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List of Grand Canyon Rock Layers
What is Grand Canyon Stratigraphy?
Kaibab Formation
Toroweap Formation
Coconino Sandstone
Hermit Formation
Supai Group
Redwall Limestone
Tonto Group
Muav Limestone
Bright Angel Shale
Tapeats Sandstone
Vishnu Complex
Tapeats Sandstone
Cambrian Period, 515 Million Years Old, 300 Feet Thick
A brown, distinctly layered cliff
The Tapeats is a massive cliff-forming unit of brown sandstone. Much of the sand is very
coarse-grained, often pea-sized or larger, and some grains are beautifully colored--my students call this the
M&M conglomerate. The Tapeats Sandstone represents near-shore beach and sand bar deposits.
The base of the Tapeats contains a conglomerate member (part of the Tapeats), called the Hotauta Conglomerate.
This was a pebble beach formed as the Tonto Sea encroached and tore up the Vishnu, so the Hotauta contains
schist and granite pebbles.
Here is a closer view of the Tapeats Sandstone as seen from Bright Angel Trail.