The Great Sandstond Cliffs of Red Rock Nevada

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!!!