Friday Field Foto #77: Liesegang banding in cross-bedded sandstone
February 6, 2009
This week’s Friday Field Foto is from the Valley of Fire area in southern Nevada. In 2004 I went on a trip with several other graduate students to this and surrounding areas.
The photo below shows the chemical/diagenetic banding knowns as Liesegang bands.
Liesegang banding, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (© 2009 clasticdetritus.com)
The rocks above are (if I remember correctly) within Jurassic eolian units, which are great rocks for seeing some of the most beautiful expressions of the Liesegang phenomenon. In some cases, the banding will follow primary stratification, in other cases, it will cross-cut it.
See Hindered Settling’s post about Liesegang features.
Happy Friday!!
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You are correct Brian. The Valley of Fire is largely within the Jurassic Aztec. Another great place to check out this formation nearby is the Bowl of Fire, just outside the Lake Mead NRA. The Aztec is contemporaneous with the Navajo to the north and east. Have a good weekend!