![]() Information is provided on the history, Native American folklore, and the geological formation. This page is an introduction to Devil's Tower National Monument. A slide show of the emplacement of the tower is also available. ![]() The evolution of various theories on the formation of the tower are discussed. This site from the National Park Service briefly addresses the geology of Devil's Tower. ![]() Geologic estimates have placed the age of Devil's Tower at greater than 50 million years, although it is likely that erosion uncovered the rock formations only one or two million years ago ( Field Notes ( more info) ). The characteristic furrowed columns are the result of contraction which occurred during the cooling of the magma. Current research supports the conclusion that Devil's Tower was not a volcano, but was injected between sedimentary rock layers and cooled underground. Debate continues, however, as to whether the rock cooled underground or whether Devil's Tower magma reached the surface. Geologists agree that Devil's Tower formed from molten rock forced upwards from deep within the earth. The region around the tower is composed of the Spearfish, Gypsum Spring and Sundance formations ( Field Notes ( more info) ).Īlthough Devil's Tower has long been a prominent landmark in northeastern Wyoming, the origin of the mammoth rock obelisk remains somewhat obscure. The redness of the rocks is due to the oxidization of minerals ( Devil's Tower National Monument ( more info) ). Devil's Tower, deemed the first national monument by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, is an igneous intrusion which rises 1,267 feet above the surrounding area.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |