 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 Geology of Badlands National Park

   December 01, 2021

    1a  2a

   Photographers: Charlene Lanik Sauls,  Brian Sauls

   Summary Author:  Brian Sauls

   The geology comprising the  Badlands National Park in southwestern
   South Dakota is a colorful layer-cake of various  sedimentary rocks
   deposited between 28 to 75 million years ago by shallow seas, rivers,
   and wind. The distinct rock layers consist of multi-colored
    sandstone,  siltstone,  mudstone,  claystone,
    limestone,  shale, and  volcanic ash. Remarkably, the
   volcanic ash originated from volcanoes located over 500 miles (800 km)
   away in present day Nevada and Utah, which was blown eastward before
   settling in the park area. Over time, this deposited ash hardened into
   beige-colored volcanic  tuff through the process of
    lithification.

   In addition to geologic deposition, the Badlands Park region was
   further shaped by  tectonic forces approximately 5 million years
   ago. The tectonics primarily shifted the underlaying rock  strata
   through uplifting and folding forces. Since this period of the geologic
   history, the Badlands has been continually shaped by  erosion as it
   has gradually formed the hills, valleys, stream channels, and other
   interesting features of this park. Because the rock layers are
   relatively soft, erosion occurs at a high rate of about one inch per
   year. At this rapid rate of erosion, estimates suggest that the hills
   of the Badlands will erode completely within the next half a million
   years. Photos taken in August 2021.
     * Badlands National Park, South Dakota Coordinates: 43.8554,
       -102.3397

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Geology Links

     *  Earthquakes
     *  Geologic Time
     *  Geomagnetism
     *  General Dictionary of Geology
     *  Mineral and Locality Database
     *  Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
     *  This Dynamic Earth
     *  USGS
     *  USGS Ask a Geologist
     *  USGS/NPS Geologic Glossary
     *  USGS Volcano Hazards Program

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