Zechstein
Zechstein is the late Permian evaporite succession that underlies much of northern Europe. It formed around 260 to 252 million years ago as the Zechstein Sea largely evaporated in an arid climate, leaving thick deposits of evaporites. The sequence is dominated by rock salt (halite) with interbeds of anhydrite and gypsum; deeper parts contain potash salts such as sylvite and carnallite, and minerals like polyhalite. In regional stratigraphy the Zechstein is divided into subdivisions commonly referred to as Zechstein I–IV or into broader Lower, Middle and Upper Zechstein.
Geographically the Zechstein sequence is preserved beneath the North Sea and extends across northern Germany, the
Geological significance: The Zechstein evaporites record a well-preserved Permian arid-system evaporite cycle and are important for