Black Mesa (Kayenta) Geology

[Jim_H]

Does anyone know some of the layers, or where I could find an easy reference guide to the layers of Black Mesa, especially what can be seen above Kayenta, and not at all around the coal mines. I'd really like to know what I am hiking on, when I hike the trail, and walking on when on the top. Some of the layers are quite odd, and some are the typical sandstone you get everywhere out here. They make a big deal about the layers at the Grand Canyon, and to a lesser extent, in Sedona, but what about elsewhere?

[chumley]

I don't think I'll have time today, but sometime this week I should be able to walk over to the map library and look up some information for you. There are some really interesting and detailed geologic maps on file here at ASU. I'll let you know what I find.

[hippiepunkpirate]

The rocks of Black Mesa span from the jurassic San Rafael Group into the cretaceous Mesa Verde Group, but I can't find any good online resources on them. Jim, you really need to get Baar's "Traveler's Guide to the Geology of the Colorado Plateau": http://hikearizona.com/books.php?REV=1&ID=1070

[Dschur]

There are some good geology books at the visitor center at Marble Canyon that you can look thru to see what you would like to get. And maps too...

[chumley]

Jim, I finally remembered to go check this out at the library. Instead of littering this thread with uploads, I just created a photoset/triplog with everything in it.
Check it out here:
http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=18602

[chumley]

There's also a book called "Geology of the Kayenta and Chilchinbito Quadrangles" published in 1965 by the USGS. It's available in the ASU library, and I found a copy of it online. It's only ~35 pages. Easy and educational reading. The book in the library has some maps not included here, but not much that isn't shown in the photoset I posted.

Happy reading!