Greifensteine

The Greifensteine ​​until around 1900, the Access stone, are a rock formation in the Ore Mountains in the forest area between the villages of Ehrenfriedersdorf, Geyer, Jahnsbach and Thum in the field of city Ehrenfriedersdorf. The highest of the seven granite rocks reaches a height of 731 m above sea level. Another six rocks were removed by quarrying, which ended in 1923.

Geology

Geologic represent the Greifensteine ​​the tip of a pluton dar. During the Variscan orogeny increased magma in the resulting turmoil, but already cooled below the earth's surface. In the course of raising the Erzgebirge desk plaice and the resulting granite floor rose to continue. The rock layers overlying erosions, the harder granite was exposed. The further chemical and thermal weathering gave the rock its present appearance with their typical " wool sacks ."

Through leaching and subsequent recrystallization in the surrounding rock emerged rich ore deposits. Having been operated in the 13th century tin mining and 1990, the last mines were closed for reasons of profitability, were the deposits that were among the most productive in Europe, still not exhausted. Another example of the centuries- long tradition of mining in the region is the binge in Geyer.

Mineral discoveries

Due to the fertility of the ore deposit Greifensteine ​​are also a well-known locality for many different minerals and their varieties. So far (as of 2013) a total of about 50 minerals and 10 varieties were discovered as among other Autunit, andalusite, beryl, gypsum, various garnets, hematite, muscovite, sphalerite, topaz, Wavellite, wolframite and zircon here.

For the minerals fluorapatite, Griffin Enste Init, Lacroixit and Roscherit the Greifensteine ​​also considered as type locality.

Tourism

The area around the Greifensteine ​​is now a popular destination and because of the diverse animal and plant world, a nature reserve. Worth seeing are among others the lookout, the local museum, the Stülpner - cave and the theater Greifensteine ​​. Are the Greifenbachstauweiher, the Röhrgraben and Hormersdorfer raised bog in the vicinity.