Neal Lacroix Geology presentation
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Transcript of Neal Lacroix Geology presentation
Death Valley
Photo by Neal Lacroix
History● Death Valley is actually a graben● A graben is a depressed block of
land bordered by parallel faults● Oldest rocks are extensively
metamorphosed and at least 1.7 billion years old
● Death Valley is the hottest and driest place in North America
● On July 10. 1913 the hottest temperature on earth was recorded in Death Valley, 134* F
● Annual average rainfall is 1.5 inches
USGS
Geology● Salt Pan● Covers more than 200
square miles● Forty miles long● More than five miles wide
Photo by Neal Lacroix
Plants● Prickly pear● Opuntia Polycantha● Desert flowering succulent● Conservation status-secure● Joshua tree● Yucca brevafolia● Native to the southwestern
United States● Consevation status-could be
threatened by climate change
Photos by Neal Lacroix
Animals● Great-tailed Grackle● Quiscalus mexicanus● Native to North and South
America● Medium size passerine bird
Photo by Neal Lacroix
Rock 1● Shale● Sedimentary rock● Coated with sand and fused
together
Photo by Neal Lacroix
Rock 2● Sandstone● Sedimentary ● Carved with lines of an
unknown nature
Photo by Neal Lacroix
Rock 3● Igneous rock● Basalt with quartz streaks
Photo by Neal Lacroix
Rock 4● Layered sedimentary rock
Photo by Neal Lacroix
Rock 5● Sand dunes● The sand dunes are
comprised of very fine particles of silica and other rocks that have been ground up over time by the forces of nature.
Photo by Neal Lacroix
Changes 1● Over the course of millions of
years these rocks were moved to a vertical position and then formed into a curve by the extreme forces of nature.
Photo by Neal Lacroix
Changes 2● The plants had to adapt to
the lack of water. They did this by sending roots deep into the earth or by spreading out a vast network of roots that were shallow in depth.
Photo by Neal Lacroix
Changes 3● Sand bee● These small bees burrow into
the sand dunes to create a home
● They appear to be the sole resident of the hole
● This is most likely an adaptation to escape the oppressive summer heat in Death Valley
Photo by Neal Lacroix
References● Retrieved from Wikipedia:
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/graben● Retrieved from National Park Service:
http://www.nps.gov/deva/naturescience/cacti.htm● Retrieved from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great-tailed_grackle/id ● Retrieved from Wikipedia:
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_National_Park● All photographs taken by Neal Lacroix