The Mojave Desert, located in the southwestern United States is a rain-shadow desert and the driest desert in North America. The soil of the Mojave is mostly derived from volcano, but one can also find more pediment and alluvial fan soil. The rocks of the desert are metamorphic, derived from preexisting sedimentary, volcanic and ingeneous intrusive rocks. Some of these rocks contain high grade metamorphic minerals and textures consistent with having experienced pressures and temperatures typical of the lower crust between 12 to 15 miles below the surface. Similar rocks to these can be found in the Coloardo River in the Grand Canyon.There are many sandstone rock formations throughout the desert that are shaped and changed by the winds of the desert. Climate changes in the list million years have shaped the landscape features of the Mojave, in some ways the Mojave maintains many elements of the ancient past.
Sources:
https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1007/geologic.html
http://digital-desert.com/geology/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojave_Desert
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