Mesas and buttes stand where erosion has affected rock layers at different rates
Red hues are formed by iron minerals called hematite that, when exposed to air, oxidize, or rust
White rock layers are nearly pure Bentonite clay, which is primarily derived from volcanic ash
The conglomerates of Blue Mesa were carried here by streams 225 million years ago
The Park is technically classified as an Inter-mountain Basin, Semi-Desert Shrub Steppe and Grassland
Blue and gray hues form where decaying organic material was buried and deprived of air
Collared Lizards are among just a few North American lizards that can run on their hind legs
Petrified Forest receives about 10 inches of rain per year, requiring backpackers to carry all of their own water
Petrified wood was once so abundant that indigenous people used it for building material
Petrified wood is mostly quartz; the physical characteristics of cylindrical quartz cause it to break cleanly when stressed, resulting in lengthy symmetrical segments
Petrification is the process by which organic material is converted into stone by impregnation with silica
These blue, green, gray, green and lavender striations were colored by iron and manganese oxides and organic material
Badlands form where loosely cemented sediments have few deep-rooted plants to anchor soil and minimize erosion
Backpackers must hike north of Lithodendron Wash, beyond which there are no designated campsites
Rabbitbush, sagebrush and saltbush are the most common shrubs in the park
The Owl Rock Member consists of pinkish-orange mudstones mixed with hard, thin layers of limestone
Badland formations are made of sedimentary layers that are inherently unstable and erode easily
Pronghorn, mule deer and jackrabbit are common throughout the Park's short grass prairies
Grasslands form where wind-blown sediments have gathered in a soil layer several feet thick
The Owl Rock Formation, exposed here in Chinde Mesa, is approximately 205 million years old
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