October 2004. Eddie the dog and I make a study of the Trona Pinnacles.
Category: Geology
Afton Canyon
Afton Canyon is a scenic and geologically interesting area located in the Mojave Desert of Southern California, USA. It is often called the “Grand Canyon of the Mojave” due to its impressive and rugged landscapes. One of the notable features of Afton Canyon is its association with the Mojave River.
The Mojave River runs through Afton Canyon, creating a unique riparian (riverbank) environment amid the desert. The river, although intermittent in some sections, has carved a deep and narrow canyon through the surrounding sedimentary rocks, exposing colorful layers of sediment and providing a habitat for various plant and animal species.
Afton Canyon is part of the Mojave National Preserve, a unit of the National Park Service. The area is popular for outdoor activities such as hiking, bird watching, and camping. The canyon also features a historic railroad route, including a section known as the “Afton Canyon Natural Area,” which showcases the old railway trestle that spans the Mojave River.
The geology of Afton Canyon is noteworthy, as it exposes layers of sedimentary rocks, including sandstone and mudstone, which tell a story of the region’s geological history. The canyon’s formation is attributed to the erosive power of the Mojave River over time.
Visitors to Afton Canyon can explore its scenic beauty, enjoy recreational activities, and learn about the unique geological and natural features that make this area a special part of the Mojave Desert.
Virginia Dale
Photos of the Virginia Dale Mine in the Dale Mining District east of Twentynine Palms, Ca. — April 19, 2003.
Geology List
Geology Thumbnail Index
California’s geomorphic provinces are naturally defined geologic regions that … Earthquakes & Faults ยท San Andreas Fault. Summary of the earthquake fault …
Heteromyid rodents from Miocene faunas of the Mojave Desert, Southern California. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Science Series 41; p. 213-236.
Red Rock Canyon California State Park. The geologic story of Red Rock Canyon is told by its …
California/Nevada Death Valley Regional Geology. Field Trip Guide. Walk Through Time. Badwater with Telescope …
Mesozoic Rocks. Source – NPS, Cinder cones national natural landmark. Kelso Dunes, Mojave Preserve, Eastern Mojave Desert Banshee …
The Mojave Desert – Shaping the Classic American Desert
The area of most dramatic relief is around Death Valley, California, where the elevation drops from 3,400 m above sea level at Telescope Peak to 88 m below sea …
The Geology of Sand Dunes. While one-quarter to one-third of the world’s deserts are covered with sand, little research has taken …
Mojave Preserve Geology – Landforms
Desert landscape and surface processes study, Mojave National Preserve.
Hole in the Wall – Mojave Preserve
Mojave Preserve – Geology. Hole-in-the-Wall. Hidden violence. Visitors to Mojave National Preserve are fascinated by the brightly colored, …
The Mojave River and Associated Lakes – Mojave Desert Geology
Desert landscape and surface processes study, Mojave National Preserve.
Geology – Death Valley Rock Samples – Mojave Desert
A rock formation is a body of rock of a considerable extent with distinctive characteristics that allow geologists to map, describe, and name it. The sample rocks …
Geology of the Death Valley Region
The three sites in this area lie in the extreme southeast corner of Death Valley National Park immediately west of California Highway 127 which provides the …
Introduction to Geology of the Mojave Desert
Far from being static, the geology of Earth is dynamic, in constant motion and change. The crust is a puzzle made up of tectonic plates, shifting against …
Mojave Desert Geology: Joshua Tree National Park – Nature & Environment. Geology of Joshua Tree. Geologic Displays. The park encompasses some of the most …
Earthquake Faults: Mojave Desert Geology
Geology: Earthquakes & Faults: California straddles the juncture of two great crustal plates: the Pacific plate and the North American plate.
Wind-induced Sand Movement. Photo of a dust devil on Soda Lake in the Mojave Preserve transporting sand. Individual sand grains are moved under the force of the …
Rock Formations – Mojave Desert
Trona Pinnacles. This eerie, fantastic landscape is one of the most unique geological features in the California desert. These … Vasquez Rocks. These towering …
Desert Landforms & Surface Processes
Historic weather data for the Eastern Mojave Desert is relatively scarce because there is no significant … Geologic History. The oldest rocks exposed in the …
This ongoing process has created the majestic contrast of a desert lake bordered by high mountain peaks. As the western floor of the Mono Basin slipped …
Map, photos and virtual tour of the Geology Tour Road in Joshua Tree National Park.
Introduction to the Arch Rock Geology tour
Geology tour of White Tank Arch Rock in Joshua Tree National Park.
The Geology of the Mojave Desert
The earliest rock, related to the metamorphic gneiss and schist at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, has little exposure in the Mojave, but can be seen at Saddle …
Magma On The Move: Geology of the Mojave Desert
Along with the faulting, volcanic activity increased across the landscape. Igneous rock is derived from molten layers of magma beneath the Earth’s crust. Under …
Changing Climates and Ancient Lakes Mojave Desert
Information was derived from articles within Enzel, Wells, and Lancaster (2003); [Geological Society of America Special Paper 268].
General Geologic History – Mojave Preserve – California Mojave
Desert landscape and surface processes study, Mojave National Preserve.
Geology Road – Joshua Tree National Park
Driving tour of Joshua Tree geology
The Providence Mountains caves, like most limestone caves in other parts of the world, seem to have had a two-stage history. Most geologists who have studied …
Volcanic Rocks and Associated Landforms
Cinder Cones and Lava Flows National Natural Landmark Area. Volcanic eruptions have occurred many times throughout the Mojave National Preserve in the geologic …
Badwater – Death Valley Geology
Some of the minerals left behind by earlier Death Valley lakes dissolved in the shallow water, creating a briny solution. The Desert Returns. The wet times didn’t …
Geology Red Rock National Conservation Area
For much of the past 600 million years, the land that is now Red Rock Canyon NCA was the bottom of a deep ocean basin and the western coast of North America was …
Mosaic Canyon – Death Valley Geology
Smooth, polished marble walls enclose the trail as it follows the canyon’s sinuous curves. The canyon follows faults that formed when the rocky crust of the …