Sandstone and Basalt

Sandstone and Basalt

Stark differences in geology at the base of Grand Falls on the Little Colorado River. 2-13-10
Alex Wood
on Feb 14, 2010 12:28 am
Image ID: 596738

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Noondueler

Noondueler - Feb 14, 2010 9:34 pm - Voted 10/10

Like I said before

Your shots are getting better and better! What camera do you use? I need to upgrade.

Alex Wood

Alex Wood - Feb 14, 2010 10:28 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Like I said before

Thank you!! I have been taking alot of pictures so maybe that has helped out some. I just used a Panasonic Lumix 10 megapixel point and shoot. I like to think it gets the job done

merrill

merrill - Feb 14, 2012 11:10 am - Voted 10/10

How is it

that basalt and sandstone can end up next to each other like that? I should have taken a geology class in college.

Alex Wood

Alex Wood - Feb 14, 2012 2:46 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: How is it

Well I shall tell you. The Little Colorado River (pictured in the photo) once flowed naturally to the photos left, which is actually west. The San Francisco Volcanic Field is also to the west. Many different eruptions have happened over the course a ten thousand years in the San Francisco Volcanic Field until Merriam Crater erupted east of town. This eruption had lava (aka basalt) that flowed east all the way to the Little Colorado River and end up changing the course of the channel. Basalt is exponentially harder then sandstone so the river had to change its channel and consequently, the river at this point flows north, not west. Hope that clears things up. Cheers!

merrill

merrill - Feb 14, 2012 5:08 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: How is it

Very cool! It would be fun to see the two contrasting rock from a high point.

garchov

garchov - Mar 24, 2017 4:17 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: How is it

The Little Colorado now spills over it's own ancient canyon wall due to the lava (basalt) plug and in doing so created Grand Falls.

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