The three pieces of data that I would request for Death Valley California, is radiometric dating, topological map and volcanic activity. California has some very complex geological features, and to better understand how many of its features area formed, we will look at these three aspects to help us understand how the state was formed.

Radiometric dating,Geologists use radiometric dating to estimate how long ago rocks formed, and to infer the ages of fossils contained within those rocks. When molten rock cools, forming what are called igneous rocks, radioactive atoms are trapped inside. Afterwards, they decay at a predictable rate. By measuring the quantity of unstable atoms left in a rock and comparing it to the quantity of stable daughter atoms in the rock, scientists can estimate the amount of time that has passed since that rock formed. This information helps geologists determine how old the rocks are and from what era they belong too.

Topographic maps are an important tool because they can represent the three-dimensional landscape in two dimensions. A person who can read a topo map can find out the location of peaks, valleys, ridges and saddles, among other land features. Topo maps can also show you whether you will be traveling uphill or downhill on a particular road or trail. Topographic maps general inform you of the terrain of death valley.

The present landscape was shaped between 5 million and 35 million years ago, during the Cenozoic Era. After faults formed in the earth's crust, exceptional folding and volcanic action uplifted the mountain ranges and lowered the valley floor, creating a graben. This volcanic activity can better help geologists understand how Death Valley was formed.