Cedar Mesa Sandstone

Spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone in Chesler Park (Needles District)

NPS/Herbert

 

Deposited:
Permian Period (245 to 286 million years ago)

Depositional Environment:
Near-shore sand dunes intermingling with periodic floods that brought dark red sediments from the ancient Uncompahgre Mountains

Appearance:
Red and white layered sandstones forming cliffs, domes and spires

Examples:
Spires and canyons in the Needles and Maze Districts of Canyonlands

 

Rock Strata

• Layer Above: Organ Rock Shale, part of Culter Group Undivided
• Current Layer: Cedar Mesa Sandstone, part of Cutler Group Undivided
• Layer Below: Halgaito Shale / Lower Cutler Formation, part of Cutler Group Undivided