The Wave, Arizona, USA

The Wave is a rock formation in the Colorado Plateau of Arizona in the United States that was formed by erosion of the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone. It is known for its many undulating structures and contains large sets of cross bedding in aeolian sandstones, which reflect the migration of sand dunes and ripples across an ancient desert environment. The cyclically alternating laminae seen in the Wave result from periodic changes in the prevailing wind directions at the time of deposition.


Information source: Vermillion Cliffs National Monument Service

Image: Cross-bedded aeolian sandstones of the Wave in the Colorado Plateau of Arizona, USA. Source: Sehara, Wikimedia Commons.

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