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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Canyonlands National ParkSeedling in Biological Soil Crust
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Canyonlands National Park
Mesa Verde Group
 
Book Cliffs
Book Cliffs
 

This layer does not occur in Canyonlands.

Deposited
Late Cretaceous (64 to 144 million years ago)

Depositional Environment
Lagoons, bays, other near-shore regimes.

Appearance
Cliff forming, gray-brown layered sandstones.

Notes
The Mesa Verde Group contains bituminous coal which is mined around Price, UT.

Example
Book Cliffs north of I-70 between Grand Junction, CO and Green River, UT.
Interactive Geologic Atlas
Interactive Geologic Atlas
Flash animations manage to simplify the story of Canyonlands.
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Tadpole Shrimp  

Did You Know?
Naturally occurring sandstone basins called “potholes” collect rain water and wind-blown sediment, forming tiny ecosystems where a fascinating collection of plants and animals live. Tadpole shrimp, fairy shrimp and many insects can be found in potholes.
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Last Updated: July 11, 2006 at 11:41 EST