Ancient Sand Dunes
This vast area was once covered by extensive sand dunes. Some 200 million years ago, winds from the northwest carried tons of fine-grained sand into this area, creating an immense desert.
Over time, the sand drifts were covered by other layers of sediment, compressed, and cemented by quartz and calcite into Navajo Sandstone.
Erosion has since washed away the overlying layers, exposing the "petrified" dunes.
[Background photo caption reads]
These ancient dunes are often erroneously referred to as "petrified," implying that they were once organic, like wood. Here this term simply means sand cemented into rock.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 38° 39.944′ N, 109° 35.249′ W. Marker is in Arches National Park, Utah, in Grand County. Marker is at the Petrified Dunes Viewpoint, off Arches Scenic Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Moab UT 84532, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Balanced Rock (approx. 2.7 miles away); Double Arch (approx. 3.1 miles away); How Arches Are Formed (approx. 3.1 miles away); Utah Serviceberry (approx. 3.8 miles away); Harriman's Yucca
Also see . . .
1. Arches National Park. (Submitted on November 13, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. The Geologic Story of Arches National Park. (Submitted on November 13, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2020. This page has been viewed 40 times since then. Last updated on November 14, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 13, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
RSS Feed