Feldberg (Black Forest) - Geology

Geology

The bedrock of gneiss is around one billion years old. The Feldberg region was lifted up three times and then washed away by erosion. What exists today can be called the "third Feldberg". The "first Feldberg" arose in the Precambrian and was washed away completely. The "second Feldberg" arose during the Devonian and Carboniferous, as part of the Variscan orogeny. It was washed away once again during the Mesozoic and Early Triassic; Muschelkalk, Keuper, Lias, Dogger and malm were deposited. Some of these sediments are maritime deposits from intercontinental oceans; the others are of continental source. The "third" and current Feldberg arose during the Alpine orogeny in the Tertiary. Since then these sediments have been steadily washed away, and today little but the bedrock remains.