The Vortex of the North Teepees
June 28, 2024
Photographer: Stan Wagon
Summary Author: Stan Wagon
The Teepees (North and South) are interesting exposures of Navajo sandstone found not far from the Wave on the Utah/Arizona border. Inside the North Teepees lies a curious formation known as the Vortex. One theory regarding the color variation in its layers is that windstorms of different strength move sand grains of different size. Thus, harder layers eventually form having different porosity, and this leads to different rates of leaching of iron into the sandstone, leading to different shades of red and orange.
North Teepees, Arizona Coordinates: 36.9900, -111.991
Related Links:
North Teepees
The Lower Jurassic Navajo Sandstone