Capitol Reef National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Geology “Geology knows no such word as forever.” —Wallace Stegner Capitol Reef National Park’s geologic story reveals a nearly complete set of Mesozoic-era sedimentary layers. For 200 million years, rock layers formed at or near sea level. About 75-35 million years ago tectonic forces uplifted them, forming the Waterpocket Fold. Forces of erosion have been sculpting this spectacular landscape ever since. Deposition If you could travel in time and visit Capitol Visiting Capitol Reef 180 million years ago, Reef 245 million years ago, you would not when the Navajo Sandstone was deposited, recognize the landscape. Imagine a coastal you would have been surrounded by a giant park, with beaches and tidal flats; the water sand sea, the largest in Earth’s history. In this moves in and out gently, shaping ripple marks hot, dry climate, wind blew over sand dunes, in the wet sand. This is the environment creating large, sweeping crossbeds now in which the sediments of the Moenkopi preserved in the sandstone of Capitol Dome Formation were deposited. and Fern’s Nipple. Now jump ahead 20 million years, to 225 All the sedimentary rock layers were laid million years ago. The tidal flats are gone and down at or near sea level. Younger layers were the climate supports a tropical jungle, filled deposited on top of older layers. The Moenkopi with swamps, primitive trees, and giant ferns. is the oldest layer visible from the visitor center, The water is stagnant and a humid breeze with the younger Chinle Formation above it. brushes your face. Oxygen-rich river water The Castle is Wingate Sandstone; the Kayenta oxidized the iron in the sediments, giving the Formation that formerly capped it has eroded Chinle Formation its lavender and red colors, away, but is still visible atop the red cliffs behind while the reducing environment of stagnant it. White domes of Navajo Sandstone comprise bogs gave it the greens and grays. the highest and youngest layer seen from the visitor center. Uplift The movement of, and the interaction area of otherwise nearly horizontal layers. between, Earth’s tectonic plates created the The layers on the west side of the Fold have different environments in which Capitol been lifted more than 7,000 feet (2134 m) Reef’s nineteen rock layers were formed. Few higher than corresponding layers on the east. of these sedimentary layers would be visible, The Waterpocket Fold is the longest exposed however, if not for the Laramide Orogeny, a monocline in North America and is nearly 90 massive mountain building event that likely miles in length. It is the main reason Capitol reactivated an ancient buried fault between Reef National Monument was established in 75 and 35 million years ago. The compression 1937. associated with the Laramide Orogeny gave rise to a one-sided fold, or monocline, in the The folding and tilting of the rock layers allow earth’s crust within the Colorado Plateau. you to travel through 280 million years of Capitol Reef’s geologic history in just fifteen The Waterpocket Fold is a classic monocline: miles by driving through the park on State an enlongated fold with one steep side in an Route 24. Erosion Capitol Reef’s spectacular scenery reflects role. Flash floods are the most dramatic not only the underlying structure of the display of erosion in action. Floodwaters Waterpocket Fold, but also the differing propel debris, sediment, cobbles, and degrees of resistance to weathering and boulders, increasing water’s carving power. erosion seen in each rock layer. Deposition and uplift in Capitol Reef have Water is the dominant erosional force in created a unique window into Earth’s history, Capitol Reef, with wind playing only a minor revealed through the power of erosion. Cenozoic andesite Navajo Sandstone and Wingate Kayenta Formation Sandstone Sandstone Deeply-buried fault publications on Capitol Reef’s natural and cultural history. cultural Reef’s and natural Capitol on publications sells that association t cooperating anon-pro Association, History Reef Natural which also the links Capitol to (www.nps.gov/care) website our on available is Park Reef National the geology Capitol on of information Additional Paleo- Thickness Rock Type Location / Remarks Landforms Age Capitol Reef Stratigraphy Column environment 65 MYA Tarantula Mesa Sandstone 1200-1450 feet Floodplains, coastal areas, West side of Henry Mtns., Shale interlayered with sandstone Masuk Formation (combined) and marine east of Strike Valley Muley Canyon Sandstone Mostly dark gray shale interlayered Shallow sea that bisected Factory Butte and badlands near 2000-3000 feet Mancos Shale with sandstone North America Caineville Cretaceous 0-50 feet Tan sandstone, oyster shell fossils Coastal Oyster Shell Reef; locally absent DakotaDakota Sandstone EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™ North and east of the Hartnet Road 0-100 feet Conglomerate and mudstone layers Rivers and Floodplains Cedar Mountain Formation river ford 144 MYA White crossbedded sandstone (Salt Vast river systems; Brushy Basin Member Bentonite Hills; along Notom-Bullfrog Morrison 180-700 feet Wash) & candy-striped mudstone bentonite clays from Road north of Burr Trail Formation Salt Wash Member (Brushy Basin) altered volcanic ash Thinly-bedded, reddish siltstone; 150-300 feet Tidal fl ats Cliffs at east park entrance Summerville Formation thick, wavy gypsum on top 0-80 feet Grayish-green sandstone & siltstone Marine Caps cathedrals of Cathedral Valley Curtis Formation Earthy, red, very fi ne-grained Transition between tidal 450-750 feet Cathedrals of Cathedral Valley Entrada Sandstone sandstone & gypsum fl ats and dune fi elds Interlayered red sandstone, Shallow marine, tidal fl ats, Forms red V-shaped chevrons on 300-100 feet Carmel Formation siltstone, & gypsum & sabkhas (sandy salt fl ats) east side of Waterpocket Fold Jurassic 50-100 feet Tan sandstone Sand dunes Cap of Golden Throne Page Sandstone Capitol Dome, Navajo Dome, & Navajo Sandstone 800-1100 feet White crossbedded sandstone Vast region of sand dunes Grand Wash Narrows Interlayered white sandstone & red Top, ledgy portion of Fruita Cliffs; 350 feet West-fl owing rivers Kayenta Formation siltstone Hickman Bridge 350 feet Sandstone, often stained dark red Sand dunes Fruita Cliffs & Circle Cliffs Wingate Sandstone 206 MYA Glen Canyon Group San Rafael Group Interlayered sandstone, siltstone, & Forested basin with rivers, Slopes below Fruita Cliffs; contains 350-550 feet Shinarump Chinle Formation bentonitic mudstone swamps, & lakes petrifi ed wood & uranium Member www.nps.gov/care 0-90 feet White sandstone River channels Discontinuous; cap of Chimney Rock Mostly dark red siltstone & Gently sloping coastal Miners Mountain, Egyptian Temple, Moenkopi Formation 500-1000 feet mudstone; minor yellowish plain, fl uctuating sea level & base of Chimney Rock limestone 248 MYA 70-100 feet Gray dolomitic limestone Marine Fremont River Gorge Kaibab Limestone Fremont River Gorge & 400+ feet White crossbedded sandstone Beach & dune sands White Rim Sandstone Goosenecks of Sulphur Creek Permian Triassic 11/15 290 MYA MYA = Million Years Ago.