Mini Hoodoos

November 13, 2009

Minihoodoos

Photographer: Dave Moser
Summary Author: Dave Moser; Jim Foster

The scene above shows a set of mini hoodoos photographed near Woodruff, Arizona on October 25, 2009. They look as though they’ve been glued onto the face of the rock. Each hoodoo is approximately 3-4 inch (8-10 cm) across and 1 inch (2.5 cm) high. Hoodoos are formed in sedimentary rock when erosion removes soft strata from beneath harder, erosion-resistant layers. The very dark layer atop these hoodoos is likely desert varnish. Note that the word “hoodoo” is a derivation of “voodoo.” Curious and even creepy looking rock features can at times fill the bill as being magical or possessed -- something to consider today for those bedeviled by paraskevidekatriaphobia.