Differential Erosion

Differential Erosion

The thin layers of rust-red rock on the butte in front of you are iron-impregnated sandstone. Because they are harder than the soft gray sediments that make of up the rest of the butte, they erode more slowly. Notice how these hard layers form shelves that protect soft sediments below. This type of erosion, called differential erosion, is the main shaping force of the badlands.