Geology

350 tom 400 million years ago a warm tropical sea was located at the present “Kalkeifel” (limestone Eifel). Reefs, build up by corals and stromatoporoids existed in a water depth of 40 m. In the course of the centuries several hundreds of metres of sediments, mainly calcareous sediments and fine-grained sand, were deposited. All layers deposited horizontally on top of each other. In a period of several million years the area was lift up by tectonic activity, sediments were compacted and limestones and sandstones developed. Due to a variation in tectonic uplift a structure of arches and troughs, which are sometimes crossed by faults, was created.

All rocks within the area of the Eifel-Camp are of Mid-Devonian age and are named “Freilinger Schichten”. Many fossils can be found in the marls (fine-grained, calcareous sandstones) and limestones, and they are especially famous for the occurrence of crinoid parts (water lily), but also for corals, stromatoporoids, brachiopods, molluscs and trilobites. The remains of this fauna are rockforming, and, thus, often formed the limestones and marls of the Eifel limestone troughs.

During Tertiary and Quaternary times many phases of volcanism, which can be found mostly south (“Vulkaneifel”) and east (Siebengebirge) of the Eifel-Camp, took place; ash and tuff layers also crop out in the Freilingen area.

The geological trail in Blankenheim demonstrates the geology and regional features on overview maps and many charts at all in all c. 30 interesting outcrops. The trail starts at the spring of the river Ahr, passes the villages Rohr and Freilingen and ends in the Ahr valley; maps can be received in Blankenheim.

Every person wanting to search for fossils on his own finds many possibilities at road cuttings, quarries and other outcrops in the surrounding area of the Eifel-Camp. It is recommended to take along a hammer to uncover the fossils; for close inspection one should also have a hand lense.