Inner Gorge Dennis Tasa A. Inner Gorge of the Grand Canyon B. Close up of Vishnu Schist (dark color)
Examine the accompanying photos, which show the geology of the
Grand Canyon. Notice that most of the walls of the canyon consist of
layers of sedimentary rocks, but if you were to hike down into what is
known as the Inner Gorge, you would encounter the Vishnu Schist,
which is metamorphic rock.
a. What process might have been responsible for the formation of
the Vishnu Schist? How does this process differ from the processes
that formed the sedimentary rocks that are atop the Vishnu Schist?
b. What does the Vishnu Schist tell you about the history of the
Grand Canyon prior to the formation of the canyon itself?
c. Why is the Vishnu Schist visible at Earth’s surface?
d. Is it likely that rocks similar to the Vishnu Schist exist elsewhere
but are not exposed at Earth’s surface? Explain.
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