Geology Presentation

1. Death Valley
BY: MICHAEL DOWNER
GEOLOGY 103
PROFESSOR MARK LAWLER

2. Death Valley Quick Facts
• Death Valley’s oldest rocks formed at least 1.7
billion years ago.
• Although the oldest rocks have formed at least
1.7 billion years ago, the history is severely
altered that the “true history” is almost
undecipherable (NPS.gov).
• The landscape of Death Valley has changed over
millions of years and will continue to change.
• “Hottest place on earth” with record heat
temperatures reaching 134 degrees Fahrenheit
(NPS.gov).
• “ Driest place in North America” (NPS.gov).

3. Mountains & Volcanoes- Evolution of
Death Valley
• The uplift was due to movement below the Earth’s crust. The
crust is inter-connected sections (plates). Death Valley lies near
the boundaries of these two plates (NPS.gov).
• The plates began to move slowly causing compressional forces to
gradually fold, warp, and “fracture” the crust. This happened
throughout the Mesozoic Era (251-65.5 million years ago).
• Volcanic activity had major influence on Death Valley’s
formation. This volcanic activity happened throughout the
Tertiary period (65.5-2 million years ago).
• Fun fact- This volcanic activity actually “traveled”. It first
appeared to the northeast in Nevada, then over time moved
westward.

4. Badwater Basin
• The lowest point in North
America sitting at 282 feet
below sea level.
• Salt Flats
• Fun Fact: The Basin got its
name when a mule belonging to
an early surveyor, refused to the
spring-fed pool (NPS.gov).
• I have driven through Death
Valley numerous times without
having a reason to stop and look
around. This project was a
perfect excuse to stop and take
in the geological history behind
it.

5. Evolution of Badwater Basin
• The Badwater Basin cover 200 square miles
• Composed of sodium chloride, calcite, gypsum, and borax
(NPS.gov).
• This area used to be a large inland lake called “Lake
Manly”. This lake evaporated over tens of thousands of
years prior to the arrival of the first person to “discover
it”.
• Due to the lake not having an outlet, it accumulated
sediment and salt over time.
• Concentrated salt deposits were left behind when the lake
evaporated.
• Salt polygons form on the flats as groundwater rises up
through these deposits and evaporates (NPS.gov).

6. CANIS LATRANS
“COYOTE”
• Coyotes live in diverse habitats.
They can be seen strolling the streets
in South Lake Tahoe, and roaming
Death Valley.
• Coyotes are mainly carnivorous.
Their diets consist of rabbits and
rodents, carrion, birds, reptiles, and
even fruits.
• They are gray to reddish-brown in
color.
• They are active during the day and
night
• They are smaller and more solitary
in Death Valley.
• High intelligent and social animals.

7. Evolution of the “Coyote”
• Evolved from a wolf-like canid in North
America.
• Evolved during the Pleistocene epoch – 2
million years ago.
• They have adapted to survive in almost
every ecosystem in North America.
• 19 recognized subspecies
• A lot of variation due to the ability to
hybridize with closely related canids
(Untamed Science).
• Due to their adaptability, they are very
well adapted to the harsh environment
of Death Valley

8. Yucca Brevifolia
“ Joshua Tree”
I have always loved looking
at Joshua Trees. They have a
tree like trunk but spikes on
the top. They grow in twists
and turns.
• Member of the Agave Family
• DNA studies led to a more
accurate classification of the
Joshua Tree.
• Joshua Trees are a monocot in a
subgroup of flowering plants.
• Average life span of 150 years
• Birds, mammals, insects, reptiles
depend on the Joshua Tree for
food and shelter
• Although scientist urge
permanent protection of Joshua
Trees, it has only been offered
temporary protection.

9. Evolution of the Joshua Tree
• Paleontologists found Yucca Breviofolia in the dietary remains of the
ground sloth that is now extinct.
• It has adapted well in the elevations and environments.
• The pollinating of the Joshua Tree has a complex history with the
Yucca Moths. Some scientists believe that the Joshua Tree and Yucca
Moth have evolved together, making the pollination of the Joshua
Tree’s only favorable to the Yucca Moths.
• Due to the adaptability of the Joshua Tree, it has been able to
survive. It appears the perfectly timed environment for reproducing
and adaptability have allowed the tree to survive.

10. Death Valley Rocks
Eureka Quartzite
• Middle Ordovician age
• The lower contact of the Eureka
Quartzite is a regional unconformity
while the upper contact is locally an
unconformity .
• Lies on the Ordovician Antelope
Valley Limestone.
• It is white and blue with some red
at the base.
• I saw this rock formation and could
not identify it without the help of
my notes. It puzzled me for a bit,
and wondered what this formation
was.

11. Sailing Stones
• These rocks drift on their own across the
landscape.
• 200 million years old
• I have always been interested in what these
rocks were made of and how can they move
on their own!
• They are composed of dolomite and syenite.
• The same composition is found in the
mountains above the sailing stones. The
rocks tumble down due to erosion.
• Some larger rocks leave a trail of 1500 feet
long.

12. Metamorphic Rocks
• Oldest rocks in the area.
• Extensively metamorphosed by
intense heat and pressure.
• 1700 million years old.
• Intruded by a mass on granite 1400
million years ago that uplifted and
exposed 500 million years of erosion
(NPS.gov).
• These rocks looked familiar as they
are metamorphic so it was the easiest
of the three to identify for me.

13. Steno Law of Superposition
• I believe that Steno Law of Superposition is what fits with Death
Valley. There are a lot of formations around this massive area.
Some of which could apply another Steno Law regarding fossils.
Some areas of Death Valley have fossils embedded, others do not.
The complexity of Death Valley’s ever-changing geology made it
difficult to pick one of the laws.

14. Death Valley is filled with numerous geologic formations. I hope that someday
I can explore all of Death Valley and learn more of the history behind the geologic
formations.

15. References
• Badwater Basin (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). Badwater Basin (U.S. National
Park Service); www.nps.gov. Retrieved August 14, 2022, from
https://www.nps.gov/places/badwater-basin.htm
• Coyote - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). Coyote -
Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service); www.nps.gov. Retrieved
August 14, 2022, from https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/coyote.htm
• Geology - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). Geology -
Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service); www.nps.gov. Retrieved
August 14, 2022, from
https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/geology.htm#:~:text=Caused%20by%20violent%
20steam%20explosions,is%20dynamic%20and%20ever%20changing.&text=Death%20
Valley’s%20landscape%20has%20been%20changing%20for%20millions%20of%20years
.
• Joshua Trees - Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). Joshua
Trees - Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service); www.nps.gov.
Retrieved August 14, 2022, from https://www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/nature/jtrees.htm
• Monroe, J. S., & Wicander, R. (2012). The changing earth: Exploring geology and
evolution (7th ed.).