Week 7 - Mesquite Sand Dunes - Death Valley - Jacob Norenko

This week I traveled to the Mesquite Sand Dunes in Death Valley. Death Valley in general is famous for being the lowest point in the western hemisphere but has also been featured in many movies. Star Wars, probably the most famous, had prominent scenes filmed in several Death Valley locations, the sand dunes included. Dunes are typically created when sand builds up overtime. Based on the picture below I would like to learn what the composition of this sand is. What are it's main components? Does it primarily consist of quartz like the majority of sand? I would study and note the different minerals and rock particles it consists of. I would use that information to get a general idea of where the sand originated from in the Death Valley region. Does the sand towards the top of the dune differ from the sand underneath? I would take the two and compare them, noting any differences.

Sea Of Sand: Death Valley National Park, California https://www.aaronreedphotography.com/photo/mesquite-dunes-death-valley-national-park/

Sand Dunes https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/sand-dunes.htm