The Algonkian strata of the Grand Canyon are by far
the most interesting; Major Powell was the first to
Call attention to their
existence in his report of explorations of 1869-1872, and he discusses
their origin and history as far as was possible with the small amount of
data he had at hand. Later Dr. Charles D. Walcott, his successor as
Director of the United States Geological Survey, and now the Secretary of
the Smithsonian Institution, spent a full winter in the heart of the
Canyon, especially studying the unique formations. Unique they are, for,
though found elsewhere on the earth, they are exceedingly rare, and, up to
this time; had received little study and were unknown and unnamed. The area
studied by Walcott lies at the very entrance to the Grand Canyon, near
where the Marble Canyon and Little Colorado Canyon join the main one. While
the series cross the river and are a fine feature of Red Canyon Trail, the
main study was done on the north side. Dr. Walcott thus locates the site of
his studies: "This area, between 35 degrees 57 minutes and 36 degrees 17
minutes north latitude, and between 111 degrees 47 minutes and 112 degrees
west longitude, is in the valley portion of the Canyon, between the mouth
of Marble Canyon and a point south of Vishnu's Temple, a little west of
where the Colorado River changes its course from south to southwest. It is
wholly within the greater depths of the Grand Canyon, east and southeast of
the Kaibab Plateau. The intercanyon valleys of this portion of the Grand
Canyon extend back from three to seven miles west of the river, and are
eroded in the crest of the Monoclinal fold that forms the eastern margin of
the Kaibab Plateau."
There are also interesting remnants of Algonkian directly opposite El Tovar
to the west of the Bright Angel Creek. They are easily discernible by their
brilliant geranium or vermilion color. They extend for a mile or more
westward, and rise above the Tonto sandstones, which properly belong above
them.
The most remarkable deposit and exhibition of Algonkian strata in the
Canyon, so far as known, occurs directly east of the great Kaibab Plateau,
opposite the Little Colorado River. Here there must be several, possibly
five or six thousand feet of these interesting strata, which Nature has
allowed to remain up to our day. Geologists are now investigating them more
thoroughly than ever before, and we may expect, when they publish the
reports of their labors, that our geological knowledge of the Algonkian
epoch, and possibly of other puzzling matters, will be much increased by
the light they will throw upon them.
CHAPTER XIV. The Canyon - Above And Below
The Canyon Rim. There are several rather remarkable and surprising points
of difference between the Canyon on the rim, and the Canyon in its depths.
Above, the whole Canyon region, save during the rainy season, is waterless,
and while not barren, owing to the growths made possible by winters' snows
and summers' rains, it is a veritable desert as far as water, whether in
streams, creeks, rivulets or springs, is concerned.
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