Geologic History of Earths Surface - Essay Example

Geologic History: Write Up The tour was not only insightful but also very educating and relatively entertaining. An actual view of the rocks revealed distinct characteristics that are typical of rocks in this region. Relative deductions ascertain that the region’s geographic region is relatively dynamic and not entirely static. The amphitheaters are red in color and their size is akin to that of sand to boulder. These rocks were formed by erosion of the ancestral rocky mountain and through the deposition processes of the alluvial fans.

The visible sedimentary structures include fasalt and marble schiet which according to Erickson were formed through heat and pressure that made them to melt miles below the sea level (Erickson 59). The rain energy played a leading role in transporting these grains. The age of this fountain formation is 300 million years and its height is approximately 10000 feet high. At the Morrinson, there were the lyons and lykins formations that were formed about 251 million years ago. With respect to color the formations comprise of green, gray and maroon clay stone as well as mudstone.

This formation was necessitated by movement and deposition of grains. There is also the presence of fossil deposits including dinosaur bones. This is exemplified by their wavy layers of muddy limestone that is indicative of stromatolites. The movement of the grains is attributed to rain energy that is also responsible for the weathering process. Their size according to Erickson is 400 feet thick (Erickson 59). With respect to the period of formation, it is a bit difficult to tell because this is largely depended on the kind of sediment carried in suspension as well as how well this is deposited.

A walk through the Dakota formation offered useful insights regarding sandstone formation. In this, there was a continuity of various sandstone beds located at distinct spots along the road. Also, there were different sedimentary structures. These variations in the layers imply that the process of formation is continuous and not static. Notably, each layer was formed during a specific period with the bottommost layer having been formed earlier than the topmost layer. This shows that the process of deposition is continuous and being experienced even today.

This is because the rain energy that necessitated previous depositions is still being experienced in the region. This structure also offers useful information about the deposition rate experienced in distinctive years. Notably, the layers differ considerably in size. This shows that the rate of deposition in certain distinct periods of time was relatively more than deposition in other periods. It shows that the energy available and specifically the amount of rainfall and temperatures in these years were higher than that in other years.

This has various implications on the type of weather that is experienced in this region. Seemingly, we did not have to travel for a long period of time to note the inherent differences with respect to the type of rocks. This implies that the rate and type of deposition experienced in the region occurred over a long period of time. This best explains why the different types of rocks are found in this geographic region. In sum, the tour was not only entertaining, but it was also insightful and educating.

Work Cited Erickson Jon. Rock formations and unusual geologic structures, revised edition: Exploring the earth’s surface. USA: Facts on File, 2001. Print.