A Felsenmeer, or block field, is the result of weathering of an originally monolithic, large mass of igneous rock called a stock that formed at great depth where it solidified, then underwent uplift and was gradually exposed by erosion of the layers above. It underwent a slow process of chemical weathering by water entering fissures and cracks generated by cycles of freezing and thawing.
This process is known as spheroidal weathering. The German term is "Wollsackverwitterung", because the resulting large rocks are well rounded and adapt to one another's shape like big sacks filled with wool. It's the perfect place for some light scrambling.
The Felsenmeer near Lautertal in the Odenwald hills south of Darmstadt, Hesse covers an entire hill flank. The boulders are made of amphibole-biotite-diorite, a grey, dark rock rich in mafic minerals (amphibole, pyroxene) and biotite, the dark variant of mica, with less than 50% plagioclase. Plagioclase is feldspar that contains sodium or calcium, with little or no potassium. The high content of mafic minerals makes it appear dark. Mafic means rich in iron and magnesium, poor in quartz.
Shot with
Olympus Pen-FT half format film camera, made around 1966
G Zuiko Auto-S 1:1,4 f=40mm
Kodakt Ektar 100 professional grade colour negative film
Developed and scanned by www.meinfilmlab.de
