Why does the Grand Canyon resemble these cakes?
If you go to the Grand Canyon, you'll see a layer cake of geological formations. Some people call this "layer cake geology." Just like the cake, the bottom layer is put down first and then subsequent layers moving upward. If a layer is not horizontal it must have been deformed. We'll learn about deformation in the next several concepts.
Sedimentary Rock Rules
Sedimentary rocks follow certain rules.
Sedimentary rocks are formed with the oldest layers on the bottom and the youngest on top.
Sediments are deposited horizontally, so sedimentary rock layers are originally horizontal, as are some volcanic rocks, such as ash falls.
Sedimentary rock layers that are not horizontal are deformed.
Since sedimentary rocks follow these rules, they are useful for seeing the effects of stress on rocks. Sedimentary rocks that are not horizontal must have been deformed.
You can trace the deformation a rock has experienced by seeing how it differs from its original horizontal, oldest-on-bottom position. This deformation produces geologic structures such as folds, joints, and faults that are caused by stresses.
Geologic History
You're standing in the Grand Canyon and you see rocks like those in the Figurebelow. Using the rules listed above, try to figure out the geologic history of the geologic column. The Grand Canyon is full mostly of sedimentary rocks, which are important for deciphering the geologic history of a region.
In the Grand Canyon, the rock layers are exposed like a layer cake. Each layer is made of sediments that were deposited in a particular environment - perhaps a lake bed, shallow offshore region, or a sand dune.
[Figure 1]
(a) The rocks of the Grand Canyon are like a layer cake. (b) A geologic column showing the rocks of the Grand Canyon.
In this geologic column of the Grand Canyon, the sedimentary rocks of groups 3 through 6 are still horizontal. Group 2 rocks have been tilted. Group 1 rocks are not sedimentary. The oldest layers are on the bottom and youngest are on the top.
The ways geologists figure out the geological history of an area will be explored more in the chapter Earth History.
Summary
Sedimentary rocks are laid down horizontally.
Rocks are laid down from oldest to youngest.
Sedimentary rocks that are not horizontal have been deformed.
Sedimentary rocks are very useful for deciphering the geological history of an area.
Review
In the Grand Canyon section, what do you think happened to the rocks between layers 12 and 11?
For what reason are the rocks 16, 17 and 18 not layered?
What are the oldest rocks in the Grand Canyon and what type are they? What are the youngest rocks and what type are they?
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