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4/17/2008
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Grand Canyon Geology.....Grand Canyon Geology..... Up close and personal !Up close and personal !
…a field trip by raft
from 35,000 from 35,000 feet …feet …
As opposed to: Or (God forbid!):
12 seconds at the rim …12 seconds at the rim …
a glimpse of the river …a glimpse of the river …
squint…
to total immersion !!!to total immersion !!!
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preparations …preparations …
last flush toilets for awhile …last flush toilets for awhile …
photo by Jerry Bode
last postcardslast postcardsphoto by Jerry past Vermillion Cliffspast Vermillion Cliffs
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Marble Canyon
Vermillion Cliffs
Lee’s Ferry
From Marble View (looking north)From Marble View (looking north)
Day One: 9 June 2007Day One: 9 June 2007
mile 0
mile 20.5
milling about at Lee’s Ferry …milling about at Lee’s Ferry …
3737--foot long “S” rig:foot long “S” rig:
plenty of room for beer !plenty of room for beer !
on the river before noonon the river before noon
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Moenkopi Fm. (Triassic) – not seen at rim
Mile 0.8
Kaibab formation first appearsKaibab formation first appears Kaibab formation Kaibab formation –– 270 Ma (Permian)270 Ma (Permian)
Kaibab fm. at the North RimKaibab fm. at the North Rim Kaibab fm. at the North RimKaibab fm. at the North Rim
The Navajo Bridges The Navajo Bridges –– mile 4.5mile 4.5 Navajo Bridges, 2004Navajo Bridges, 2004
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Coconino sandstone Coconino sandstone -- 275 Ma275 Ma
Toroweap formation Toroweap formation -- 273 Ma273 Ma
Hermit shale Hermit shale -- 280 Ma280 Ma
Esplanade sandstone Esplanade sandstone -- 285 Ma285 Ma(top of the (top of the SupaiSupai group)group)
Esplanade sandstone,Esplanade sandstone,as seen at Toroweapas seen at Toroweap
Esplanade sandstone,Esplanade sandstone,as seen at Toroweapas seen at Toroweap
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Memorial Brown Inscription,Memorial Brown Inscription,mile 12mile 12mile 12mile 12
House Rock Rapid, mile 17House Rock Rapid, mile 17
House Rock Rapid, mile 17House Rock Rapid, mile 17 Day Two: 10 June 2007Day Two: 10 June 2007mile 20.5
Eminence Fault
Redwall Limestone Redwall Limestone -- 340 Ma340 Ma
Redwall Limestone Redwall Limestone –– color?color?
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Vasey’s ParadiseVasey’s Paradise “Marble” Canyon“Marble” Canyon
Redwall CavernRedwall Cavern
Redwall CavernRedwall Cavern
Redwall CavernRedwall Cavern
Marble CanyonMarble Canyon
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Paleozoic Paleozoic NautiloidsNautiloids Chert NodulesChert Nodules
Bridge of SighsBridge of Sighs
First of many…First of many…
End of day twoEnd of day two
Day Three: 11 June 2007Day Three: 11 June 2007Eminence Fault
Little Colorado River (mile 61)
mile 65.5
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Meeting of waters: Little Colorado Meeting of waters: Little Colorado River and ColoradoRiver and Colorado
Running the rapids: who’s Running the rapids: who’s bringing up the rear?bringing up the rear?
The entire Paleozoic section!The entire Paleozoic section!
Halite (NaCl) Soda StrawsHalite (NaCl) Soda Straws
Desert View Watchtower & Desert View Watchtower & PrePre--Cambrian Ripple MarksCambrian Ripple Marks PrePre--Cambrian Ripple MarksCambrian Ripple Marks
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Old Copper Mine near Lava CanyonOld Copper Mine near Lava Canyon Hiking up Lava CanyonHiking up Lava Canyon
Salt Casts (fossil halite crystals)Salt Casts (fossil halite crystals) Palisades Fault: ~2,400 ft. offsetPalisades Fault: ~2,400 ft. offset(Left side up)(Left side up)
Another old mine:Another old mine:
Day Four: 12 June 2007Day Four: 12 June 2007
il 65 5
mile 107.5
Bright Angel Creek (mile 87.5)
mile 65.5
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View of Lava Rapids (2002)View of Lava Rapids (2002) Unkar Rapids and DeltaUnkar Rapids and Delta
from the North Rim…from the North Rim… Approaching Unkar RapidsApproaching Unkar Rapids
Unkar RapidsUnkar Rapids
The Inner Gorge Awaits…The Inner Gorge Awaits…
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WaterWater--polished rockspolished rocks
Inner Gorge: Inner Gorge: MasMas RapidoRapido!!
The Black BridgeThe Black Bridge
The Black Bridge, 2002The Black Bridge, 2002
The Silver BridgeThe Silver Bridge
The Silver Bridge, 2002The Silver Bridge, 2002
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Don’t tell Heidi!!!Don’t tell Heidi!!! Lunch/Geology Lecture Lunch/Geology Lecture a la a la MontekMontek
More dikes than you can shake a stick at…More dikes than you can shake a stick at…
Guarding his turf…Guarding his turf…
Day Five: 13 June 2007Day Five: 13 June 2007
mile 132
mile 107.5
Travertine depositsTravertine deposits
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Elves ChasmElves Chasm
Elves ChasmElves Chasm
Blacktail CanyonBlacktail Canyon
Greatest UnconformityGreatest Unconformity
Musical Interlude at the UnconformityMusical Interlude at the Unconformity
More Vishnu Schist ahead…More Vishnu Schist ahead…
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Day Six: 14 June 2007Day Six: 14 June 2007
mile 132
mile 166.5
Beaches cling to the sides…Beaches cling to the sides…
Deer Creek FallsDeer Creek Falls
Hiking to Upper Deer CreekHiking to Upper Deer Creek
Hiking to Upper Deer CreekHiking to Upper Deer Creek Upper Deer CreekUpper Deer Creek
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Upper Deer CreekUpper Deer Creek Upper Deer CreekUpper Deer Creek
Trilobite Tracks in the Tapeats Ss.Trilobite Tracks in the Tapeats Ss. More trilobite tracksMore trilobite tracks
Fishhook Cactus (?)Fishhook Cactus (?) Heading back downHeading back down
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Havasu Creek side tripHavasu Creek side trip Havasu CreekHavasu Creek
Havasu Creek side tripHavasu Creek side trip Havasu Creek side tripHavasu Creek side trip
Havasu Creek side tripHavasu Creek side trip Havasu Creek side tripHavasu Creek side trip
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Havasu Creek side tripHavasu Creek side trip Havasu Creek side tripHavasu Creek side trip
Havasu Creek side tripHavasu Creek side trip Havasu Creek side tripHavasu Creek side trip
Day Seven: 15 June 2007Day Seven: 15 June 2007
mile 166.5
Volcanics !
mile 221 Approaching ToroweapApproaching Toroweap
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Toroweap in October 1991Toroweap in October 1991
Campsite in 2004Campsite in 2004
Toroweap in October 1991Toroweap in October 1991
From the ranger station, 2003From the ranger station, 2003Ranger StationRanger Station
Sighted in 2003…Sighted in 2003… Vulcan’s ThroneVulcan’s Throne
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Powell was here!Powell was here!Awesome stormAwesome storm
See the rafters?See the rafters? See the rafters?See the rafters?
Almost straight down…Almost straight down… Lava “Falls”Lava “Falls”
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Lava and cinder conesLava and cinder cones Vulcan’s AnvilVulcan’s Anvil
WaterWater--polished Pillow Lavaspolished Pillow Lavas Lava FallsLava Falls
Lava FallsLava Falls Lava FallsLava Falls
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Lava FallsLava Falls Columnar JointingColumnar Jointing
Remnants of Lava DamsRemnants of Lava Dams More columnar jointingMore columnar jointing
Pillow lavasPillow lavas Pillow lavasPillow lavas
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Serpentine AngelSerpentine Angel Lava spilloverLava spillover
Lavacados ?Lavacados ? Pumpkin SpringPumpkin Spring
Tricky driving…Tricky driving…
Got out safelyGot out safely
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Day Eight: 16 June 2007Day Eight: 16 June 2007
mile 296 Separation CanyonMile 239.5
mile 221Last morning…Last morning…
A “Dave” convergence…A “Dave” convergence… Diamond PeakDiamond Peak
Travertine FallsTravertine Falls
last 57 miles last 57 miles –– jet boat…jet boat…
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“Sky walk”“Sky walk”Lake MeadLake Mead
Lake MeadLake Mead Lake MeadLake Mead
Lake Mead in 2003Lake Mead in 2003Hoover Dam in 2003Hoover Dam in 2003
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Hoover DamHoover Dam Below Hoover DamBelow Hoover Dam
For more information:
Everything Grand Canyon:http://kaibab.org
Grand Canyon Expeditions:http://www.gcex.com
Bob’s Rock Shop’s GC Geology Pages:http://www.bobspixels.com/kaibab.org/geology/gc_geol.htm
Official Park Geology Site:http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/parks/grca/
American Experience – “Lost in the Grand Canyon”:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/canyon/index.html
And much, much more…
Special thanks to:
Grand Canyon Sue (Tanges)
Grand Canyon Expeditions
Jerry BodeJerry Bode
David Valentine, Jr.
