Layers of Rock and Soil
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Stratigraphy is the study of the Earth's strata. By studying the sequences of these layers of rock, stratigraphers work to reconstruct the history of the earth. For example, fossilized sea shells and marine animals nearly 300 million years old can be found in limestone sediment within the Great Smoky Mountains, indicating their oceanic origin. |
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The Grand Canyon
has several layers of rock. Some layers contain maring fossils, such
as the Kaibab Limestone (about 250 million years old) and the Temple
Butte Limestone (about 350 million years old). But in between such layers
exists evidence of life on land, such as the Hermit Shale (about 265
million years old), which consists of fossilized tracks of reptiles
and amphibians as well as fossils of ferns, conifers and other plants.
The Grand Canyon Explorer is a great place to learn more about the geology and beauty of the Grand Canyon. |
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