German researchers uncover 300‑million‑year geological record in fossilized wood
A research team from the University of Münster in Germany has shown that silicified (fossilized) wood can act as a natural archive of a region's geological history spanning hundreds of millions of years. The study, published in *Scientific Reports*, examined fossilized trunks recovered from the Kyffhäuser massif in central Germany. By analysing mineralised quartz inclusions and isotopic signatures, the scientists identified five successive generations of mineralisation dated to roughly 304‑299 Ma, 299‑290 Ma, 257‑260 Ma, about 180 Ma and around 100 Ma.
The Kyffhäuser deposits are recognised as one of the most extensive concentrations of silicified wood in the Northern Hemisphere and serve as a reference site for this type of sedimentary record. The findings provide new insights into the tectonic evolution of Europe during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras.
Entities: Germany · Kyffhäuser massif · Scientific Reports · University of Münster
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- [● 4 SOURCES] The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports. (Scientific Reports study by University of Münster)
- [● 4 SOURCES] German researchers demonstrated that silicified wood can serve as a natural archive of regional geological history spanning hundreds of millions of years. (Scientific Reports study by University of Münster)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The fossilized wood analyzed came from the Kyffhäuser massif in central Germany. (Scientific Reports study by University of Münster)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Five successive mineralisation generations were identified, dated to roughly 304‑299 Ma, 299‑290 Ma, 257‑260 Ma, about 180 Ma and around 100 Ma. (Scientific Reports study by University of Münster)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Kyffhäuser area is one of the most extensive concentrations of silicified wood in the Northern Hemisphere and serves as a reference site for such deposits. (Scientific Reports study by University of Münster)