Shiprock NM to Zion National Park

Geologic Sites: Shiprock New Mexico, Monument Valley and Zion National Park

I started my geologic tour with a stop in Shiprock, New Mexico which is 31 miles West of Farmington on U.S. Highway 64 to view the remnant of a brecca-filled volcanic vent formed 25 to 35 million years ago (Paleogene Period). This was followed by a visit to Monument Valley Arizona and Utah and Goosenecks State Park, Utah to view sedimentary layers of limestone and shale exposed by water erosion over millions of years. Finally, I drove through Northern Arizona and Southern Utah to Zion National Park to view Checkerboard Mesa and other Navaho sandstone formations in the Park. (Click on Right Side of Photo to View Gallery)

Shiprock, Shiprock NM: This is a remnant of a diatreme (brecca filled volcanic vent formed by volcanic explosion) formed 25 -35 million years ago. A volcanic dike extends South from the diatreme. Erosion has resulted in removal of approximately 3,000 feet soil and volcanic material around the diatreme.

Monument Valley Arizona, Sedimentary layers of sandstone, shale and conglomerate deposited in the late Permian age were uplifted during the Laramide orogeny. The surrounding layers have been eroded by the flows of the San Juan and Colorado rivers to leave flat-topped landforms.

Moonrise over Monument Valley.

Detail of Monument Valley formation: Base of organ rock shale from 290 million years ago (early to mid Permian), thick hard band of DeChelly sandstone (280 million years); topped by cap of conglomerate of eroded sandstone and pebble Shinarump member of the Chinle Formation (225 million years)

Monument Valley Utah, Forrest Gump Overlook Goosenecks State Park, Utah. Entrenched meanders of the San Juan River cut through fossiliferous limestone and shale from the Pennsylvanian period from 330 to 270 million years ago.

Goosenecks State Park, Utah. Entrenched meanders of the San Juan River cut through fossiliferous limestone and shale from the Pennsylvanian period from 330 to 270 million years ago.

Detail of Goosenecks limestone and shale above San Juan River. The bottom steep layers are from Paradox Formation – 300-310 million years ago. The upper sloped layers are from Honaker Trail Formation - 270-300 million years ago.

Eroded and lifted-distorted shale and limestone strata near Mexican Hat, Utah.

Scenery along Arizona Highway 98, looking Northeast to Navajo Mountain (10,300 ft) which is formed by an intrusive mound of igneous rock (laccolith) into covering and surrounding sedimentary layers. $Checkerboard Mesa, crossbedded sandstone layers with vertical fractures, Zion National Park, Utah.$
Checkerboard Mesa, crossbedded sandstone layers with vertical fractures, Zion National Park, Utah.

Checkerboard Mesa, detail of crossbedded sandstone layers deposited in the Jurassic Period (200-145 million years ago). $Checkerboard Mesa, fractured edge of sandstone layers derived from quartz sand deposited and moved by wind and water.$
Checkerboard Mesa, fractured edge of sandstone layers derived from quartz sand deposited and moved by wind and water.

Navaho sandstone pillars, Zion National Park, Utah.