Deseret Limestone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deseret LimestoneStratigraphic range: Carboniferous |
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|---|---|
Madison and Desert Limestones to the right, neoproterozoic Hades Pass Formation to the left (Uinta Mountains, Utah)
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| Type | Formation |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | dolomitic limestone |
| Other | chert, shale |
| Location | |
| Region | Utah |
| Country | United States |
The Deseret Limestone is a special rock layer found in Utah, USA. It's also sometimes called the Pine Canyon Formation. This rock layer holds amazing clues about what Earth was like millions of years ago. It's like a giant history book made of stone!
Contents
What is the Deseret Limestone?
The Deseret Limestone is a type of rock formation. It is mostly made of limestone, which is a rock that often forms from the shells and skeletons of sea creatures. This particular limestone also contains a type of rock called chert, which is very hard.
How Old is This Rock?
The Deseret Limestone dates back to a time called the Carboniferous Period. This was about 340 million years ago! Imagine how long ago that was. During this time, Earth looked very different from today.
Where Did It Form?
This rock layer formed at the bottom of a huge ancient ocean. This ocean was called Panthalassa. Over millions of years, tiny sea creatures died and their remains settled on the ocean floor. These layers slowly turned into the hard rock we see today.
Ancient Life in the Deseret Limestone
The Deseret Limestone is famous for the fossils it preserves. These fossils are like snapshots of life from 340 million years ago. Most of the fossils found here are from marine animals, meaning they lived in the ocean.
What Kinds of Fossils Are There?
You can find many types of ancient sea creatures in this limestone.
- Corals: There are fossils of tabulate and rugose corals. These were ancient types of corals that looked a bit different from the corals we see in oceans today.
- Other Invertebrates: Scientists also find other creatures without backbones. These include things like ancient shells and other small sea animals.
- Conodonts: These are tiny, tooth-like fossils. They come from small, eel-like creatures that lived in the ancient oceans. Conodonts are very important for telling the age of rocks.
Exploring the Deseret Limestone
The Deseret Limestone is quite thick. It can be up to 500 feet thick in some places. That's taller than many skyscrapers!
The Black Shale Layer
At the very bottom of the Deseret Limestone, there's a layer of black shale. Shale is a soft, layered rock. This black shale is special because it's the "host rock" for many caves in Utah. For example, famous caves like those in Timpanogos Cave National Monument were formed within or near this rock layer. Water slowly dissolved the limestone over millions of years, creating these amazing underground passages.
