Cal Poly Geology Club Death Valley Field Trip – 2004

MileageDeath Valley Field Trip Road Log – Day 10.0 From Stovepipe Wells Chevron head west on CA 190.0.2 (0.2) Turn left on dirt road to Mosaic Canyon.2.5 (2.3) Mosaic Canyon Parking Area (STOP 1).The entrance to Mosaic Canyon appearsdeceptively ordinary, but just a 1/4 milewalk up the canyon narrows dramaticallyto a deep slot cut into the face of TuckiMountain. Smooth, polished marble wallsenclose the trail as it follows the canyon'ssinuous curves.Mosaic Canyon's polished walls are carvedfrom the Noonday Dolomite depositedduring Late Precambrian (about 850-700million years ago). Later addition ofmagnesium altered the limestone, a rockmade of calcium carbonate, to dolomite, acalcium-magnesium carbonate. Thedolomite was later metamorphosed tomarble. Recent uplift and subsequenterosion have exposed the metamorphicrocks.Mosaic Canyon derives its name from the angular fragments of many differentparent rocks seemingly plastered to the floors and walls of the canyon just southof the parking area.Return to vehicles and CA 190.4.8 (2.3) Turn right (east) on CA 190 toward Furnace Creek.6.9 (2.1) Stop beside road to view sand dunes (STOP 2).Death Valley's most accessiblesand dunes are just a few milesfrom Stovepipe Wells. Tucked intoMesquite Flat in the north end ofthe park, these dunes are nearlysurrounded by mountains on allsides. The primary source of thedune sands is probably theCottonwood Mountains which lie