Steinbruch Rauen, Natural monument and former quarry in Witten, Germany

Steinbruch Rauen is a natural monument and quarry in Witten that displays rock layers from different geological periods. The exposed sections reveal sedimentary formations with coal seams that were mined in earlier times.

The quarry originated from coal mining operations by companies seeking to extract deposits beneath Witten. Later, the site was protected as a geotope to preserve the exposed geological sequence for future study.

The quarry is named after the Rauen family, and since 2017 it has belonged to the cave researcher Stefan Voigt. Since 2006 it has formed part of the Geopark Ruhrgebiet, and since 2015 it has been protected both as a Bodendenkmal and as a Naturdenkmal. Visitors can follow the sequence of seams from Flöz Gottessegen to Flöz Wasserbank on the upper level.

The quarry lies in the Gedern district of Witten, on the northern flank of the Wartenberg. It has been part of the Geopark Ruhrgebiet since 2006 and is recorded as a Bodendenkmal since 2015; the sources give no visitor access rules, so check current conditions with the Geopark or the city before setting out.

The exposed layers reveal alternating marine, river, and delta deposits that show how ancient environmental conditions changed. This visible transition between different depositional environments is particularly valuable for geological research and understanding Earth's distant past.