The geologic field trip throughout the duration of Death
Valley and literally millions of years of geologic change was exhilarating to
say the least. Not only is there sufficient geological components and change
overtime, there are also endless amounts of breathtaking sites, with scenery
that is like no other. What I have found most interesting is the change of the
rocks over the course of millions of years volcanic mountain belt and a mixture
of sand and mud deposits. The rocks were metamorphosed overtime the original
rock was changed into a gneiss, making its original components and makeup impossible
to detect. Venerable rocks and magma together make it difficult to detect.
Additionally, I was blown away by the dunes, located between
mountains on all sides and are formed from grains broken off of large solid
rock. Weathering as a process will slowly and eventually break down to sand
like and sized grains making up the floor. Wind is a huge part of migration and
movement and formation of the dunes.
The most prominent location of Death Valley I came upon
however consisted of a quantities variety of boulders with all different types
of characteristics, this is known as Racetrack Playa. On the tour I went on,
Racetrack Playa was described as a geologic puzzle. A puzzle, I would love to
learn more about and solve.
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