The geology of Gams

The geological history of the area around Gams can be traced back 250 million years. The oldest rocks were formed at the turn of the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic eras. They are red and green clay deposits found in the streams east of the Noth. Dark banded gypsum occurs together with these deposits. The gypsum was formed in shallow lagoons along a seashore that kept filling up with seawater. It evaporated quickly because the climate was hot and dry. The minerals in the seawater thus became increasingly concentrated and at a certain stage gypsum crystals formed. Dark grey dolomite occurs together with these rock layers. In its fissures, cube-shaped, dark purple crystals of fluorspar formed, which are among the most beautiful in the Eastern Alps. Later, during the Triassic period, mainly limestones and dolomites were deposited.

The formation of the Alps began 100 million years ago. A small part of the earth originally located in the south collided, very slowly of course, with primeval Europe and pushed itself over its edge. The rocks at the edges were pressed together, creating folds and countless fissures. Limestone, dolomite and other rocks that had previously formed on the small continent, which was mostly covered by the sea, finally slid at least 70 km northwards over the edge of primeval Europe. Sections within the limestone Alps also slid far over each other and formed blankets.

The formation of the Alps largely took place below sea level. The mountains rose from the sea relatively late. The weathering of the rocks, the glaciers of the Ice Age and the streams formed today’s land surface. After the end of the ice age 12,000 years ago, forests spread in the lower areas.