glg 101 - physical geology bob leighty geology of the grand canyon
TRANSCRIPT
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GLG 101 - Physical GeologyGLG 101 - Physical Geology Bob LeightyBob Leighty
Geology of the Geology of the Grand CanyonGrand Canyon
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These lecture notes are very similar to the ones I use in my traditional classes. You’ll find they are loaded with imagery and streamlined text that highlight the most essential terms and concepts. The notes provide a framework for learning and, by themselves, are not meant to be a comprehensive source of information.
To take advantage of the global knowledge base known as the Internet, I have included numerous hyperlinks to external web sites (like the Wikipedia, USGS, NASA, etc.). Follow the links and scan them for relevant info. The information from linked web sites is meant to supplement and reinforce the lecture notes – you won’t be responsible for knowing everything contained in them.
As a distance learning student, you need to explore and understand the content more independently than in a traditional class. As always, I will help guide you through this learning adventure. Remember, email Dr. Bob if you have any questions about today’s lecture ([email protected]).Leave no questions behind!
Explore and have fun!Explore and have fun!
These notes and web links are your primary “lecture” content in this class. Additionally, various articles are assigned each week to supplement this “lecture” information. I believe you’ll have enough information to reference without having to purchase a costly textbook.
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Location Map
PhysiographyPhysiographyGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Digital relief map of the Grand Canyon region(dark green are lower elevations, light green are higher elevations)
Kaib
ab U
pw
arp
Lees Ferry
South Rim
LCR
Uinkaret volcanic field
EASTERNWESTERN
Havasu
CanyonG
ran
d W
ash
Clif
fs
DesertView
PhantomRanch
DiamondCreek
PhysiographyPhysiographyGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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limestone
sandstone
In arid climates, sedimentary rock types that are resistant to weathering (e.g., limestone & sandstone) form cliffs . . .
mudstone
. . . and ones that are NOT resistant to weathering (e.g., mudstone) form slopes
PhysiographyPhysiographyGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Geologic TimeGeologic TimeGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
Yavapai Supergroup + Intrusives
Grand Canyon SupergroupPaleozoic
sedimentary rocks
missingmissing
missing
mis
sin
g
mis
sin
g
mis
sin
g
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StratigraphyStratigraphyGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
Proterozoic igneous & metamorphic rocks underlienearly flat-lying Paleozoic sedimentary rocks
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> Rama Schist & Gneiss (Xmv; felsic metavolcanics)
Metamorphic rocks (Xm) exposed in the Inner Gorge
Yavapai SupergroupYavapai Supergroup(~1750 Ma)(~1750 Ma)
> Vishnu Schist (Xms; metasedimentary)
Xms
> Brahma Schist (Xmv; mafic metavolcanics)
Xmv
Early Proterozoic RocksEarly Proterozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Intrusive Igneous RocksIntrusive Igneous Rocks(1840-1660 Ma)(1840-1660 Ma)
> Zoroaster Granite, etc.
(Xg; 1740-1660 Ma)
> Elves Chasm Granodiorite
(Xgd; 1840 Ma = oldest in AZ)
Mostly granitic-dioritic rocks exposed in the Inner Gorge
Xgd
Xg
Early Proterozoic RocksEarly Proterozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Intrusive Igneous RocksIntrusive Igneous Rocks(1840-1660 Ma)(1840-1660 Ma)
Granitic intrusions in the Inner Gorge
Xg Xg
Early Proterozoic RocksEarly Proterozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Grand Canyon SupergroupGrand Canyon Supergroup(1250-800 Ma)(1250-800 Ma)
Mostly sedimentary rocks and basaltic flows & sills
Ys
Ys
Middle & Late Proterozoic RocksMiddle & Late Proterozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Unkar GroupUnkar Group(1250-1070 Ma)(1250-1070 Ma)
Basaltic lava flows, diabase sills & dikes (Yd; ~1100 Ma)
Bass Limestone, Hakatai Shale, Shinumo Quartzite, Dox
Sandstone (Ys)
Ys
Grand Canyon SupergroupGrand Canyon Supergroup(1250-800 Ma)(1250-800 Ma)
Middle & Late Proterozoic RocksMiddle & Late Proterozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Cardenas mafic dike intrudes reddish Hakatai Shale at Hance Rapids
Ys
Yd
Unkar GroupUnkar Group(1250-1070 Ma)(1250-1070 Ma)
Grand Canyon SupergroupGrand Canyon Supergroup(1250-800 Ma)(1250-800 Ma)
Middle & Late Proterozoic RocksMiddle & Late Proterozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Chuar GroupChuar Group(~900-825 Ma)(~900-825 Ma)
Organic-rich shallow marine mudstones (Zs)
Zs
Grand Canyon SupergroupGrand Canyon Supergroup(1250-800 Ma)(1250-800 Ma)
Middle & Late Proterozoic RocksMiddle & Late Proterozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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All sedimentary rocks
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Cliff-forming nearshore shallow marine sandstone (Ct)
Tapeats SandstoneTapeats Sandstone(Cambrian)(Cambrian)
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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View west from Skeleton Point of Pipe Creek and Plateau Point
PlateauPoint
Ct
Ct
Xg & Xm
Tapeats SandstoneTapeats Sandstone(Cambrian)(Cambrian)
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Slope-forming shallow to deep marine mudstone (Cba)
Cba
Bright Angel ShaleBright Angel Shale(Cambrian)(Cambrian)
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Bright Angel Shale exposed along the Bright Angel Trail near Indian Gardens
Cba
Bright Angel ShaleBright Angel Shale(Cambrian)(Cambrian)
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Cliff-forming shallow to deep marine limestone (Cm)
Cm
Muav LimestoneMuav Limestone(Cambrian)(Cambrian)
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Muav Limestone exposed along the Bright Angel Trail near Indian Gardens
Cm
Muav LimestoneMuav Limestone(Cambrian)(Cambrian)
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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“Islands” of Precambrian rock (Y) in the Cambrian sea
“Cheops Bay” across from Plateau Point.
The older rocks (Y) were higher when the younger rocks (Є) were deposited in a shallow ocean.
Y
C
C
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Temple Butte LimestoneTemple Butte Limestone(Devonian)(Devonian)
Temple Butte channel in Marble Canyon
Stream channel-filling limestone (Dtb)
Cm
Mr
Dtb channel
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Redwall LimestoneRedwall Limestone(Mississippian)(Mississippian)
Cliff-forming shallow marine limestone (Mr)
Mr
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Redwall alcove above Stephen Aisle
Mr
Redwall LimestoneRedwall Limestone(Mississippian)(Mississippian)
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Supai GroupSupai Group(Pennsylvanian-Permian)(Pennsylvanian-Permian)
Cliff & slope-forming river delta, flood plain, desert dune,
& shallow marine sediments (PPs)
PPs
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Supai Group rocks exposed below Zoroaster Temple
Supai GroupSupai Group(Pennsylvanian-Permian)(Pennsylvanian-Permian)
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
PPs
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Hermit ShaleHermit Shale(Permian)(Permian)
Slope-forming river delta & flood plain mudstone (Ph)
Ph
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Hermit Shale exposed in Marble Canyon
Ph
Hermit ShaleHermit Shale(Permian)(Permian)
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Coconino SandstoneCoconino Sandstone(Permian)(Permian)
Cliff-forming eolian (wind-deposited) sandstone (Pc)
Pc
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Sheer cliffs of Coconino Sandstone below Mather Point
Coconino SandstoneCoconino Sandstone(Permian)(Permian)
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
Pc
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Toroweap FormationToroweap Formation(Permian)(Permian)
Slope-forming unit composed of sandstone, dolomite, etc. (Pt)
Pt
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Three members of the Toroweap Formation below Mather Point
Ptw
PtbPts
Ptw = Woods Ranch Member
Ptb = Brady Canyon Member
Pts = Seligman Member
Toroweap FormationToroweap Formation(Permian)(Permian)
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Kaibab FormationKaibab Formation(Permian)(Permian)
Cliff-forming shallow marine dolomite & limestone (Pk)
Pk
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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The Kaibab Formation at Mather Point
Kaibab FormationKaibab Formation(Permian)(Permian)
Paleozoic RocksPaleozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
Pk
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Moenkopi & Chinle FormationsMoenkopi & Chinle Formations(Triassic)(Triassic)
Sedimentary rocks locally exposed as erosional remnants
T m
T c
Moenkopi and Chinle exposed at Cedar Mountain east of Desert View
Mesozoic RocksMesozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Tby, QTb - Basaltic cones and flows
Vulcans Throne
Uinkaret volcanic fieldUinkaret volcanic field(Plio-Pleistocene; 4 to <1 Ma)(Plio-Pleistocene; 4 to <1 Ma)
Lava dams created large lakes
Recreation of the one of the highest lava-dam lakes
Qb
Cenozoic RocksCenozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Lava cascades at Vulcans Throne
Lava-filled stream channel at Whitmore Wash
QbQb
Uinkaret volcanic fieldUinkaret volcanic field(Plio-Pleistocene; 4 to <1 Ma)(Plio-Pleistocene; 4 to <1 Ma)
Cenozoic RocksCenozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Landslides & RockfallsLandslides & Rockfalls(Pleistocene to Recent; <2 Ma)(Pleistocene to Recent; <2 Ma)
Rockfall talus in Marble Canyon
Qt
Qt
Surprise Valley landslide at Deer Creek
Qls
Qls
Cenozoic RocksCenozoic RocksGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Yavapai OrogenyYavapai Orogeny(1710-1700 Ma)(1710-1700 Ma)
Subduction-related compression, with metamorphism, faulting, and folding
Proterozoic TectonicsProterozoic TectonicsGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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Laramide OrogenyLaramide Orogeny(Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary)(Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary)
Late Mesozoic/Early Cenozoic compression due to low-angle subduction
Reverse faulting forms monoclines across the Colorado Plateau
Phanerozoic TectonicsPhanerozoic TectonicsGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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<6 Ma, regional uplift causes stream downcutting & forms the Canyon
Regional Uplift & ExtensionRegional Uplift & Extension(Late Tertiary)(Late Tertiary)
Late Tertiary extension creates high-angle normal faults
Phanerozoic TectonicsPhanerozoic TectonicsGrandGrand
CanyonCanyon
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WWW Links in this LectureWWW Links in this Lecture
> Grand Canyon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon
> Geologic time - http://www.stratigraphy.org/geowhen/timelinestages.html
> Grand Canyon Stratigraphy -
http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/coloradoplateau/grandcanyon_strat.htm
> Basin and Range - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basin_and_Range_Province
> Colorado Plateau - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Plateau
Grand Grand
CanyonCanyon