Chloe Tippett, 11 years old, documents her journey down the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon. Geology Independent Study presentation for Creekside Charter School (6th Grade).

1. Grand Canyon 2018
By: Chloe Tippett

2. The Grand Canyon is
located in Arizona. It
is 277 miles long and
is 6,000 feet deep. It
is considered one of
the Seven Natural
Wonders of the
world.

3. The Colorado
River runs through
the Grand Canyon.

4. How was The Grand Canyon Formed?
Scientists believe that the Grand Canyon was carved by the Colorado River
about 5 million years ago. The processes that caused this, and continue
today, include erosion and weathering.
Erosion: Erosion is the movement of rocks and soil from one place to another by
water, wind, and ice.
Weathering: Weathering is the break down of rocks and soil due to weather like rain,
wind, and temperature. An example of weathering is when a rock’s edges are rounded.
At the same time that the Colorado River was cutting down into the rock
layers, the rock layers themselves were rising up due to plate tectonics.
Plate Tectonics: The earth’s plates moved and collided.

5. Shear Wall (Mile 14)
These walls are an example of rocks that have
been weathered.

6. Redwall Cavern (Mile 33)
This huge cavern is an example of erosion caused
by water hydraulics and wind.

7. Rock Layers
The walls of the Grand Canyon expose nearly 40 different rock layers. These rock layers
formed at different times in the earth’s history. The layers at the top of the rim are about
200 million years old. The layers at the bottom near the river are over 2 billion years old.

8. What is Sedimentary
Rock?
The different rock layers in the
Grand Canyon were formed by
mineral deposits that settled in
place for millions of years under
pressure, either under the
earth’s surface or under a
prehistoric ocean.
Types of sedimentary rocks
include:
● Limestone
● Sandstone
● Siltstone
● Shale
● Dolimite

9. Nankoweap Granaries (Mile 52)
Puebloans cut “storage units” into the sandstone
1,000 years ago. They hauled their grain
(pumpkin seeds and corn) up from the river to
keep it dry during floods and to protect it from
animals.

10. Sandbars
Sandbars are important to the Grand Canyon’s
ecosystem. They provide habitat for native and
endangered fish, they support vegetation, and they
help protect archaeological sites.

11. Little Colorado (Mile 61)
There are many side creeks to explore. The Little
Colorado is bright blue due to dissolved travertine
and limestone in the water. This is similar to
Havasu Creek, another major tributary.

12. Elves Chasm (Mile 117)
Elves chasm is a beautiful
waterfall with a small cave
above it and under it. This is
another example of something
that was formed due to erosion
and weathering.

13. Lava at Lava Falls (Mile 180)
The Grand Canyon also has a history of volcanic activity.
The evidence of this is the hardened lava that spills down
the canyon walls all the way to the river.

14. Lava Falls (Mile 180) - Class 10 Rapid!

15. Flora and Fauna
Ringtail Cat
Cactus Bighorn Sheep