Grunjul de la Mânzălești

Grunjul de la Mânzălești is a nature monument with the status of a geological reserve, located in the commune of Mânzălești, Buzău County, in the Carpathian curvature zone. Known locally as Piatra Albă or Muntele Alb, it rises at the confluence of the Slănic River and the Jgheab stream, within the saliferous area of the Slănic valley. The formation is pyramidal in shape and nearly 20 metres tall, dominating the landscape of the surrounding valleys. Although its white colour and location in an area rich in salt deposits might suggest a saline origin at first glance, Grunjul is composed of volcanic tuff and white cineritic marls — rocks whose hardness has allowed them to withstand the erosive action of water and wind more effectively than the surrounding rocks. Its age is estimated at approximately 16 million years, contemporaneous with the formation of the Carpathians. Documented over the course of the last century, the monument has considerably reduced in size through erosion; older accounts record that the upper section once featured a plateau used by the local community. The entire area was declared a protected zone as early as 1973. Grunjul is situated near Platoul Meledic, which developed on saliferous deposits; both sites are included in the UNESCO Geopark Ținutul Buzăului, recognised as a UNESCO site in April 2022. The formation is of interest to regional geology, illustrating the presence of volcanic rocks in the subcarpathian area of Buzău.