Description

Kadzielnia

The Kadzielnia quarry is located in the central part of the city, on the left bank of the Silnica river, between the Krakowska, Pakosz and Aleja Legionów streets. During excavation work a very interesting geological profile as well as some caves and rock voids were exposed here. Kadzielnia is the main height in the series of hillocks known as the Kadzielnia Range. In the late Devonian period (ca. 380 Ma) the area of Kadzielnia was submerged in a warm sea, periodically in the shallows, in the direct vicinity of Stromatoporoidean-Anthozoan reefs. In their fossil form, their sediment formed the “Kadzielnia limestones”. Local rocks contain a rich, often shattered fossil fauna represented by Anthozoa, fossil Coelenterata (Stromatoporoidea and Amphipora), Crinoidea, Brachiopoda, Gastropoda, Cephalopoda and Placodermi. Some of the species were first discovered at Kadzielnia, which made this exposure even more famous and earned it a place amongst the most important educational sites in Poland.

A geological reserve was created in the middle section of the excavation and the stone monolith called the “Geologists' Rock” was placed under legal protection. Miocenic (5-20 Ma) and Pleistocenic (youngest from 1.8 Ma) karst formations have also been exposed here and are some of the best preserved phenomena of this type in the country. Moreover, 14 caves have been found here, the longest of which is 140 metres long. Right now works are taking place to connect three caves – the Prochownia, the Szczelina and the Wschodnia in order to create an underground tourist route. What makes this place even more unique is the modern amphitheatre which merges with the surrounding rocks in a very interesting way and is the only such scene in Poland.