Marble Canyon Death Valley Geology

This geologic map and pamphlet focus on the stratigraphy depositional history and paleogeographic significance of upper paleozoic rocks exposed in the marble canyon area in death valley national park california.

Marble canyon death valley geology. Walled with both mosaic conglomerates and smooth marbleized rocks mosaic canyon is a fine specimen the geology of death valley national park marble canyon trail travels up the canyon bottom past all the interesting features for an outing of 1 to 4 miles round trip. There are many excellent examples of geology in action in death valley and mosaic canyon is one of them. With an abundance of amazing hikes surreal sites and wondrous vistas any visit to death valley national park necessarily includes an appreciation for its unique geology. Top geologic wonders of death valley.

Enjoy convenient round trip transportation from your las vegas hotel to the park and travel between furnace creek artist s palette badwater basin and zabriskie point with ease. Parks with examples of metamorphic rocks include. To further this appreciation be sure to visit the. The study area which covers the northwestern part of the cottonwood canyon 7 5 quadrangle is on the east side of the cottonwood mountains northern part of.

This geologic map and pamphlet focus on the stratigraphy depositional history and paleogeographic significance of upper paleozoic rocks exposed in the marble canyon area in death valley national park california. Bedrock exposed in this area is composed of mississippian to lower permian cisuralian marine sedimentary rocks and the jurassic hunter mountain quartz monzonite. Mosaic canyon death valley marble set in time. Catoctin mountain park maryland geodiversity atlas death valley national park california and nevada geodiversity atlas.

Death valley is renowned worldwide by geologists as being one of the best places in the united states to study recent geological events recent in geological time that is and mosaic canyon has several examples. The passing of grit laden flash floods have scoured the narrow canyon and polished the smooth marble walls to a beautiful finish. Within the first 0 25mi 0 4km the canyon abruptly narrows as the smooth marble walls of noonday dolomite take shape around you. California highway 190 a black ribbon of pavement descends along the edge of the tucki mountains into emigrant wash meandering precariously along the ridge overlooking the west side of death valley.

Types of metamorphic rocks include gneiss quartzite marble schist soapstone and phyllite. From the parking area proceed up the rocky wash and into the canyon.