The Late Permian Kupferschiefer Fossils and the Geological Educational Trail in the UNESCO Global Geopark TERRA.vita (NW Germany)

The iconic Kupferschiefer is a stratigraphic marker horizon of the Upper Permian in Northern and Central Europe, which is recognized internationally as a unique stratum because of its outstanding preservation of fish, reptile, and plant fossils. In the UNESCO Global Geopark TERRA.vita, Kupferschiefe...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tobias Fischer, Lothar Schöllmann, Johannes Haunert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: OICC Press 2021-06-01
Series:Geoconservation Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://gcr.khuisf.ac.ir/article_682459_7b98f6be11abccc2ad0c3a9c0db1f41e.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The iconic Kupferschiefer is a stratigraphic marker horizon of the Upper Permian in Northern and Central Europe, which is recognized internationally as a unique stratum because of its outstanding preservation of fish, reptile, and plant fossils. In the UNESCO Global Geopark TERRA.vita, Kupferschiefer fossils have been found at three tectonically uplifted elevations: Hüggel, Schafberg, and Piesberg. Here we review not only the Kupferschiefer fossil record of the Geopark, but also the paleontological excavations and environmental education programs that have been undertaken by the LWL Museum of Natural History in Münster, the local associations Museumsverein Hüggel e.V. and Kultur- und Verkehrsverein Hasbergen e.V. in Hasbergen, and the UNESCO Global Geopark TERRA.vita over the past 40 years. Particular emphasis is placed on the Hüggel hill, where the TERRA.track Geological Educational Trail has been set up to explain to visitors the high geodiversity and centuries-long mining history of the area. Furthermore, we provide comments on the future of the Geocenter in Hasbergen, where the Kupferschiefer fossils from Hüggel have been exhibited until 2018.
ISSN:2645-4661
2588-7343