The great sandstone cliffs at Red Rock, thousands of feet high, are Aztec Sandstone and are estimated to be about 180 – 190 million years old. They are the remains of ancient lithified sand dunes from a vast desert that covered a large part of the Jurassic southwest. Lithification is the process of changing unconsolidated sediment into sedimentary rock.
The red color striping across some of the outcrops are from iron oxide or hematite when exposure to the elements caused iron minerals to oxidize or “rust,” resulting in red, orange, and brown-colored rocks.
Red Rock is part of the Spring Mountains and the amber red Sandstone Bluffs of Red Rock canyon just west of Las Vegas, Nevada. On the far left of the image is Mount Wilson, then Rainbow Mountain and Bridge Mountain.
This is from "Where Eagles Fly - The American Wilderness Expedition" my personal project of exploration in the North American Wilderness.
I am on a mission to raise awareness of our Iconic Natural Heritage Treasures of North America. If you wish to help spread the word and share these images of our amazing planet, please resteemit !
Yehaw!!!