Well known to the agate collectors in Germany is Backesberg Quarry because of its large and colourfull vein-agates. They are reaching sizes up to 3 feet length. At the moment the quarry is running by military conduction.
The vein-agates are showing a wide range of pastels and intense colours. Sometimes they show the very rare “Liesegang-phenomenon” - a conzentric colorisation without relationship to the fortification banding of the vein-agate.
Very interesting is a special type of colorisation that occurs sometimes at this place: one part of the agate shows pastel-colours - the other part shows the fresh calcedonic teinting.
In the year 2002 the first nodules where discovered at this place. They show a wide range of colours too - but deeply red is the most common colour.
It is absolutely forbidden to collect any minerals at this place, because this quarry is a part of the artillery range area. Militarypolice is controling even this abandoned area regulary.
home/mineralworldagates/ Europe/Germany/Nahe-Region/Baumholder/ Backesberg Quarry