River Rock embedded in Sandstone.

[moab mark]

Can someone with a vast understanding of the CP explain how that piece of slickrock came to rest there and how river rock is stuck in this wall?

[ratagonia]

Can someone with a vast understanding of the CP explain how that piece of slickrock came to rest there and how river rock is stuck in this wall?

Looks like the Cutler Formation??

The big rock - was in the layer above. 500 years ago (or so), it broke off and slid into its current position. Because it is more robust than the Cutler mudstone, it "capped" a "pinnacle" and prevented the underlying Cutler from eroding away, thus becoming a Hoodoo.

The Cutler formation is a messy mudstone/sandstone. It was formed in river/stream beds, and thus can contain large rocks that settle in the mud. Those rocks are probably harder than the Cutler, so when erosion gets to them, they stand out.

Tom

[Udink]

I completely agree with :moses: in regards to the boulder forming the hoodoo. As for the smaller river rock embedded in the sandstone, a caveman threw the rock onto the sandy beach, then later the rock became buried in more sand on the beach, then yet later the sand became cemented (and apparently took on some iron coloring), then eroded into what you see today.

[ratagonia]

I completely agree with :moses: in regards to the boulder forming the hoodoo. As for the smaller river rock embedded in the sandstone, a caveman threw the rock onto the sandy beach, then later the rock became buried in more sand on the beach, then yet later the sand became cemented (and apparently took on some iron coloring), then eroded into what you see today.

Cutler Formation is Permian in age, so 250-290 MYA. Dude was before his time, fur sure!!

:moses:

[Scott Card]

Yer all wrong. It was neanderthal boy scouts hucking rocks from the top into the sand/ mud below. Makes perfect sense having been with boys and rock and streams (and dads = big rocks). :haha:

[moab mark]

I'm with Scott the scouts tossed the small rocks the dads pushed off the slickrock