Paradise Canyon
I composed this image while at the Chuckwalla Trailhead, which leads into Paradise Canyon in St. George, Utah.
This 5+ mile hike allows one to enjoy one spectacular red-rock view after another. For those interested in learning more about these stunning rock creations, read on.
What’s behind the extraordinary beauty of the red, salmon and rust- brown rocks for which Utah is so famous?
The color of rock is primarily influenced by trace minerals. The red, brown, and yellow colors so prevalent in southern Utah result from the presence of oxidized iron–that is iron that has undergone a chemical reaction upon exposure to air or oxygenated water. The iron oxides released from this process form a coating on the surface of the rock or rock grains containing the iron.
Just think of what happens to a nail when you leave it outside. Upon prolonged exposure, the iron in the nail oxidizes and rust is formed as a coating on the surface of the nail. So basically what one sees in red rock country is a lot of rusting sandstones and shales. Hematite is an especially common mineral form of iron oxide in Utah, the name coming from the Greek word “heama” or red blood. It only takes a tiny bit of hematite make a lot of red rock.
Paradise Canyon
I composed this image while at the Chuckwalla Trailhead, which leads into Paradise Canyon in St. George, Utah.
This 5+ mile hike allows one to enjoy one spectacular red-rock view after another. For those interested in learning more about these stunning rock creations, read on.
What’s behind the extraordinary beauty of the red, salmon and rust- brown rocks for which Utah is so famous?
The color of rock is primarily influenced by trace minerals. The red, brown, and yellow colors so prevalent in southern Utah result from the presence of oxidized iron–that is iron that has undergone a chemical reaction upon exposure to air or oxygenated water. The iron oxides released from this process form a coating on the surface of the rock or rock grains containing the iron.
Just think of what happens to a nail when you leave it outside. Upon prolonged exposure, the iron in the nail oxidizes and rust is formed as a coating on the surface of the nail. So basically what one sees in red rock country is a lot of rusting sandstones and shales. Hematite is an especially common mineral form of iron oxide in Utah, the name coming from the Greek word “heama” or red blood. It only takes a tiny bit of hematite make a lot of red rock.