Existing comment:
Cross Bedding:
The beehives not only demonstrate the unique design that can be created by Nature, but is an excellent representation of geologic cross bedding. Those are the grooved lines going in different directions. The layers or beds represent different layers of silt that are deposited at different times. The beds indicate the angle the wind or water was moving at the time the material was deposited. Cross bedding is a very common in sand dunes, beach deposits, , and river sediments.
There are numerous examples of cross bedding throughout Valley of Fire.
Cryptobiotic Soil:
Through most of the desert, you will find patches of a block rust on the soil. This is a community of algae, lichens, mosses, and cyanobacteria that cement the soil together. It provides nutrients for plants and seeds, and increased the soil topography which allows greater moister [moisture?] absorption. This crust is only a few millimeters thick and is easily destroyed when walked on. Recovery can take between 7 and 250 years. Please don't wall on it. |