The exposed Tertiary columnar basalt of the Scheibenberg mountain is closely connected with the dispute between the Neptunists and Plutonists about the correct geological theory for the development of the earth between the Freiberg scholar and scientist at the Mining Academy Abraham Gottlob Werner (1749-1817), who was the main advocate for Neptunism (rock formation from the oceans), and the Scottish geologist and primary advocate for Plutonism (rock formation from volcanic activity), James Hutton (1726-1797). Raging on between 1790 and 1830, this controversy made a crucial contribution to the development of modern geo-sciences, although it was later rebutted. Werner used the Scheibenberg mountain as an example and direct evidence to his theory that rocks were formed from an ancient ocean.
