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| Geology and Water Balance |
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The South Tyrolean Dolomites survived the phase of their formation, lasting between 50 and 60 million years, in relatively good condition. For this reason the Puez-Geisler Nature Park can be seen as an "open history book of the earth." |
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 Gröden Sandstone
The base of the Dolomites is made up of porphyry and quartz phyllite. It is followed by an almost 300 meter high stratum of Gröden Sandstone, which is the erosion product of a desert-like climate lasting millions of years. The Gröden Sandstone is visible in the rock faces near Compatschwiesen at the foot of the Peitlerkofels mountain. |
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 Bellerophon Strata
Deposits in the Mediterranean Tethys resulted in a sediment layer around 200 meters high. It is named after the bellerophon water snail found in it as a fossil. These strata can be found at the foot of Peitlerkofel, as well as in the Aferer Geisler and the Villnößer Geisler mountain ranges.
Werfen Strata
The Mediterranean widened about 180 million years ago. The shells of small organisms, algae, corals and mussels, which sank into the ground of this sea, built up a sedimentary rock, which reaches one thousand meters in depth. The Werfen Strata are a typical feature of the landscape between Kampill and Juac, as well as of the foot of the Aferer Geisler and Villnößer Geisler ranges. |
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Shell-limestone, Sarl Dolomite, Buchenstein Strata
In the deeper layers of the sea, carbonate sediments built up. These strata can be best seen between Gampenalm and the refuge Schlüterhütte, as well as on the saddle between the Aferer Geisler and Villnößer Geisler ranges.
 Wengen Strata and Cassian Strata
The Werfen and the Cassian Strata are the product of volcanic eruptions. The rocks are rich with marine fossils such as the Daonella shell, one of the index fossils of the Wengen Strata. Between Peitlerkofelscharte and the refuge Schlüterhütte, the transition point between the Schlern Dolomite rock on one side and the Wengen and the Cassian Strata on the other is clearly visible.
Schlern Dolomite
The Schlern Dolomite, weathered into many boulders and crags in the north, was preserved from early erosion by the Raibler Strata in the south. The Schlern Dolomite rock is typical of the Puez-Gaisler Nature Park. The Dolomite is a dense, white to yellowish rock, which resembles sugar when freshly broken. It is named after the natural scientist Deodat de Dolomieu, who was the first to describe the chemical composition of this rock in 1789. |
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 Raibl Strata
The Raibl Strata are clearly layered rock strata rich with fossils. They are easily recognizable because of their typical coloring (gray, yellow, greenish, red). Due to their capacity to dam great amounts of water, they protect the Dolomite rock below them from erosion. Moreover, a series of springs originate in the Raibl Strata, as shown by the impressive spring waterfalls in Langental.
Main Dolomite and Dachstein Dolomite
The whitish rock of the Main Dolomite and of the Dachstein Dolomite covers the wide plateaus of Crespèina, Gherdenacia and Puez. Its tendency to develop karst brought about numerous crevices and grooves, through which the water rapidly seeps into the underground. |
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 The Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods
Puez, Muntejela and Col dala Soné are insular remains of younger Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentations. The fossil-rich Jurassic strata consist of greenish-gray Dolomite rock, oolith, yellowish to reddish limestone, as well as gray sandy limestone. The Cretaceous strata are made up of finer reddish to greenish-gray marls with numerous ammonite fossils. |
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