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Wyoming

Below are pictures of Wyoming Geology. These were taken during a summer field camp course offered through Albion College in Albion, MI. The field camp is offered yearly and is instructed by great professors from the college. Along with Geology of Wyoming, there is also time spent in the Black Hills, SD. The explanations below each picture will hopefully give you an idea about the kind of features we mapped, as well as give you insight into some of the geology in the state of Wyoming.



glacial valley This is a view from the southern edge of the Beartooth mountains, facing west, at Vista Point, Rock Creek Valley. As can be seen by the U-shape, this is a major glacial valley . The sedimentary rocks at the top of the peaks are undeformed. Underneath are metamorphic Archaean rocks (oldest in Northern Craton...3.8ga)of high grade (meta-quartz and granulite facies). At 3.4ga there was a continental collision occuring with a second metamorphism (2.8ga) which left rocks of the Amphibolite facie. The famous Stillwater Complex was intruded during this time as well.


This is a great example of what happens to rock when lightening strikes. The red sandstone (of the Judith River Fm) was the original rock of this location, but after lightening, it is now the metamorphosed, super-heated rock: fulgerite. The black rocks are scattered down the slope. Note the remnants of the tree, the lightening's initial target, in the background. This picture was taken in Elk Basin, Wy, a smaller feature of the greater Bighorn Basin. fulgerite


elk basin Looking south from the inside southwestern edge of Elk Basin, WY (looking away from the basin). Elk basin is a dome that has been stream eroded so that the outer edges of the basin are the uplifted remnants of a once completed dome. If one looks into the basin, they can see the uplifted crust forming the outer boundaries of the basin all the way around. The majority of the faulting of the area is strike-slip, however there are cases of vertical displacement as well.



Looking east from the western edge of the Beartooth mountains. The distant mountain in the foreground is Heart Mountain. The blocky cap on the mountain is the Madison Limestone, a mid-Paleozoic rock, which unconformably overlies significantly younger rocks. This was part of our map area and posed a controversy, for obviously the Law of Superposition was being violated. The block of Limestone is an allochthonous body, part of what is known as the Heart Mountain Thrust. Several theories have been suggested as to how and where the thrusted material came to rest where it is today, for the blocks themselves are isolated, as can be seen in the picture. To read more about the Heart Mountain Thrust, the theories and the evidence for what might have happened click here. heart mountain




If you are interested in learning more about the geology of Wyoming, or the geology of certain mountain ranges in the state, please continue:

  • Strati graphy of Wyoming
  • Wind River Basin and Range
  • Absaroka Volcanics
  • Owl Creek Range



    • Wyoming Links


  • Wyoming Geologic Database-enables users to interactively obtain and analyze geologic information (bedrock geology, minerals, satellite imagery, etc.) about the state of Wyoming.
  • Greater Yellowstone Science-dedicated to presenting educat ional, scientific and historical information on the region. Geology, history, archaeology, environment, etc.
  • Grand Teton Natural History Association-provides infor mational materials including guidebooks, maps, histor y, geology and more.
  • USGS Earth Science Information for Wyoming-Welcome page for Wyoming earth science information from the U.S. Geological Survey
  • FTP Geology Image Archive-Mountains - Geology Image Archive-conta ins pics from the Grand Teton Range and adjacent Jackson's Hole, Wyoming, U.S.A.
  • Wyoming Photos-pictures from eastern Wyoming and the Bighorn Mountains Devils Tower, also a photo (with climbers) of the upper (highly eroded) part of Devils Tower National Monument.
  • Geologic Hazards Section-Wyoming State Geological Survey About the Geologic Hazards Section The primary purpose of the Geologic Hazards Section is to define, map, and explain geologic hazards and topics related to environmental geology in the State of Wyoming.


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