Question

The rocky outcrop is the wall of a canyon. There are not canyons everywhere in Desert Rocks National Park, so in most parts of the park we cannot see the rock layers. How could this canyon that shows the rock layers have formed?

Answer 1

The canyon that shows the rock layers in Desert Rocks National Park likely formed through erosion. Similar processes are responsible for the formation of canyons like the Grand Canyon and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Step-by-step explanation:

The canyon that shows the rock layers in Desert Rocks National Park could have formed through a process called erosion. Over millions of years, weathering and erosion by wind and water gradually wore down the surrounding rocks, creating a deep cleft in the landscape. This allowed the layers of rock to be exposed and visible in the canyon walls.

Similar processes of erosion and weathering have shaped other canyons, such as the Grand Canyon and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Different factors like river erosion, frost-wedging, and chemical weathering contribute to the formation of these canyons.

In the case of the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River played a crucial role in cutting through the layers of sedimentary rock over millions of years. The exposed rock layers in the canyon provide valuable insights into the Earth's geologic history, revealing how sedimentary rocks were formed and ancient environments that existed long ago.

Answer 2

The canyons layers appear to have been heavily damaged by water. So I would say that the canyon was once a river that had been eroded. The mystery fossil also appears to be an aquatic animal related to the Giant Mosasaur. The mosasaur species was a prehistoric fish. Leading my to believe that this canyon was formed by a river.