment

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THE “ASTRONAUT QUARRY” SIEGLING

A training site for the Apollo missions

the about 10-meter thick layer of Bunte Trümmermassen deposited on top of it. “Schliff- flächen” (surface slides, striations) were found on contact surfaces between the limestone and Bunte Breccia—an impres- sive characteristic of the high 12

efficiency of the shockwave during the impact process. In August 1970, the Apollo-14 designated crew and backups prepared for their Moon missi- on with geological field training in the Ries Crater.

From a vantage-point platform, the visitor has a good view into the old Siegling quarry, which also belongs to the parautochthonous crater-rim block Lindle.

An exposure here shows the intensively fractured massive Upper-Jurassic limestone—and

The astronauts became ac- quainted with rock typical for impact craters. In the Siegling quarry they studied the inverse (upside-down) deposit of impact rock formations.

Unterer Jura (Lias) / Mittlerer Jura (Dogger)

Oberer Jura (Malm) Massenkalk

Striations (scratch marks, indicated by arrows) originally oriented outwards from crater

Inverse deposition of rock layers Lower-/Middle- Jurassic on top of Upper-Jurassic

From left to right: A. Shepard (Apollo 14), E. Mitchell (Apollo 14), Dr. M.

McEwen, J. Engle (Apollo 14 backup), Prof. H. Vidal, in background wearing plaid shirt: Dr. D. Stöffler

From left to right: Prof. H. Vidal, J.

Engle (Apollo 14 backup), Dr. M.

McEwen, E. Cernan (Apollo 17), E. Mitchell (Apollo 14)

10 cm

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EVERYTHING UPSIDE DOWN

The impact brought the deepest to the top The Ries foreland is charac-

terized by an inverse (reverse) deposition of rock. Before the impact, the crystalline floor was covered by about 700 meters of sedimentary sequence (below, left). When the target

rock was ejected, especially the sedimentary units folded centrifugally outwards (Bunte Trümmermassen). The crystalline rock that was ejected out of the crater depths melted and the Suevite that was formed 13

Glutwolke beginnt zu kollabieren

Auswurfskegel

700 m

randliche Absenkung

Kollaps des “Primärkraters” und Ablagerung der Auswurfsmassen nach 1 Minute

Auswurfskegel

Bunte Trümmermassen (Bunte Breccie)

zentrale Aufwölbung

randliche Absenkung Zentralberg

Entstehung der inversen Lagerung innerhalb der Bunten Trümmermassen

Suevitwolke vor dem Abregnen Kollaps des „Primärkraters“

und Ablagerung der Aus- wurfmassen nach 1 Minute

Suevit Suevit

autochthoner Untergrund (Weißjura)

Beispiel Lindle invers lagernde Bunte Trümmermassen

Suevit mit glasigen Partien Deposit of Ries

rock

Illustration on left:

Before the impact (pre-Ries) Illustration in center: Deposition process during impact Illustration on right: After impact (post-Ries)

deposited on top of the debris and fell back into the crater. As a result, in the area surrounding the crater rim, Suevite is always found on top of Bunte Trümmermassen, which itself can display upside-down rock

formations. In Lindle an older block of ferruginous sandstone from the Middle Jurassic is on top of Upper-Jurassic (younger) massive limestone (below, right).

TERTIÄR

JURA

TRIAS

PERM M.-Miozän M.-Oligozän Kimmeridge

Oxford Bajoc-Callov.

Aalen

Hettang.-Toarc Feuerletten

Burgsandstein

Lettenkeuper Muschelkalk

? Buntsandstein Rotliegendes

MalmDoggerLiasKeuper

STRATIGRAPHIE GESTEINSAUSBILDUNG

Glimmersande, Tone Massen- und Bankkalke Kalke und Mergel gebankte Kalke Mergel und Kalke Eisensandstein Kalke und Mergel

graue Tonmergel mit Siderit-Konkretionen Tone, z. T. Sandsteine

feldspatführende Sandsteine mit farbigen Tonzwischenlagen

Tone Sdst., sandige Tone, Kalksandsteine (z. T. dolomitisch) feldspf. Sandst. und Tonsteine Sandsteine, Tonst., Rhyolithe Variszisches Kristallin (Moldanubikum): Gneise, Granite, Amphibolite m

~ 50

~ 150

140

~ 30

250

~ 50

~ 30

> 50

braunroter Tonstein tErtiÄr

JUrA

triAs

pErM M.-Miozän M.-oligozän Kimmeridge

oxford bajoc-Callov.

Aalen

Hettang.-toarc Feuerletten

burgsandstein

? buntsandstein rotliegendes

MalmdoggerLiasKeuper

Glimmersande, tone Massen- und bankkalke Kalke und Mergel gebankte Kalke

Mergel und Kalke Eisensandstein Kalke und Mergel

graue tonmergel mit siderit-Konkretionen tone, z. t. sandsteine

feldspatführende sandsteine mit farbigen tonzwischenlagen

tone sdst., sandige tone, Kalksandsteine (z. t. dolomitisch) feldspf. sandst. und tonsteine sandsteine, tonst., rhyolithe Variszisches Kristallin (Moldanubikum): Gneise, Granite, Amphibolite m

~ 50

~ 150

140

~ 30

250

~ 50

~ 30

> 50

braunroter tonstein tErtiÄr

JUrA

triAs

pErM M.-Miozän M.-oligozän Kimmeridge

oxford bajoc-Callov.

Aalen

Hettang.-toarc Feuerletten

burgsandstein

? buntsandstein rotliegendes

MalmdoggerLiasKeuper

Glimmersande, tone Massen- und bankkalke Kalke und Mergel gebankte Kalke Mergel und Kalke Eisensandstein Kalke und Mergel

graue tonmergel mit siderit-Konkretionen tone, z. t. sandsteine

feldspatführende sandsteine mit farbigen tonzwischenlagen

tone sdst., sandige tone, Kalksandsteine (z. t. dolomitisch) feldspf. sandst. und tonsteine sandsteine, tonst., rhyolithe Variszisches Kristallin (Moldanubikum): Gneise, Granite, Amphibolite m

~ 50

~ 150

140

~ 30

250

~ 50

~ 30

> 50 braunroter tonstein

und älter

Buntsandstein

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SEVEN VANTAGE POINTS OFFER VIEWS INTO THE RIES AND TO THE CRATER RIM

Many stops along Geopark Nature Trails provide terrific scenic outlooks Nördlingen , Wallerstein , Hesselberg ridge1

Nördlingen with Marienhöhe hill , northern Ries3 Wemding with pilgrimage church , 2

northeastern Ries rim

Albuch hill , Niederhaus ruins4

A B C

A

B C

B A

A B

A A

B B

A

B B

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Himmelreich fields on Riegelberg hill with Ofnet Caves , Ipf , Baldern Castle5

Nördlingen , Wallerstein , Hahnenkamm hill7

Kirchheim am Ries with Blasienberg hill , Zipplingen , Kirchheim am Ries , Goldberg hill

A B C

A B

A

B

A B C

A B

C C

C D

6 D

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GLOSSARY of scientific and technical terms*

*Terms are printed in red in the text

Allochthonous:

rock formations from materials not at their original site, in the Ries region—

Bunte Breccia and Suevite Anthropogenic:

influenced by man (e.g., landscape, environment); antonym: natural Autochthonous:

rock material in situ (at the location of its formation) Breccia:

(Italian breccia: loose gravel), part of Bunte Trümmermassen; originally consolidated clastic rock with angular-cornered fragments; formed in various ways.

The term Bunte Breccia refers exclusively to the foreland of the Nördlinger Ries;

it describes debris resulting from the impact of the Ries meteorite—more or less loose, local, often very different compositions of Trümmermassen, formed by the intense, random mixing due to ballistic ejection and movement of materials, then deposited over the Ries foreland.

Brown soil (Braunerde):

soil type in moderate climates with adequate precipitation (500-700 mm/year), formed on the most varying types of rock, therefore widely distributed and variable in its individual characteristics

Conglomerate:

coarse-grained clastic rock and rounded components cemented together by calcium carbonate; evidence of fluvial transport

Gley soil:

wetland soil in lowlands and depressions, groundwater instrumental in its development

Grit (Gries):

pulverized rock resulting from granular disintegration (Vergrusung) (rock grit);

angular rubble formed by mechanical deformation by the shockwave of the Ries event, most subsequently consolidated and later eroded by physical- chemical weathering

Inverse deposition:

characteristic reverse (upside-down) deposit form of ejected Ries rock.

Originally near-surface (younger) rock material of the Mesozoic overlying rock is located as Bunte Breccia under Suevite composed of (older) components of the crystalline basement; thus originally older rock components are on top of younger

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Rendzina soil:

humus-rich shallow soil mostly on limestone in humid climatic areas Suevite (“Schwabenstein”):

impact breccia of mostly pulverized crystalline basement with glass components and minerals that are formed by extremely high pressure and tempera- ture. Found in crater basin (not accessible) under Ries-Lake sediments and in Ries foreland near the crater rim (accessible, partially being exploited). Formed immediately after the ejection of Bunter Trümmermassen (rock debris) by the ejection of the heavily shattered crystalline basement under the Mesozoic layers

Megablock (zone):

blocks of various compositions, with diameters from tens to hundreds of meters, rarely larger: characteristic for the peripheral areas of meteorite craters (so-called megablock zone), mostly slightly moved (parautochthonous).

Mesozoic layers:

rock formations from the Mesozoic, 252 to 66 million years ago, not characterized by metamorphism, consisting of limestones, marls, sandstones and clays from the Triassic (Buntsandstein, Muschelkalk, Keuper), Jurassic (Lias, Dogger, Malm) and Cretaceous. These overlay a base (crystalline basement) characterized by metamorphism. Geological situation before the Ries event.

Pararendzina soil:

soil type that forms in an earlier stage from marl or clay, respectively compact or loose, e.g., silicate rocks, clay marl or chalky loess.

Parautochthonous:

blocks pushed or slid minimal distances, retaining a certain connection to original root location (autochthonous). The outer Ries Crater rim is characterized by a megablock zone composed of blocks that slid. The Geotope Lindle highlights one of these megablocks.

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ON THE SHEPHERD’S WAY TO THE OFNET CAVES

There is a lot to discover around the Adventure Geotope Lindle

The Ofnet Caves are among Bavaria’s 100 best geotopes.

They are in an Upper-Jurassic (Malm) limestone hill called the Riegelberg that is located in the megablock zone between the crater’s inner ring and outer rim.

The two caves—the große (large) and the kleine (small)—

illustrate the process of karst formation (underground disso- lution of rock). Archeologists made important discoveries at this site, too. Numerous finds relate to Stone-Age settlement;

the caves’ prominence dates to 1907, when two “nests” of skulls were discovered. Hikers on the Shepherd’s Way trail can visit the Ofnet Caves on a side trip.

Ofnet Caves Shepherd’s Way Alte Bürg

One of the Stone-Age ”nests” of skulls discovered in 1907

At one time a Roman agricultural estate was located below the Ofnet Caves.

Just a short walk from Lindle is the Shepherd’s Way, an 18-km-long circular trail along a traditional sheepherding path.

Along the way, info-panels describe the geology, settlement and heath landscape of the crater rim and megablock zone.

The Alte Bürg is a popular tourist desti- nation not far from Lindle.

The Alte Bürg was the site of a castle and, later, a well-visited pilgrimage place. A late-Roma- nesque chapel is the only pre- served remnant of the former fortified castle. The guesthouse in a woodland setting first opened in 1925 and remains a popular destination.

A Geopark hiking trail follows a traditional sheepherding path.

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The Suevite quarry called Alten- bürg played a prominent and historical role in Ries geology.

Worldwide, Suevite is considered the most important evidence of an impact crater. The construction materials for St.

George’s Church in Nördlingen probably came from this quarry.

Altenbürg Ries Crater Museum

The Ries Crater Museum in Nördlingen (Eugene-Shoemaker-Platz 1)

A museum of international importance, the Ries Crater Museum clearly and vividly depicts the processes and significance of impact events in general and the Ries impact in particular. Special tours for children are also available.

www.rieskrater-museum.de

Info-Center Nördlingen:

Eugene-Shoemaker-Platz 3 (next to Ries Crater Museum)

Geopark Info-Centers In Nördlingen, Oettingen and Treuchtlingen provide additional interesting information about the Geopark Ries, the formation of the Ries Crater and the many special features.

There are Geopark Info-Centers in Nördlingen, Oettingen and Treuchtlingen.

Depictions of a meteorite impact

View into the Suevite quarry called Altenbürg near Lindle

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GEOPARK RIES

Pflegstraße 2 · 86609 Donauwörth Phone: 0906 74-6030 Fax: 0906 74-6060 Email: info@geopark-ries.de Web: www.geopark-ries.de Publisher:: Geopark Ries

Design: dieMAYREI GmbH, Donauwörth Translation: Cindy Cooper, Nördlingen Photos: Arlt Komplettbau GmbH Nördlingen, E. Birzele, H. Burkhardt, R. Dollmann, G. Eisele, Geopark Ries, Ch. Kessler, K. Kroepelin, H. Partsch, G. Pösges, RiesKra- terMuseum Nördlingen, Stadtarchiv Nördlingen, Stadtmuseum Nördlingen, H. Stangel Maps: Bayerisches Landesamt für Vermessung und Geoinformation, M. Decker,

Prof. Dr. R. Höfling Glossary: Prof. Dr. R. Höfling (Geozentrum Nordbayern der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Text/Editing: Prof. Dr. R. Höfling, HPC AG, J. Ruf, K. Kroepelin, Dr. W. Sponsel (Stadtarchiv Nördlin- gen), G. Pösges (RiesKraterMuseum), A. Kerle, Geopark Ries

Edition: March 2021, 1. Auflage

Geological Overview Map of the Ries

10 KM

4380 4390 4400 4410

5410 5420 5430

postriesische Sedimente

(Tertiär und Quartär) Megablock-Zone

flächenhafte Bedeckung des Vorrieses mit Bunten Trümmermassen und Suevit

Keuper Juraschichten

(Malm, Dogger und Lias) EGER

WÖRNITZ

Megablock zone

Post-Ries sediment (Paleogene, Neogene, Quaternary) Extensive coverage of Ries foreland with rock debris and Suevite

Jurassic layers (Upper Jurassic = formerly Malm, Middle Jurassic

= formerly Dogger, Lower Juras- sic = formerly Lias)

Keuper (Upper Triassic)

This project is supported by the Free State of Bavaria and the European Fund for Regional Development.

Rock fragments (so called Schollen or blocks) slid from the original crater rim into the crater itself, towards the center of the crater, forming the megablock zone (sketch revised according to Pohl et al. 1977)

For more information:

All brochures are available to download from the website or order from the busi- ness office of the Geopark Ries.