TXESS Revolution February 2010
Other Stuff: Steve's Image Bank Oh, what the Hell....here's Steve's whole web site NY Earth Science Teacher's Listserv - (you want the ESPRIT list)- All are welcome. You might want to use an alternative email address... Just for Fun Each of the rock layers that you mention derived their name from nearby canyon buttes and mesas. Specifically the Vishnu Schist was named by geologist Charles Walcott in the 1880s after Vishnu Temple, a prominent rock formation on the north side of the canyon near Cape Royale. The Brahma Schist was named by geologists Campbell and Maxson in the 1930s after Brahma Temple, a butte overlooking Bright Angel Canyon. I am not sure who named the Rama Schist (probably Campbell and Maxson), but it probably derived its name from Rama Temple, a rock spire near Vishnu Temple. All of these landmarks can be seen from the major overlooks on the South Rim. The logical next question is how did these mesas and buttes get their names in the first place? Many of the canyon's landmarks were named by geologist Charles Dutton who published one of the earliest (and best) detailed geologic studies of the canyon in 1882. Dutton believed that the canyon was such an important and impressive feature on the planet, that the names of its features should reflect all the world's cultures and thus he chose many names from mythologies and legends from around the world. Other examples of canyon landmarks named in this way are Wotan's Throne, Cheops Pyramid, Budda Temple, Solomon Temple, Jupiter Temple and Tower of Ra (all of these are major buttes, spires or mesas in the canyon). (This comes from the Yahoo Answers page, so I certainly do NOT consider this an authoritative source!) |
