Sherman Mountains of Wyoming
March 03, 2005
Provided and copyright by: Rick Stankiewicz
Summary authors & editors: Rick Stankiewicz
The Sherman Mountains, pictured above, are erosional remnants rising above the general level of the surface of the Laramie Range of southeastern Wyoming, along the Interstate 80. Note the flat top characteristic of this range, resulting from beveling during an ancient erosion cycle. Bedrock here is granite, a crystalline rock made up of pink feldspar, glassy quartz, black mica and hornblende, which originated deep in the earth’s in the crust over a billion years ago. The peculiar rock forms of these mountains are controlled by three sets of joints or weakness, cutting the granite and dividing it into large blocks. Weathering has rounded off corners and has enlarged joint planes, creating the irregular blocky rock masses, many of which are capped by balanced rocks. The grazing beef cattle are typical of this area, but the Pronghorn Antelope in the foreground is likely the most common wildlife you'll see. There are apparently more of them in the State of Wyoming than there are human inhabitants.
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