Schwarze Steinkaut, Former basalt quarry and natural monument in Naurod, Wiesbaden, Germany

The Schwarze Steinkaut is a former stone quarry in Naurod where basalt layers and volcanic formations are visible across the excavated area. The extraction zone reveals various geological layers that were uncovered through centuries of quarrying activity.

The Schwarze Steinkaut lies in the Rheinische Schiefergebirge, where Tertiary volcanism left the cooled magma of a volcanic vent as basalt after the Taunus volcanoes eroded away. In the late 18th and 19th centuries the basalt was quarried and used for road building. The vent core was removed, but the rim with its basalt dykes can still be seen.

The site reflects the stone extraction tradition that shaped the local area over many generations. Visitors can see how this work left its mark on the landscape around Naurod.

The site offers walking and biking routes accessible year-round, with peak popularity from April through October. Sturdy footwear and caution are recommended since the terrain is uneven and can be steep in places.

The site is known for its mineral variety, including olivine, forsterite, and different types of diopside embedded in the basalt matrix. These mineral combinations give visitors insight into the volcanic chemistry of the region.