Geologist use sedimentary rocks to understand  something about an environment. Sedimentary rocks form at the surface of the earth and therefore the sediment that makes them up, represents specific conditions that were present to form these sediments.  Take a few moments, and look at  The pictures associated with each of the environments below.  List the TYPE of SEDIMENT you see at these locations.

OK…now based on the information from above, describe the environment that each of the following rocks would have formed in and be able to explain why you choose the environment you did.

Hypothesizing about the real world.

For this part of the lab, you are going to use the mural in the hallway of the Grand Canyon.  In a previous lab you correlated these rock units with two other murals.  Today we are going to think about the rocks that we see in this region and develop a possible hypothesis as to how this area formed.

Use the mural of the GRAND CANYON in the by the lab hall, and in the table below write the rock names down in the correct locations relative to each other (oldest at the bottom and youngest at the top).  Next to each of the names label them chemical or clastic and then based on the rock type and fossils, suggest the environment they formed in. 

Now, use this chart and hypothesis on the geological history of area.  This is the MONEY QUESTION!!! It shows how much of this lab you actually understand so do a thorough job in your history.  Use the rocks as references and to support your hypothesis.