How Did This Double Rock Fin Form?

[@shawnwillsey]

Please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE. I also appreciate your continual support of these geology education videos. To do so, click on the "Thanks" button just above (right of Download button) or by going here: www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=EWUSLG3GBS5W8 Or: www.buymeacoffee.com/shawnwillsey

[@elizabethwarman9028]

😊😊😊❤❤❤😊😊😊I already have.

[@charleswelch249]

Love it when you pick out these oddities for everyone to enjoy. Great job, Shawn.

[@SkepticalRaptor]

I don’t know how many times I passed that driving from Ogden up the Weber River. Now I know how it formed. This is so cool to know.

[@jalaireallen2187]

I grew up 2 miles from Devils Slide in the small town of Croydon!❤

[@markfissinger6310]

I love this roadside geology lesson complete with a diagram drawn on the hood of your hood. It's like having somebody draw me a map of how to get somewhere . In this case, it's about 150 million years to get from there... to here. --------- thx Shawn.

[@jillcollins1080]

Moved from Evanston, WY area in 1960. We passed Devil's Slide many times prior to. How exciting to see this 6 decades later! Thanks!

[@aivehn]

I just a month ago had the joy of rafting past the Devil's Slide on the Heber river. Thanks for letting me know the theory of how that interesting feature was formed.

[@Greg41982]

As a kid, I always wanted to sled that. As an adult, I realize that I would just die...

[@SusanC147]

I had the same insane thought!

[@GuitarPrepper]

😅

[@DanCrosby1]

My brother would sometimes climb up things he shouldn’t have and we’d have to wait and see if he survived the trip back down (which he always did). This would have been right up his alley.

[@jeaniebird999]

That _is_ one of the worst parts about becoming adult. 🫤

[@Greg41982]

@@jeaniebird999 true.

[@BruceJividen]

I drive by this thing all the time so the explanation is appreciated!

[@susansmart8086]

Thanks Shawn. This is one of my earliest specific geologic memories.

[@GregsGeologyChannel]

Here's a comment from the Nick Z group: Shawn didn’t go off the interstate, but the scope of the reef is amazing to me. You can see how much has been removed over the last 80+ years. I spent my early years in Croydon up the Lost Creek Canyon. To the north of the stop used to be a good sized, company town of Devil Slide with a doctor and store. A railroad siding, too. All gone now. The mining company owns Devil’s Slide and have mining rights on the south side of Weber River.

[@bottomup12]

First time seeing a map showing the Sundance Sea. It’s amazing how many times the ocean intruded from the North! Driving on I-90 over the South Dakota and Iowa border, there’s a deep valley right where the seaway was. The Missouri River is there now of course.

[@mariawhite7337]

There's a reason why despite living on a fault line utahans don't get many earthquakes. (It's the salt dome we all live on.)

[@chadparker3278]

On my way home from working in park city today when I was passing through this area I was thinking I wish Shawn did a video about this that would be awesome as soon as I get home boom there’s the video! Just before the interchange to I-80 on the north side of the road there are some very cool rock formations as well

[@causewaykayak]

Tha was definitely interesting. A peculiar structure but Shawn made it easy to understand it's formation. MANY THANKS

[@PH4RX]

1:12 yes, flashing the devil’s horns at the devil’s slide is the usual custom. You may proceed unharmed.

[@Danika_Nadzan]

Wow, another jam-packed 7 minute video! My first thought was that the Devil's Slide is a tilted bed of rock, similar to formations I saw when I lived in eastern Tennessee. But your visual sleuthing of the area, clear explanation, and diagram really helped me to visualize and understand the process. Also, I learned about a whole new body of water! I've never heard of the Sundance Seaway until now. Thanks for another great lesson, Professor!😊 By the way, it's great to see you're getting more and more subscribers!

[@shawnwillsey]

Thanks for your donation.

[@azraelle6232]

I just made a drive from SLC up past several reservoirs and past Devil's Slide for a day trip, and was talking about it two days ago wondering how it was formed. Thanks!

[@YewtBoot]

Fun to see the interesting explanation of this. When I lived in Ogden in the mid-1970s, that was still part of I-80 called I-80 North. With some friends, we pulled over, somehow forded the Weber River and walked part way up between the "fins." It was basically a lot of rubble on a dry day with quite a bit of sage trapped between. The sides of the fins were hard and cool to the touch. Fond memories. Thanks again.

[@498chris]

As always, a great explanation and video. Thank you! 🙏

[@sueellens]

What a really cool feature. Thank you Shawn. ❤

[@loisrossi841]

Always like to learn something new, thank you.

[@MongooseTacticool]

Cheers, Shawn! Between you and Myron Cook, I'm learning a lot about geology. Can't wait to be back in Utah in October!

[@leecarlson9713]

New subscriber, because I was fascinated, by both the geologic feature, and your very clear explanation! At 80, I love learning new things! Thank heavens, I live in an age where esoteric information is easily accessible.

[@shawnwillsey]

Welcome aboard! Enjoy the existing videos.

[@markg3025]

Devil slide is definitely unique, thanks Professor Shawn.

[@saywhat8966]

Not that unusual, but definitely a standout.

[@MorningStarmama13]

I remember driving by this as a kid, and asking my dad about it. First time I've seen it in over 30 years! Thanks.

[@MaxPixUT]

Yay! So happy to have those layers explained now; I would not have guessed they were Jurassic. I just floated past there last week on the Weber River. and love shooting the Milky Way over that formation when it lines up. Thanks again Shawn, for explaining all the cool rocks in my favorite places! I hope someday you'll get a chance to do a video up at Lost Creek reservoir. Hit me up, I'll grab the kayaks and meet you there.

[@Janer-52]

Yes, very fun! I appreciate how much you can explain, even from a distance.

[@seanwelch007]

Yay, a little diagram 🙌 always my favorite training aids

[@gregrussell7704]

Excellent video Shawn. You are easy to understand and speak clearly.Devils slide is on the list now!

[@marctonkinson7972]

I've learned a lot about geology watching your videos and even have learned things from your videos that I never knew about my own local area. You are good at explaining geology in an easy to understand format. I've driven by devils slide my entire life and now know how it formed.

[@wingrovedl]

WoW, Man ! ! Thanks for explaining all that about the "Devil's Slide". Back in the late 70's-early 1980's, I hauled thousands of tons of "Cement" from across the highway, back into Green River, Wyo., when the highway was I-80N. I often wondered how it came to be formed into such a well-made Slide. "Flyin High" was my handle back then on the C.B. radio. Don't Forget To Have That Fun, You Were Promised ! 🤓

[@ruthdavis7761]

Thanks, Shawn. I appreciate this video. We've seen Devil's Slide several times and it's been a mystery. You're the best!

[@marionnadeau8457]

Thanks, Shawn! I find it wild that Devil's Slide is a limestone formation!

[@Gebwalter]

I wonder if it contains any ferrous materials? I wouldn't imagine so

[@scotttaxdal5297]

I have been past this place countless times when I was trucking, thanks for explaining it!

[@elizabethjohnson4531]

We've been there, many moons ago! When Dad was in the service and we couldn't afford to fly, we would drive across the states. It is absolutely beautiful!

[@Stormy7573]

Good Evening 😊 Thanks for the informative videos ! Have a wonderful night ✨☺️🌸🌷☕️ Wow I’ve been to Utah - didn’t know that existed !!

[@jhaakeutube]

My father-in-law just recently passed away, Helmut Doelling, a Utah geologist of some renown (you may have heard or worked with him). Your discussion of Devil's Slide brought back several good geologic discussions I had with Helmut. Thanks.

[@shawnwillsey]

He was a legend in Utah geology and will be missed. My condolences.

[@lyndafjellman3315]

Thanks for the explanation, I saw this one a few years ago on cross-country trip and I must say it was eye-catching. It is always fascinating to find out more about things I see.

[@haroldtanner9600]

Thanks! I’ve been wanting you to visit Devil’s Slide for a long time. Thanks for the explanation. The geologic activity along the Wasatch front is fascinating.

[@susiesue3141]

Wow! I have to admit I have never heard of Devil's Slide. I am always happy to find out new things. Thank you for sharing! 😊

[@ZakhadWOW]

I grew up driving by Devil's Slide countless times starting in the early 70s.. Man the memories it provokes.

[@darylemurphy9478]

Enjoyed this video. I always enjoy your videos. I especially enjoyed your recent discussion with Nick Zentner. Very educational but a bit above my level of competence.

[@oldtop4682]

I grew up right down the road from this. Folks had much easier access to it back then, so I've been up close and personal with Devil's Slide. If folks think they can easily go right up the middle of that thing they're wrong. It's pretty steep and slick. We had a pretty big earthquake in the mid-70s that caused a lot of the hillsides to form large cracks. Off to the right as you face it with the camera there were some good sized ones, but the Slide wasn't damaged from what I recall. It's cool place. Across the highway about 3 miles away there's an outcropping full of calcite and mica geodes. I used to go up there and snag a couple now and again.

[@Mystlyn26]

Very cool

[@equanimityforever7324]

I love this hands-on stuff. It's just so close to real life. ❤

[@johnking6252]

Bravo and thanks for another bit of interesting history !! 👍

[@dorothythorpe6183]

I will not watch another geologist. Thank you for explaining clearly, to the point, an interesting feature!

[@saywhat8966]

Thank you Shawn, now I can put a name to that rock formation I took a snapshot of 6 years ago as we drove by it, not stopping. Thank you so much. My photo of it looks just like yours, I’m delighted to say, but just a touch blurry.

[@kathyhenry9512]

I have family that lives near it and I used to drive by the Devils slide all the time! I always had wondered about it and was so excited to see this video in my recommends!

[@shawnwillsey]

So cool!

[@SusanC147]

Thank-you DrShawn! This was fascinating. My first thought was a dike intrusion- wrongwrongwrong- I wouldn't have guessed that it was limestone! I bet there are some great fossils locked in there. Thanks again!

[@jadefinchscene5644]

i drive past this feature often. when i was little my grandma and i would do day drives together and this was a place we often went past while exploring our world

[@melodymonger]

Thanks Shawn from Australia 👍✌️

[@SongMom8]

Utah has some awesome geography. I saw Devil’s Slide once, passing by on the freeway. It’s pretty amazing. I love the mountains here, there is so much variety in the rock types and formations. I always wonder how they were created.

[@tomyat3474]

Thank you for sharing information about this rock formation. I used to drive cross-country, and I passed through here once and saw this formation and didn't know what it was called or how it was formed. I was fascinated by it so I had to stop and get some pictures.

[@Mystlyn26]

Thanks Shawn, that was a fun little side trip, very cool.⛱️🌎⛏️

[@lealooscreations]

Thanks for this really easy to understand explanation! We saw this a few years ago on our way to Wyoming and thought it was really interesting.

[@carlwest859]

So Paul Bunyen didn't build this feed trough for his ox named Blue?

[@sandrine.t]

Wow, just wow!! What are the dimensions of these rock fins? This is a truly impressive geologic feature! And I wouldn't have guessed that it was limestone... Thank you for telling us the story here, Shawn :)

[@WildflowerAnn]

Thanks Professor! Love geology and love your videos!

[@michaelryan4108]

Splendid presentation!

[@superturkeylegs]

Grew up in Ogden. Utah has such interesting geology! I miss it all!

[@owenkittredge3433]

Thank you for today's breakfast geo video

[@Mopartoolman]

My first thought was a dike, but I never would’ve guessed it was limestone. Thank you for such an informative video!

[@joedoe6444]

there is a "Devils Slide" in Montana just north of Gardiner at the northern entrance to Yellowstone Park. it is just 5-6 miles north on the west side of the road. it actually has a red dirt stripe running down the middle low section. the entire section of mountain behind it is made of the layers being vertical.

[@robertdouglas8895]

Yes. I've hiked up it. Looks similar except for the red dirt and smaller sides.

[@GaryPaukert]

You beat me to it. Yes, there’s a very similar feature called Devil’s Slide north of the Mammoth entrance to Yellowstone NP. It’s remarkable how similar it is to this, though it has a layer of red shale between erosion resistant sandstones. The red layer is a Triassic red bed, as most Triassic rocks across North America are red shales. I don’t recall the local formation name but in the Black Hills it forms the ‘racetrack’ valley and is called Spearfish. In Wyoming, the Chugwater and in Colorado the Lykins.

[@lornaperryman489]

Another wonderful learning experience. Thanks😊

[@castlebravocrypto1615]

I've driven by it a dozen times and thought it was volcanic!!! Cool video

[@mitchmegaw7201]

I passed that a few times and always wanted to know more about it. Thank you!

[@GregsGeologyChannel]

Great! I should be passing through there Monday. I'll have a look!

[@robohippy]

I have been by it a number of times, most recently this summer, 24. Not a geologist, but it was made/formed kind of how I thought it was. Thanks!

[@osco4311]

A nice geologic feature along the Hen-Tag kayaking run on the Weber River, between Hennefer and Tagart, Utah!

[@TaxPayingContributor]

Great videos, Professor!

[@jul1440]

The sandstones you mentioned are indeed of the same material but were formed _slightly_ differently in terms of how they were deposited. Navajo Sandstone is basically just Nugget dune sands that were washed down into an ancient delta. That is why in some places (e.g., extreme SE UT and NE NM) you can even peel the Navajo Sandstone into sheets like a book and why it has some decidedly 'mudstoney' properties like forming arches. IIRC I think an ancient drainage divide also separated the two formations. Same stuff, deposited in different places in different ways. My guess is that the western mountains were ground and transported by ancient arroyos, where wind whips them into dune fields (a process you can see today i.e., at Walking Sands, NM) to create the Nugget Sandstone. Wind would also carry sand over the drainage divide (or possibly _creating_ the divide) to deposit the Navajo Sandstone material. But I wasn't there.

[@iain3411]

Very cool.

[@rogerthornton8064]

Thank you for the excellent explanation. This is the first video of your I've seen, but will definitely subscribe. Please consider long from regional videos.

[@shawnwillsey]

I do have some longer, lecture style videos here. Look under topical lectures: kzbin.info/aero/PLOf4plee9UzChn3Mskz-V_pMWeIODsKPK There is also longer interviews with geologists and the Geology 101 series.

[@AthenaSchroedinger]

That was really cool! I never heard of that formation before. I'm so happy that you did more that show the formation, but told us how it formed. Color me a happy camper for I learned something new today! And yes I just subscribed!

[@shawnwillsey]

Glad you enjoyed it! And welcome aboard. Enjoy the existing videos in the catalog.

[@LightBlueVans]

i just found out about it Devils Slide and my thirst thought was “how was that made? i need to understand the geology” - i am so relieved this was the first result! thank you so much

[@patmayer7222]

Tnx,,,,,,from land o' lakes,wi...a must see feature if we ever travel by that area for sure,....,,,pat & family

[@hestheMaster]

It looks like limestone to me. Got plenty of it starting about 30 feet below me in Northern Illinios. For one, it is has been tilted by the rock formations around it and two, weathered oddly like there was softer material between the two parallel outcroppings that has eroded away by time. So I guessed right but thanks so much as to how it got that way Shawn

[@Tugela60]

What are you talking about? It is clearly a wall made by giants!

[@3xHermes]

Thanks, your the best!

[@markhanish4463]

Nicely explained. Your insertion of the historical setting maps and cross section sketches really makes the story clear. I’m trying to figure out how that cement plant can be economically viable if those two steeply dipping beds of limestone are their only source of limestone. Maybe surrounding units are also limestone but are not quite as resistant as the units that form the sides of the slide?

[@shaunkruger]

Devils slide is a fun feature. I took my daughter to see it when she was doing her 4th grade county report on Morgan county. We also flew over it once and I was amazed at how big something can look on the ground while still looking tiny from the air. I wonder what my 3rd great grandfather Thomas Robert Green Welch thought of the feature as he was one of the early settlers up there in Croyden.

[@groovingranny5452]

I can't express how much I enjoy all your videos. In my high school, women were excluded from science. At college, it may have been open, but without the basics, most women were excluded.

[@patroberts5449]

What a crying shame! No one should be faced with a closed door in education!! I too enjoy these videos and if I had ever went to college as years ago I would have loved to take geology!

[@saywhat8966]

@@patroberts5449 I took biology and chemistry, but no one asked if I was interested in physics. 🤪 Same teacher for both, she was awesome. Geology wasn’t available at all.

[@enckidoofalling2883]

Especially in Utah

[@mattbrown6755]

How odd they barred women from science classes. What school was it?

[@groovingranny5452]

@@mattbrown6755 Every public school in the 50;s and 60's. Basic biology was the only class open to women and men. My parents had to fight with the school to allow me to take calculus. You should read up on the unequal treatment of women.

[@Lightbyfaith]

I have driven by this formation countless times, and I always thought it was a magna dike. Thanks so much for this deailed explanation! Perhaps because of the name added to the unusual feature there is always something almost sinister about this location.

[@kslinaz5668]

Excellent explanation ❤🎉

[@Quantum_Cowboy]

I love your diagrams, these videos are fantastic !

[@shawnwillsey]

Glad you like them!

[@mobilephil244]

Great presentation. Thanks.

[@bumpercoach]

Provo Canyon has lots of folded formations showing the kind of thing that made DS ... same general timeframe?

[@shawnwillsey]

Yes.

[@christinedaly2694]

Thank you Shawn very informative video 😊

[@intingwithzoe5715]

Id love to see all these geological features in my life. Its probably too short but thanks for showing me awesome stuff

[@DragonHeartTree]

That was fun! Love your videos

[@thepoorhunter2004]

There’s a series of similar formations on the Yellowstone River, just outside the North Gate near Gardiner. Rafted past them this summer

[@Mimzie-Arizona]

Thanks! I drove past it on vacation

[@gaijininja]

Just checked it out on Google Maps. If you scroll across the cement mine, you can clearly see the continuation of the vertical limestone layers. One is distinctly darker orange than the rest. If you head almost directly south, you can see a spot where an east-west hill ridge appears to have a sudden small s-bend in it, and an eroded gully to the south of the ridge which could be the continuation of the slide.

[@AbuMaia01]

Could you soon do a video explaining the Devil's Slide in Montana near Yellowstone NP? 45° 5'35.35"N 110°47'35.08"W

[@Idmtnman]

Interesting, thanks for the video! I am just across the border in Idaho between the City of Rocks NR and Castle Rocks SP. I often find myself wondering about this type of stuff.

[@davidk7324]

Thanks Shawn.

[@jankansi5679]

american sees a cool rock: "yeah must've been the devil"

[@jonincle9633]

Thank you sooo much. I first saw it in the early 1950s; from my dad's 1949 Edsel

[@beeble2003]

Oh, baby, I love it when you talk about your orogenous zones.

[@wildvalleyfarms4789]

I would love to show you around some other geological formation in the Devil's Slide area.

[@patmartinez2489]

I live just down the canyon from there and have fished that area for years. Thanks for the info. You can actually get over there if you park farther up and go down by the river. But you are right, it is private property.