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45-577: The hill is the remains of an extinct volcano that belongs to the West Hesse Depression . The volcano was active in the Miocene , i.e. during the period about 23 to 5 million years ago (Ma). The only part of the volcano that is left is the neck ; the rest has been eroded. The alkali basalt has a silica (SiO 2 ) volume percentage of 45–55%. The main minerals in the rock are plagioclase , augite and olivine . The hill cannot be called

90-556: A kuppe because the top is covered with rock formations. Instead Mader Stein can considered a rocky hillock . The columns of basalt of the hill are sub-horizontal, as at Scharfenstein . The hill, is part of a 311 ha Habitats Directive (German: Flora, Fauna, Habitat; FFH) conservation area that covers the Gudensberg region and the Falkenstein forest (FFH-Nr. 4721–304). Basalt is relatively poor in nutrients and minerals for plants, and

135-434: A diameter of between 0.074 and 4.75 millimeters. By another definition, in terms of particle size as used by geologists , sand particles range in diameter from 0.0625 mm (or 1 ⁄ 16  mm) a volume of approximately 0.00012 cubic millimetres, to 2 mm, a volume of approximately 4.2 cubic millimetres, the difference in volumes being 34,688 measures difference. Any particle falling within this range of sizes

180-434: A documentary called " Sand Wars " about the impact of the lack of construction sand. It shows the ecological and economic effects of both legal and illegal trade in construction sand. To retrieve the sand, the method of hydraulic dredging is used. This works by pumping the top few meters of sand out of the water and filling it into a boat, which is then transported back to land for processing. All marine life mixed in with

225-603: A high olivine content. Many sands, especially those found extensively in Southern Europe , have iron impurities within the quartz crystals of the sand, giving a deep yellow color. Sand deposits in some areas contain garnets and other resistant minerals, including some small gemstones . Rocks erode or weather over a long period of time, mainly by water and wind, and their sediments are transported downstream. These sediments continue to break apart into smaller pieces until they become fine grains of sand. The type of rock

270-749: A northwesterly direction through the Schwalm (region) (343.0) which surrounds the upper and middle course of the river of the same name , beginning with the Alsfeld Hollow ( Alsfelder Mulde ) followed by the Wasenberg Terraces and the Schwalm Bottom ( Schwalmgrund ). Continuing in a northeasterly direction around the middle reaches of the Schwalm is the Landsburg Depression (343.1) with its sub-units

315-489: A result. People sometimes dig holes in the sand at beaches for recreational purposes, but if too deep they can result in serious injury or death in the event of a collapse. Manufactured sand (M sand) is sand made from rock by artificial processes, usually for construction purposes in cement or concrete. It differs from river sand by being more angular, and has somewhat different properties. In Dubai , United Arab Emirates , sand needed to construct infrastructure and create

360-483: A significant dredging industry, raising environmental concerns over fish depletion, landslides, and flooding. Countries such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia ban sand exports, citing these issues as a major factor. It is estimated that the annual consumption of sand and gravel is 40 billion tons and sand is a US$ 70 billion global industry. With increasing use, more is expected to come from recycling and alternatives to sand. The global demand for sand in 2017

405-429: A soil containing more than 85 percent sand-sized particles by mass. The composition of sand varies, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non- tropical coastal settings is silica (silicon dioxide, or SiO 2 ), usually in the form of quartz . Calcium carbonate is the second most common type of sand. One such example of this

450-525: Is aragonite , which has been created over the past 500   million years by various forms of life, such as coral and shellfish . It is the primary form of sand apparent in areas where reefs have dominated the ecosystem for millions of years, as in the Caribbean . Somewhat more rarely, sand may be composed of calcium sulfate , such as gypsum and selenite , as is found in places such as White Sands National Park and Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in

495-508: Is called grus in geology or sharp sand in the building trade where it is preferred for concrete, and in gardening where it is used as a soil amendment to loosen clay soils. Sand that is transported long distances by water or wind will be rounded, with characteristic abrasion patterns on the grain surface. Desert sand is typically rounded. People who collect sand as a hobby are known as arenophiles . Organisms that thrive in sandy environments are psammophiles. Only some sands are suitable for

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540-655: Is mainly covered by loess . In the north there are occasional rounded hills ( Kuppen ) of basalt and this is also where Mesozoic rocks are found at the surface; whereas Tertiary sediments of gravel, sand and clay predominate in Hessengau . In the Tertiary layers of the Borken Basin there are rich deposits of lignite . The valleys of the following rivers are within the West Hesse Depression (rivers in brackets only drain

585-595: Is part of the West Hesse Highlands and Lowlands region in the north of the German state of Hesse . Like the East Hesse Depression , it is a series of separate depressions that form a natural corridor and have been an important historical trade route. The West Hesse Depression runs along the valleys of the Schwalm , Eder , Fulda , Esse and Diemel roughly from Alsfeld in the south to Bad Karlshafen in

630-433: Is termed a sand grain . Sand grains are between gravel (with particles ranging from 2 mm up to 64 mm by the latter system, and from 4.75 mm up to 75 mm in the former) and silt (particles smaller than 0.0625 mm down to 0.004 mm). The size specification between sand and gravel has remained constant for more than a century, but particle diameters as small as 0.02 mm were considered sand under

675-485: Is the Ems river, a breeding and wintering area. The Borkener See nature reserve (332 ha) is also a Special Area of Conservation . Sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt . Sand can also refer to a textural class of soil or soil type; i.e.,

720-474: Is the most common mineral resistant to weathering . The composition of mineral sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions. The bright white sands found in tropical and subtropical coastal settings are eroded limestone and may contain coral and shell fragments in addition to other organic or organically derived fragmental material, suggesting that sand formation depends on living organisms, too. The gypsum sand dunes of

765-705: The Albert Atterberg standard in use during the early 20th century. The grains of sand in Archimedes ' The Sand Reckoner written around 240 BCE, were 0.02 mm in diameter. A 1938 specification of the United States Department of Agriculture was 0.05 mm. A 1953 engineering standard published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials set the minimum sand size at 0.074 mm. Sand feels gritty when rubbed between

810-509: The Krumbein phi scale , where size is Φ = -log 2 D; D being the particle size in mm. On this scale, for sand the value of Φ varies from −1 to +4, with the divisions between sub-categories at whole numbers. The most common constituent of sand, in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal settings, is silica (silicon dioxide, or SiO 2 ), usually in the form of quartz , which, because of its chemical inertness and considerable hardness,

855-677: The Landsburg Bottom , Frielendorf Hills , Trockenerfurth Plain and the Borken Basin . The transition into the Hessengau region (343.2) with the confluence of the Schwalm and the Eder continues northeast via the regional sub-units of the Homberg Bay , Wabern Plain ( Schwalmaue and Fritzlar Eder Corridor ), Großenenglis Plateau , Fritzlar Börde and the Gudensberg Kuppen Ridge into

900-799: The Vogelsberg , which is part of the Hessian Central Uplands within the East Hesse Highlands region. During the Mesozoic era, the deposits of the Zechstein Sea were overlaid with sand , which then developed into the Bunter sandstone . As a result of further tectonic uplift and subsidence , Muschelkalk was deposited on top of the Bunter sandstone layer. In the subsequent Keuper geological stage,

945-778: The Westuffeln Depression and the Langenberg and Staufenberg Plateau . Northeast of the Kassel Basin are the Hofgeismar Depression, which follows the Esse (Diemel) and finally the lower course of the Diemel until just before its confluence with the Weser . This natural region has an area of 138.45 square kilometres and is the second largest within the West Hesse Depression. The origin of

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990-779: The Wetterau and the Gießen Basin, below the Vogelsberg foothills to the Amöneburg Basin, and from there over the Neustadt Saddle in the West Hesse Depression and continuing along the Leine Graben to the Oslo Rift valley. More recent sea level changes led in the Tertiary period to flooding of the region and the deposition of sand. This covered the extensive forests that had grown up in

1035-670: The White Sands National Park in New Mexico are famous for their bright, white color. Arkose is a sand or sandstone with considerable feldspar content, derived from weathering and erosion of a (usually nearby) granitic rock outcrop. Some sands contain magnetite , chlorite , glauconite , or gypsum . Sands rich in magnetite are dark to black in color, as are sands derived from volcanic basalts and obsidian . Chlorite - glauconite bearing sands are typically green in color, as are sands derived from basaltic lava with

1080-867: The Kassel Basin. In the Kassel Basin (343.3) by the lower course of the Fulda , with its sub-units the Kassel Fulda Floodplain and Kassel Trough , the West Hesse Depression swings northwest again and leaves the catchment area of the Fulda, to enter that of the Diemel . To the northwest it runs along the Nebelbeeke and the Warme which drains into the Diemel, and into the North Habichtswald Foreland with its sub-units of

1125-483: The Sahara is sand dunes, while 70% is bare rock. The wind is responsible for creating these different environments and shaping the sand to be round and smooth. These properties make desert sand unusable for construction. Beach sand is also formed by erosion. Over thousands of years, rocks are eroded near the shoreline from the constant motion of waves and the sediments build up. Weathering and river deposition also accelerate

1170-473: The U.S. Sand is a non-renewable resource over human timescales, and sand suitable for making concrete is in high demand. Desert sand, although plentiful, is not suitable for concrete. Fifty billion tons of beach sand and fossil sand are used each year for construction. The exact definition of sand varies. The scientific Unified Soil Classification System used in engineering and geology corresponds to US Standard Sieves, and defines sand as particles with

1215-697: The area of Bunter sandstone in a northeast and northwest direction. As the Bunter weathered, layers of Palaeozoic rock were exposed again. As the Cainozoic era began, the West Hesse Depression emerged as part of a great rift valley from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean Sea ; the Mediterranean-Mjøsa Zone . This zone is a succession of grabens that run from the Rhone Valley through the Rhine Rift ,

1260-441: The construction industry, for example for making concrete . Grains of desert sand are rounded by being blown in the wind, and for this reason do not produce solid concrete, unlike the rough sand from the sea. Because of the growth of population and of cities and the consequent construction activity there is a huge demand for these special kinds of sand, and natural sources are running low. In 2012 French director Denis Delestrac made

1305-541: The depression): Ecologically important lakes within the depression are those that were created following the cessation of mining activity: the Borkener See and Singliser See . Taken from the Hesse Environmental Atlas ( Umweltatlas Hessen ): The natural region of the West Hesse Depression is characterised by numerous smaller depressions and plains. From its southern end, the West Hesse Depression runs in

1350-438: The extracted sand is killed and the ecosystem can continue to suffer for years after the mining is complete. Not only does this affect marine life, but also the local fishing industries because of the loss of life, and communities living close to the water's edge. When sand is taken out of the water it increases the risk of landslides, which can lead to loss of agricultural land and/or damage to dwellings. Sand's many uses require

1395-653: The fingers. Silt , by comparison, feels like flour . ISO 14688 grades sands as fine, medium, and coarse with ranges 0.063 mm to 0.2 mm to 0.63 mm to 2.0 mm. In the United States, sand is commonly divided into five sub-categories based on size: very fine sand ( 1 ⁄ 16 – 1 ⁄ 8  mm diameter), fine sand ( 1 ⁄ 8  mm – 1 ⁄ 4  mm), medium sand ( 1 ⁄ 4  mm – 1 ⁄ 2  mm), coarse sand ( 1 ⁄ 2  mm – 1 mm), and very coarse sand (1 mm – 2 mm). These sizes are based on

Mader Stein - Misplaced Pages Continue

1440-632: The hill. In previous times the hill was climbed on Ascension Day to dance or collect wild herbs. During Advent a Christmas tree is illuminated on the top of the hill. The first Christian church in Fritzlar was built by Saint Boniface in the year 732 from the wood of the Donar's Oak that he felled in Gaesmere, part of the town of Fritzlar , in the year 723/24. It is said that the Devil , who lived on Mader Stein (or

1485-562: The landscape rose, and flooding alternated with the formation of swamps. In places the land also appears to have been covered by older phases of the Lias epoch. The subsequent Alpine folding movements have had a lasting effect on the area. These caused the rock to fracture along fault lines, which resulted in rift grabens and enabled volcanic magma to reach the surface. At the same time the surrounding hills were eroded by weathering and rivers. So Keuper and Muschelkalk ridges emerged that ran through

1530-638: The name "West Hesse" is derived from the neighbouring natural region of the East Hesse Highlands . The catchment area draining northwards into the River Weser can be referred to as a North Hesse Depression. In the West Hesse Depression are: Especially important avifauna regions are found near Borken (Hessen) , where the Tagebau Gombeth is a breeding area of national significance. Other areas of national importance are: Of regional significance

1575-428: The nearby Lamsberg), wanted to destroy the church with a stone. There are two different versions of the next part: Either way, the stone fell in a field on the outskirts of Maden. This is a real stone; a menhir called Wotanstein . The marks and scratches on the stone are said to have been caused by the devil 's claws . West Hesse Depression The West Hesse Depression ( German : Westhessische Senke )

1620-576: The north. It separates the East Hesse Highlands (major regional group 34 or D46), including the Knüll hills and Kaufungen Forest in the east, from the West Hesse Highlands (35 or D47), including the Kellerwald and Habichtswald in the west and is itself part of the West Hesse Highlands, within which it is included as geographical unit 343. Its southern boundary is formed by the northern foothills of

1665-437: The process of creating a beach, along with marine animals interacting with rocks, such as eating the algae off of them. Once there is a sufficient amount of sand, the beach acts as a barrier to keep the land from eroding any further. This sand is ideal for construction as it is angular and of various sizes. Marine sand (or ocean sand) comes from sediments transported into the ocean and the erosion of ocean rocks. The thickness of

1710-461: The rate the sand can replenish, making it a non-renewable resource. Sand dunes are a consequence of dry conditions or wind deposition. The Sahara Desert is very dry because of its geographic location and proximity to the equator . It is known for its vast sand dunes, which exist mainly due to a lack of vegetation and water. Over time, wind blows away fine particles, such as clay and dead organic matter, leaving only sand and larger rocks. Only 15% of

1755-460: The sand because they do not have as much time to dissolve away. The term for sand formed by weathering is "epiclastic." Sand from rivers are collected either from the river itself or its flood plain and accounts for the majority of the sand used in the construction industry. Because of this, many small rivers have been depleted, causing environmental concern and economic losses to adjacent land. The rate of sand mining in such areas greatly outweighs

1800-480: The sand layer varies, however it is common to have more sand closer to land; this type of sand is ideal for construction and is a very valuable commodity. Europe is the main miners of marine sand, which greatly hurts ecosystems and local fisheries. The study of individual grains can reveal much historical information as to the origin and kind of transport of the grain. Quartz sand that is recently weathered from granite or gneiss quartz crystals will be angular. It

1845-411: The sediment originated from and the intensity of the environment give different compositions of sand. The most common rock to form sand is granite , where the feldspar minerals dissolve faster than the quartz , causing the rock to break apart into small pieces. In high energy environments rocks break apart much faster than in more calm settings. In granite rocks this results in more feldspar minerals in

Mader Stein - Misplaced Pages Continue

1890-410: The summit of the hill is very hot and dry in summer, which gives rise to unique flora successions. In particular, Dictamnus , a flowering plant in the family Rutaceae , is found on Mader Stein and Nenkel, although it is very rare in the rest of Germany. To maintain this situation the town of Gudensberg regularly sends people to cut down bushes (in particular blackthorn ) that encroach on the summit of

1935-493: The user to wear respiratory protection to avoid breathing the resulting fine silica dust . Safety data sheets for silica sand state that "excessive inhalation of crystalline silica is a serious health concern." In areas of high pore water pressure , sand and salt water can form quicksand , which is a colloid hydrogel that behaves like a liquid. Quicksand produces a considerable barrier to escape for creatures caught within, who often die from exposure (not from submersion) as

1980-496: The warm, moist climate, producing the lignite deposits evident today. Not until the most-recent period, the Quaternary , did the fertile loess soils of the West Hesse Depression appear. On the river plains of the Schwalm , Eder und Fulda the land of the West Hesse Depression is flat. Elsewhere the West Hesse Depression is a succession of ridges that rise to 300 m above NN (Weinkopf near Borken 298 m). The hill country

2025-621: Was 9.55 billion tons as part of a $ 99.5 billion industry. In April 2022, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published a report stating that 50 billion tons of sand and gravel were being used every year. The report made 10 recommendations, including a ban on beach extraction, to avert a crisis, and move toward a circular economy for the two resources. While sand is generally non-toxic, sand-using activities such as sandblasting require precautions. Bags of silica sand used for sandblasting now carry labels warning

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