Geology of Sylt

MarMic October 2004

Relevant Gelogical Ages at Sylt Holocene - Miocene

• Holocene 10.000 - present

• Pleistocene 1.8 Mio - 10.000 B.P.– Weichsel (glacial) 115.000 - 10.000

B.P.– Eem (interglacial) 128.000 - 115.000– Saale (glacial) 128.000 - 347.000– Holstein (interglacial) 347.000 - 370.000– Elster (Glacial) 370.000 - 475.00

• Pliocene 1.8 Mio - 5 Mio

• Miocene 5 Mio - 24 Mio

Geological Map of Sylt

Miocene

Pliocene

Reconstruction of the geological history

• Deposition of Miocene Clays (warm conditions• Slow uplift (Salt domes?), shallower conditions with

deposition of coastal (sandy) facies: Pliocene Limonite

• Deposition of riverine sediments from a large river system in the baltic region (Pliocene Kaolin sand)

• Ice ages– Some Elster Deposits– Large Saale Deposits– Erosion during the Eem Interglacial leaving some outcrops– No deposits during the Weichsel Ice Age– Recent sea level rice, formation of the Wadden Sea and

barrier Islands

Glaciation during Pleistocene

Glaciation during Pleistocene

Pleistocene deposits

Eemian deposits

Geological Map of Sylt

Morsum Kliff

• Recent Dune formation

• Solifluction of Boulder Clay (Weichsel)

• Boulder Clay (Saale)

• Kaolin Sand (Pliocene)

• Limonite Sandstone (Pliocene)

• Clay (upper Miocene/lower Pliocene)

Ice (Saale) foulds Miocene and Pliocene deposits

Kaolin SandLimonite SandMiocene Clay

Morsum Kliff

The extent of the shoals under the Wadden Sea

Recent Development of Sylt (14th C.)

Middle Ages: Large floods

Development of Sylt (~1648)

Development of Northern Sylt(Listland, 14th century)

Development of Northern Sylt(Listland)

Development of Northern Sylt(Listland)