What kind of rock is the Tetons?
metamorphic rock
A 2.7 billion-year old metamorphic rock called gneiss makes up much of the Teton Range. These rocks were formed when sea floor sediments and volcanic debris were buried up to 18 miles deep as two tectonic plates collided – similar to the collision of India and Asia today forming the Himalayas.
What caused the Gros Ventre Slide?
1. Heavy rains and rapidly melting snow saturated the Tensleep Sandstone, causing the Amsden Shale rock layer on Sheep Mountain to become exceptionally slippery; 2. The Gros Ventre river, cutting through the sandstone, produced a “free side” with no extra support holding it in course; 3.
How did Lower Slide Lake form?
The natural lake was created on June 23, 1925, when the Gros Ventre landslide dammed the Gros Ventre River. The lake was once much larger, however part of the rock dam failed less than two years later, on May 18, 1927, causing deadly flooding downstream.
What happened in the 1925 Gros Ventre Slide in Wyoming?
On June 23, 1925, hurling down the slope at 50 mph, the mile-wide Gros Ventre Slide carried 50,000,000 cubic yards of debris down the mountain and then another 300 feet up the opposite slope. The Slide blocked the Gros Ventre River, and formed a five-mile long body of water known today as Lower Slide Lake.
How were the mountains in Wyoming formed?
About 10 million years ago, Earth’s crust started to stretch and thin, forming faults and causing earthquakes. Over time, the block of earth west of the Teton fault shot upward, forming the Tetons, and the block of earth east of the fault dropped more than 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) forming the valley.
Where does sedimentary rocks come from?
Sedimentary rocks are formed from pre-existing rocks or pieces of once-living organisms. They form from deposits that accumulate on the Earth’s surface. Sedimentary rocks often have distinctive layering or bedding.
What type of landslide is the Gros Ventre landslide?
If the slope bedrock is inclined and is somewhat parallel to the slope, it is called a dip slope. Landslides are prone along failure planes (clay beds and old soils) on these dip slopes. The Gros Ventre landslide is a good example of this.
What factors led to the massive rockslide at Gros Ventre Wyoming quizlet?
What factors led to the massive rockslide at Gros Ventre, Wyoming? Tilted sandstone bed that had been cut through by the river could no longer maintain its position atop the saturated bed of clay.
When did the Gros Ventre Slide happen?
June 23, 1925
The landslide occurred on June 23, 1925, following melt from a heavy snowpack, several weeks of heavy rain, and earthquake tremors in the area.
Where is the Gros Ventre?
western Wyoming
The Gros Ventre Wilderness lies just east of Jackson in western Wyoming. The name “Gros Ventre” is French, meaning “big belly”. It is roughly bounded by the Gros Ventre River to the north, the Green River to the east, the Hoback River to the south and the National Elk Refuge and Snake River to the west.
What caused rock formations in Wyoming?
The lake receded and dried up thousands of years ago, leaving behind soil formed by the erosion of sandstone and shale. Although few green things grow willingly in Sweetwater County besides sagebrush and prairie grass, such a setting made conditions ripe for the natural phenomena of stunning rock formations.
What are the rock formations in Wyoming?
Here Are The 9 Strangest Rock Formations In Wyoming You Have To See To Believe
- Castle Rock, Green River.
- Hell’s Half Acre, Natrona County.
- Pilot Butte, Sweetwater County.
- Castle Gardens, south of Riverton.
- Man’s Face Hill, Green River.
- Vedauwoo, Medicine Bow-Routte National Forest.
- Washakie Badlands, Washakie County.