Buffalo Pie - Badlands National Park EarthCache
Buffalo Pie - Badlands National Park
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Badlands National Park, South Dakota. Depositional and erosional feature from the Oligocene.
The Badlands are a type of arid terrain with clay-rich soil that has been extensively eroded by wind and water. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in The Badlands. The Badlands usually have a spectacular color display that alternates from dark black/blue coal strata to bright clays to red scoria. Some of the most famous fossil beds are found in the Badlands, where the forces of erosion have exposed the sedimentary layers and the lack of vegetation cover makes surveying relatively easy.
The Badlands are characterized by unusual topographic features. These features are a product of the erosion of sedimentary beds. The Badlands Wall divides the southern White River from the northern uplands. This upland is formed by the Brule Formation, which is composed of sand and clay. The formation includes several minor west and northwest faults.
Excerpt written by Ellen Dockery and taken from the website (visit link)
To get credit for this cache, post a picture of you and your GPS in front of the interpretive sign (such that you can't see the answer) at this location and e-mail me the answer to the following question:
Approximately how long ago did the erosion of the Badlands begin?
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