Locality
11°35´ east longitude, 53°4´ north latitiude   [ map ]

Name
Gorleben, Germany, Europa

Geological relevance of location
Greensand containing phosphorite nodules are widely distributed Eocene sediments in northern Germany. Glauconite-rich greensand containing phosphorite nodules are deposited along coasts where nutrient-rich wells up from the deep ocean. This is evidence that conditions existed in northern Germany during the Eocene like those today on the continental slope off northwest Africa. Marine phosphorite is formed from phosphorus accumulated by organisms. Phosphorus is essential for the metabolism of all froms of life.

Classification of the earth

Structure	pebble-like nodules
Colour	greenish grey
Age	Tertiary

Donor

Geoscientific Collections Section of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources,
 Geological Survey of Lower Saxony,
 Hannover,
 Germany