Arizona – Painted Desert
The Painted Desert is composed of stratified layers of easily erodible siltstone, mudstone, and shale of the Triassic Chinle Formation. These fine-grained rock layers contain abundant iron and manganese compounds which provide the pigments for the various colors of the region. Thin resistant lacustrine limestone layers and volcanic flows cap the mesas. Numerous layers of silicic volcanic ash occur in the Chinle and provide the silica for the petrified logs of the area.
This is sooooo amazing! I’ve never been to the dessert in bloom but have always wanted to. Thank you for sharing your trip!
Even though it’s the rock causing the colors 😛
Thanks Laura. More amazing variety of colors in the red landscape of Arizona than you can imagine.