Explore Slovenian Fossils!
Geology Research Society
Slovenia, EU
July 2012
Welcome to Slovenia!
• Slovenia is one of the world's smallest
countries, it measures around 20.000 sq.
kilometres which is half the size of Belgium in
Europe or South Carolina in USA. The area is
mostly covered with forest. Northern part of
the country is pure alpine, while the south
part touches the Mediterranean and climate is
mild, very similar to the one in the area
between Switzerland and Italy.
Geology
• From the geology perspective Slovenia is very
well discovered and many researches have been
done, especially since the 1950s. Bedrock is
mostly sedimentary with some areas of magmatic
or metamorphic rocks (Central Alps). Fossils are
not very well preserved due to tectonic shifts. In
general, fossil localities are very small, limited to
a certain layer or just a few sq. metres of road
cutting. Man can not find vast quarries or large
areas with low vegetation for fossil hunting.
Bedrock
• The most common rocks are limestones and dolomites, which are
especially frequent in the Karst region that goes from town Nova
Gorica to the east towards town Novo mesto. Most of the time, you
won't find any fossils there. The richest localities are in paleozoik
beds in Karavanke mountains (brachiopods, crinoids, trilobites), in
triassic and jurassic red pelagic limestones in Julian Alps
(ammonites, bivalves), in yellow soft limestones in central and
eastern part of the country (echinoids, gastropods, bivalves) and in
laminated lower triassic limestones (ammonites, starfish, bivalves)
near famous 15th century mercury-mine town Idrija (Ydria), west
from Ljubljana, the capital. Quite rich are also oligocene beds of
green flintstone conglomerate with some inclusions of sandstone.
They are located near alpine town Kranj (Krainburg), the other
locality is in the mountains, near Logarska dolina (Logar valley),
between alpine towns Kamnik (Stein in Oberkrain) and Gornji Grad.
Fossils (1/3)
• The most common fossils are those from the group of
invertebrates. Plants are, generally speaking, not very common.
Foraminiferas Nummulites are very frequent, also jurassic reef
corals. In the winegrowing area in SE part of the country, near the
state border with Croatia, miocene gastropods and bivalves are very
frequent. Among them you may find very rare, very big and very
beautiful gastropod Pereiraea, only a few localities are known in
Europe so far.
• The fossil fauna from these localities is very similar to the fauna in
France and Belgium, with Clavatula, Turritella, Naticaand Arca. Also
oligocene Natica gastropods in green beds of flintstone
conglomerate are frequent. In older triassic area,
bivalves Myophoria, Trigonodus and Megalodon are common.
Fossils (2/3)
• Ammonites are very rare, there are only a few localities
where you may find something interesting. Basically
nothing very wow, mostly lower triassic Tirolites and
middle triassic Ptychites. In Karavanke Alps and in
Julian Alps you may find jurassic Perisphinctes.
The eastern part of Slovenia is a place where some nice
miocene echinoids may be found
(Spatangus, Clypeaster, Echinolampas). Interesting
beds strech to Austria and Hungary. In the same beds
large Chlamys bivalves are common, as well as
nice Terebratula brachiopods.
Fossils (3/3)
• In the south of the country, near Mediterranean,
crabs may be found but they are not very well
preserved. In fact, you can dig them out right
from the cliffs west from town of Izola (Isola), just
off the shore. A few miles away, near 1261 m
high Nanos plateau, you may find very nice
jurassic brachiopods Rhynchonella. Trilobites are
small and rare. A few localities are north of heavy
industry town Jesenice (south of Klagenfurt,
Austria).
Some quick snapshots
Conclusion
• This is of course very quick and brief review of
what you can find here. Some findings may be
very very cool and the locals like them even
more because we know that conditions for
fossil hunting are far from being excellent.
Geology Research Society
• Since 2007
• Members do geology science since 1988
• Reach us via ragedr@gmail.com
• We offer you online support and field trips!