You can see at least three, if not more, distinctive layers here. Let's first talk about each layer, and then get into the details of how it got here. The layers of exposed rock are called Kaibab limestone, Moenkopi formation, Chinle formation. These layers formed at different times during earth's geologic history.
Kaibab Limestone
Kaibab limestone formed in the Permian area of earth's geologic history. The rock looks to be very light in color. Most limestone doesn't look green like a lime, but white. Limestone is formed from the decay of marine life. When they die, they sink to the bottom. Now, all living things must have phosphorous as it makes up DNA. When the animal dies, the phosphorus decays as well and over time, forms a hard layer of rock we know as limestone. Limestone gets its distinctive color from the calcium in the rock from other parts of decaying organic mater. Over millions of years, this limestone has lifted out of the ocean from below sea level, to it's current location at a rate of about two inches every year.
Moenkopi Formation
The Moenkopi Formation formed around 240 million years ago in the Triassic of earth's geologic history and is a type of sandstone. This type of formation is usually has colors of hot red to pink. Sandstone is a little more easier to understand. It's exactly what it sounds like. It's a stone, made of compacted sand. If you rub at it long enough, small pieces of sand will fall off. But please, do not try that here and tamper with the rocks at this location. Sandstone is formed during a processes called lithification. The first step in lithification is to have bare rock exposed to the elements where it can be eroded. When wind or water erodes the rock away, small fragments of the original rock are carried to a different location. Overtime, these small pieces of rock are carried to the ocean, where they sink to the bottom of the sea floor and accumulate. After a few million years, and with added heat and pressure, the sand compacts and creates sandstone.
Chinle Formation
The Chinle Formation formed in the late Triassic period of earth's geologic history. It was formed millions of years ago, when wind erosion from the Sierra Mountains in present day California deposited sediments here. Over time, these sediments hardened as new layers of new sediment was deposited on top of it. The color of the formation include orange to red to pink, and is due to the iron minerals in the rocks.
Works Cited
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George,_Utah#Geology
http://geology.com/time.htm
http://gsabulletin.gsapubs.org/content/115/11/1315.figures-only
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1. St. George Formation Layers on the first line of your email.
2. What is the order of the three layers described in this earthcache from oldest (bottom) to newest (top)? How can you tell?
3. Describe the weathering processes here and how it has effected this exposed rock.
4. Estimate the angle of elevation that the layers are angled at. Note: 180º is flat.>
5. Out of the three layers described in this earthcache, which one is the thickest and the thinest?
6 List the physical differences you see between each layer (besides thickness).