Rare Seester-Fossil on the Pfänder discovered-a treasure from the Miocene!

Rare Seester-Fossil on the Pfänder discovered-a treasure from the Miocene!

A very special find is currently causing excitement in geology and fossil lovers in Austria. On the Pfänder near Bregenz, an extremely rare naval fossil was discovered, which is located in the layers of the upper sea molace. Seaesterns are usually not well suited for fossilization, as their skeletons frequently break when the animal decays. However, a very special circumstance made it allowed to break into soft sludge layers on the bottom of the sea in soft sludge layers. The hollow form of the animal was obtained by the subsequent consolidation of the deposits, which led to this remarkable find.

The discovery was identified by experts as asteriacites stelliformis and is part of a sandstone slab in the region. As reported by news.at , fossil finds from Seesternen in Vorarlberg are an absolute rarity and underline the geological meaning of this region. In addition to the Seesternen, there are often other fossils such as tower snails, oysters and scallops. A few years ago, even a graving sea urchin was recovered from the area - another rare find.

geological background

this find from the Miocene, an era that started about 23 million years ago, can be easily classified in the geological context of the upper sea molasses. These formations come from a time when Marine established itself after a sedimentation interruption in the earliest miocene. Large quantities of fine -grained sands have been deposited in the sediments of the upper sea molasse. In particular, the Mineral Glaukonit gives these deposits a characteristic greenish gray coloring, such as "https://lgrbbissen.lgrbwissen.lgrb-bw.de/geology/schichtenfeinde/tertiaer/molasse/obere-meeresmolasse"> lgrb-bw.de explained.

The sequences in the Miocene are known for being characterized by two marine deposit cycles. Each of these cycles begins with coarser sediments and ends in homogenized sedimentation. Fossils such as the now discovered type of sea are rare contemporary witnesses of these evolutionary phases.

the Miocene and its meaning

The Miocene is considered a relevant period in the history of the earth, which was not only forming for the development of the wildlife, but also for climatic and geological changes. There was a warm climate globally, and the land masses drifted apart. Flooded areas of southern Europe formed complex marine ecosystems, and both flora and fauna developed in a dynamic process that produced large savanna -like areas. Many animal species from this time have shaped evolution up to our day. According to Wikipedia the Miocene was a time of change, shaped by large mountain formations and a changing climate zone.

The find of the Asteriacite Stelliformis is now recognized as the "fossil of the month" in the collector's magazine "der Steinkern" and could contribute to further raising awareness of the geological diversity and importance of the region. This discovery is not only a profit for science, but also for the entire Vorarlberg region, which repeatedly proves to be a treasury for earth history.