Although the quarry has been developed for so long, the site continues to be of great importance. For example, a previously unknown species of armored fish was described as recently as 1998. Because of its unique insight into the early stages of vertebrate evolution and the development of pine trees, the "Schmidt" quarry is one of the highlights of the GrenzWelten GeoPark, along with the fossil sites of the Korbacher Spalte, the Hohenäcker quarry near Rodenbach and Brilon-Nehden.
The Devonian was the age of fish. The various large groups of fish-like vertebrates or fish experienced a simultaneous worldwide flourishing and were represented in all areas of the oceans and freshwaters. In the "Schmidt" quarry, in addition to five bony fish species, three shark and one spiny shark species, the incredible number of 45 armored fish species were found and described! The armored fish, like many fish of that time, were protected from predators by bony plates, especially in their head and trunk area. Nevertheless, a neck joint gave them freedom of movement and the relatively large eyes allowed them to live at depths with little light. Armored fish are the oldest known jaw-bearing vertebrates!
Besides the armored fish, the so-called Kellwasser horizons can be admired in the "Schmidt" quarry. The Kellwasser events about 375 million years ago mark one of the largest mass extinctions in the history of the earth. About 75% of the genera living in the sea disappeared forever! As cause for this event several theses exist: Climate fluctuations, anoxic events in connection with sea level fluctuations, whereby the oxygen contents in the sea water decreased drastically.
