Interesting Geology

[dragoness_e]

After exploring Puerco Pueblo, I drove to the southern entrance of the park, taking pictures of interesting geological features and petrified logs along the way. Referring to the map, the following pictures were taken at various points between Puerco Pueblo (in the middle of the map) and the south gate (bottom of map). Some of the points are even labeled on the map.



Look at the pretty colors!

Another look at the layered colors


I believe this was taken somewhere north of the Tepees. These two pictures show the layers of mudstone and sandstone and clay that give the Painted Desert its colors.

One of the Tepees


Close-up of one of the Tepees


The weathered clay that makes up these blue-gray formations seems to be very infertile; it's the one place I've seen almost no plants growing. (There's still a few... life finds a way).

Rock gully leading to the Agate Bridge


The Agate Bridge


This is an agatized log that forms a natural bridge where the softer rock around it has been washed out from underneath. As you can see, it has been reinforced by human construction to keep the brittle petrified log from collapsing.

Next: More petrified logs!