Gargoyle Canyon, CA: A Geologic Gem and Wonderland

Explore the fantastic geology and narrow confines of Gargoyle Canyon in southeastern California with geology professor Shawn Willsey as he revisits an old class field trip location. GPS location: 33.31177, -114.74453
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Shawn Willsey
College of Southern Idaho
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[@shawnwillsey]

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[@kipconnors5902]

Shawn I’m really trying to reach out to you buddy!! I have 3 points of interest for you to solve the riddle. Obsidian perp in Ca., giant petrified trees in Nv and giant riffles made by a huge flood event also in Nv. You could be the pioneer on these anomalies.

[@charlesward8196]

After 19 years in Southern Nevada, and now living in south central Montana for 23 years, the sound of the crunch-crunch-crunch of walking up a dry canyon is like listening to “oldies radio” playing those familiar sounds…..

[@DonnaCsuti-ji2dd]

Yes fond memories of fun times

[@Reziac]

Heh, I know the feeling. Grew up in Montana but lived 28 years in the SoCal desert. I'm back in the Northern Wastes, but sometimes I still miss the desert. “I love all waste and solitary places; where we taste the pleasure of believing what we see Is boundless, as we wish our souls to be.” ― Percy Bysshe Shelley Greets from Billings :)

[@charlesward8196]

@@Reziac well, howdy, neighbor!

[@Reziac]

@@charlesward8196 Sometimes the world is very small. :)

[@DMLand]

Crunch … crunch … crunch … crunch … up ahead … crunch … crunch … you can see … crunch … crunch … crunch … I love the sense of location just from your footfalls. Thank you for taking us with you on these fascinating journeys.

[@littlejohn5652]

Thank you so much to be a part of your trip right from fare away from Germany. This video feels today like a Christmas gift. 🌠

[@SkepticalRaptor]

As a biologist, I always enjoy “a little bit of biology."

[@davidk7324]

"Ah yes, the elusive gargoyle toad" (intoned in my best David Attenborough voice imitation) ; ) I've become accustomed to your comfortable, logical, and flowing explanations as you peel back the geologic onion. Because of the accumulated knowledge gained through your videos (and 2023 Idaho field trip) I try to identify or at least classify the units/rocks/topography, etc. before you explain what they are. Your ability to subtly engage and stimulate the imagination and problem solving talents of your viewers (students, really) is remarkable. Thanks Shawn.

[@Firebuck]

Very well said. I find these videos very relaxing, and the nature in them truly beautiful. I would have said I'm just a "viewer" but I find myself already knowing the terms for what Shawn is about to describe more and more often. I guess that makes me a student too... what a great way to learn!

[@shawnwillsey]

Thanks for your kind comments.

[@kipconnors5902]

@@shawnwillsey buddy, I have some mysteries for you to check out and be a pioneer on them!

[@maryt2887]

Nice to revisit old haunts. Thanks for taking us along and teaching us about the rock layers and geological processes. Enjoyable as always!

[@tomfieselmann5906]

Informative video... Really enjoy the interpretations and the hike itself!

[@ruthkirk9287]

That transported me far away from my surroundings and how I feel! Thank you so much. I love your field trips xxxxx

[@oscarmedina1303]

Very enjoyable and informative video. Love studying the geology of the region. Thank you for taking the time to post your videos.

[@Birdman445]

Great field trip! As ever thanks so much

[@helenpatterson3858]

I was so pleased you didn't encounter litter deposited by fellow humans. I live in the South West, and it's rare to be able to take a trek without encountering discarded water bottles, etc.

[@markday5797]

As said, take only photos and leave only footprints, Thank you so much for the informative video.

[@patmayer7222]

,,,,land o' lakes,wi,,,,,,here for class ......happy holidays,,tnx for a year of education........pat&family.

[@jerryofsanfrancisco]

This was one of the most enjoyable videos for me.

[@timpate6259]

Great fun hearing your interpretation of the canyon. Thanks much!

[@jdean1851]

AWESOME TOUR" and INFO!

[@JorgeSanchez-uk4cb]

Thank you 🙏professor Willsey Marry Christmas and a happy new year

[@skagited9617]

COOL canyon, Shawn!!! ( I'll 'drop a dime, when the 'Eagle' flies' again!! LOL)

[@skagited9617]

COOL canyon, Shawn!! (I'll 'drop a dime, when the 'Eagle' flies again! LOL)

[@mikekilian5403]

Very interesting Shawn. It is great to see things that I doubt I will ever see in person.

[@runninonempty820]

What a cool place to explore!

[@maggiekelso997]

I love these videos. I appreciate your content so much

[@Timber81]

Hi, I'm in Maine. Our rocks tell another story. I'm from Arizona. As a boy I wandered about on the Superstition Mountains. I miss that. Your vid help me relive some of those awesome hikes. And I learned a bunch! Thank You!

[@RWBHere]

That was a pleasant surprise. Well worth the hike. Thank-you, Shawn. 🙂👍

[@richardarmida8151]

Nice walk in Gargoyle Canyon. Still impressed with the chemical/physical/electrical nature of our environment as eloquently demonstrated in your description of road cuts and sites in contacts and faults. I look at the roads in Oregon and see thick beds of lava laid down during unimaginable volcanic events. Thanks for a great 2023, looking forward to 2024.

[@tworiverflyfisher]

Great videos. Thank you.

[@scorpion777silvermoon3]

Thank you Shawn!! I really enjoy watching your Geology videos. I took a Geology class in college and I have found it's my favorite subject to watch on YT. Your videos are very informative and helpful.

[@LisaBelleBC]

Thank you again! You never cease to amaze! How through the years people have figured out the geology of places is amazing as well. Then you come and teach us about it. Thanks! Also, you have no fear….not of heights, close spaces and even the possibility of running into snakes or other wildlife. I would have liked to been in your geology class back in the day. I’m surprised that you’re alone most of the time. If I was your friend I’d be asking to come along with you all the time :)

[@shawnwillsey]

My biggest fear (don't laugh) is crickets. I hate 'em. A few traumatic childhood experiences. Heights? I respect but do not fear. Snake are cool but you rarely see them. I get claustrophobic on planes if I am at the back and everyone stands up as we land.

[@baldwinleatherworks]

❤❤❤ your channel. I had one year of geology at University of Oregon, and absolutely loved it. Geology was one of my favorite classes..

[@Steviepinhead]

Fun scrambling with you, Shawn!

[@Laserblade]

Thank you Professor! Educational as always. As others have mentioned, I find myself identifying minerals and processes from watching your videos - and I land the blame squarely on you! I revel in the understanding you have given me.

[@edwardlulofs444]

Great video, thanks

[@WeatherWitch1026]

Thanks for the information!

[@zweispurmopped]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="638">10:38</a> The long white spot in the big rock there, could that be a fossile of some kind? Most enjoyable and entertaining video that again taught me a lot! 🤗

[@jvargas454]

Cool class. Makes me want to take geology classes. And I'm old.

[@gregindavis]

Thanks Shawn for taking us along with you thru that canyon. I would love to see that with a flash flood going thru it! Merry Christmas 🙂

[@DonnaCsuti-ji2dd]

No you wouldn't. If your smart you are not down there once it rains at all the 30 or 40 foot deep wash can completely fill with water moving fast. Water can fill the whole thing and overflow to flood the surrounding land.

[@StereoSpace]

Something I learned from David Rogers: If you see a mix of rock sizes and shapes suspended in a matrix of fine material, you're looking at a debris flow. It was a thick slurry that flowed into place then set-up like concrete. That canyon is mainly debris flows.

[@user-wk1mw9nj3i76]

Absolutely fantastic. It might be too late for Shawn to see my comment, but I want to say an enthusiastic thank you anyway! The clear explanation of geo formations, the live audio sounds, the amazing formations all together: just superb! I’m learning a lot and thoroughly enjoying it all. 🎉

[@shawnwillsey]

Comment received and thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@jackprier7727]

Very interesting! The outflow area of the Co River gets less attention than all the upstream sections- It appears that this microcosm shows a Lot happening in a very small area. The CaCO3 deposition and quick-thinning with upstream travel on this delta area surprised me-

[@3xHermes]

Yet another great Video! Great Canyon name, I expected you to find corpses lying about.

[@christopherosullivan3208]

Thanks!

[@77thTrombone]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="370">6:10</a> gorgeous video, clearly so even on my iphone 7+. I was anticipating at the outset that this might be worth watching on a big screen. I'm drooling in anticipation! Thanks, Prof W!

[@shawnwillsey]

Glad you liked it!

[@hestheMaster]

I'm guessing here but it seems the Colorado River once had flowed through here and filled up the land to the west . Seems like a long forgotten delta area. There was volcanic activity and mountain building and earthquakes hence the faulting. This over millions of years and a nice surprise in seeing the not so deep canyon made by water flowing through it , found south of Palo Verde, CA. Nice showing the where and how of its geology professor.

[@judierickson7166]

I wonder if all your viewers watch your videos with their mouths hanging open. You are a great teaher, and its never too late to learn something!

[@shawnwillsey]

Thank you kindly. I love sharing geology.

[@nitawynn9538]

I do worry about you in desolate places on your own. I know it’s silly; you obviously survived! The canyon is amazing. Thanks for the field trip.

[@bcm658]

I enjoyed the video, very informative journey, Thank you!

[@buckbuck8319]

Discovered your channel via watching Nick Zentner videos. This is amazing stuff.

[@bwaynesilva]

Interesting that we just watched you on your January 14 live reporting on the Iceland volcanoes. This week I'll be fossil hunting west of this canyon in the Anza Borrego desert area on the other side of the Salton Sea.

[@chuckhursch5374]

I wonder how far those faults extend into the ground, and whether they would be capable of causing earthquakes at depth. They’ve been active enough and recently enough to cause that big step in the gully. As I’ve watched more and more of your videos, I find that I’m able to identify rocks more and more before what you say they are in the video. These videos have been an excellent learning experience for me. Thank you!

[@virgo714]

Reminds me of Slot Canyon in Anza-Borrego, thank you for another video! Happy Holidays

[@curtiscroulet8715]

Shawn, a few of California's rare saguaro cacti are near that area. There is a solitary plant not far from Hwy 78 near the Border Patrol checkpoint, and there is one or more in Palo Verde Mountains, near you. Keep an eye out for saguaros!

[@curtiscroulet8715]

The easiest place to see naturally-growing saguaros in California is in the Whipple Mtns (SBdo Co.), along the road that goes into the mountains from near Parker Dam. They are scattered on the hillsides along the road. In fact, in GE you can easily see a couple of them along Parker Dam Rd., south of the dam. More than a century ago there was a population of them across the river from Yuma, but they were destroyed by flooding behind Laguna Dam. A BLM employee once told me that she had seen some in the Palo Verde Mtns (Imperial Co.) from the air, and a Marine helicopter pilot told me he saw one near the top of Picacho Peak in SE Imperial Co. The Consortium of California Herbaria lists one in the Palo Verde Mtns. I think there are a couple along the road to Senator Wash from Winterhaven, but they may have been intentionally planted. There are rumors of Saguaros in the Granite Mtns (Riv. Co.) and Turtle Mtns (SBdo Co. But I only found them mentioned in one place -- an old newsletter of a rockhound club.

[@davidkaplan2745]

Welcome to southern California. I hope you do some exploring in Anza Borrego State Park.

[@shawnwillsey]

Stay tuned!

[@kipconnors5902]

Neat stuff for sure!

[@paintedegg8275]

Thanks Shawn

[@katesommerville7217]

Lots of layering here too.

[@blex5579]

i like the existential parrt about geology..i know, sounds a mouthful, but when you think about it...thx from germany-

[@davidk7324]

Excellent point @blex5579

[@JustBob-sw4rf]

Thanks very much for the field trip video. I’m a new subscriber and look forward to checking out your other videos. I’m an interested laymen (retired now) who has always found geology super interesting.

[@shawnwillsey]

Awesome. Welcome aboard and enjoy perusing the large catalog of existing videos.

[@Anne5440_]

What a scramble! The changes in the rock types and width of the slot canyon are interesting. I caught your mention that the canyon is not very deep. However, if you get caught in a flash flood in there, you're really in trouble. This would be a good field trip for students. I'm sure you give them a lesson about the weather changes and dangers of canyons large and small along with the geology lesson. The trip down memory lane seemed fun for you also. Thank you for this video.

[@laurafolsom2048]

Looks like Mansfield too ❤

[@laurafolsom2048]

Morning Professor ❤

[@candui-7]

What a fantastic field trip Shawn! Please come to Santa Barbara for a sailing trip to the channel Islands for some amazing cliff exposures only visible from the kayak launched off the captain's sailboat. One zone in particular shows what I suspect is a lahar deposit with basketball and beachball size clasts. Pumice/scoria? But how did they survive the trip down while the unit is primarily submicron slurry (From Long Valley?)

[@edwardlulofs444]

I went on a fascinating geo trip to catalina island. I saw rock formed 10 miles underground and eye popping garnets 1cm diameter. Super interesting geology on the islands. I would jump at the chance if I were him.

[@candui-7]

@@edwardlulofs444 Catalina breccia is the base rock for Long Beach harbor. One could spend a lifetime marveling at the variety of fantastic minerals in these rocks.

[@shawnwillsey]

Never been out there but would love to go sometime.

[@candui-7]

@@shawnwillsey You have a lovely little adobe bungalow in nestled in the heart of SB to stay at. A 10 minute bike ride to the harbor, 5 hr sail to our favorite anchorage, dinner and camp on the boat, kayak and hike the island for a day, sail home day 3. If you want an exciting sail come in the spring!

[@KnucklebarkRanch]

Thanks again Shawn for another very informative geologic lesson. Great stuff. WAS WONDERING IF YOU ALSO CALL THE brachiated MATERIAL between footwall and hanging wall FAULT gouge ?

[@shawnwillsey]

Usually fault breccia is term used for larger particles (sand and gravel sized) along a fault. Fault gouge is used for clay sized particles.

[@jackmcmichael3560]

Great video Do you have any plans to check out the volcanic mud spot moving around near the Salton Sea

[@karenhunt7035]

If you ever do come to the East Coast, can I recommend the Cumberland Cut in western Maryland for a roadside geology visit? Driving through it is pretty amazing.

[@frogface9142]

Finaly started making sense,relized u walking up hill, not down hill.😊

[@bettym7346]

Durn! Fascinating video - but where are the gargoyles?

[@DonnaCsuti-ji2dd]

My husband studied kangaroo rats in that vicinity so we did field work in the area years ago. We did hus stuff in the hours pre and post sunrise and sunset. This left lots of hours in the day to explore other stuff so we hiked and clambered ( we were young then 😅LOL ). Interesting area. Of course that area was historically more wet and lush in the distant past. When we worked we had to watch the m I re distant clouds etc cause flash flooding did happen. We liked the washes, cooler on a hot day but paid attention to things like thunder and got out of the washes quickly. Once the wash we were camping above totally filled and flooded our camp so we threw our beds and selves in the car and stayed there till the water drained away hours later. Can't drive then because you can't see anything except the water surface so you could easily drive into a wash many feet deep and drown. Best to stay in one place and wait. Advice is pick a camp site on high and flat ground away from the edge of washes and cliffs even though it looks bone dry cause things in the desert can change unexpectedly rapidly in the middle of the night etc.

[@tomolson1320]

I invite Shawn to come see Stromatolites in Southern Arizona at our mine claim!

[@ericsarnoski6278]

I wonder if this is the remminents of a former submarine canyon when this was part of the Gulf of California ?

[@alanl.simmons9726]

Next time you encounter hanging walls and foot walls, please explain them as if I was slow. I hear these terms in mbmmllc mining videos.

[@jerry6721]

You are doing an outstanding job! My kids and I have been following you since the beginning of the Iceland events, and we've truly enjoyed your videos. We live in Las Vegas. Are you aware of any interesting facts about our valley, valley of fire, our mountain ranges, and/or Red Rock? We would love to learn about your findings here. Thank you for what you do.

[@davidk7324]

Shawn has a number of Nevada-based videos. Search his video library and you will be rewarded!

[@shawnwillsey]

Here you go and Merry Christmas. kzbin.info/aero/PLOf4plee9UzAi2E56o_jzKfjUX_3ow0yS

[@jerry6721]

@shawnwillsey Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

[@geoffgeorges]

I realize the conglomerate was not your focus on this but I was wondering what its composition is? I drove a dirt road from the south entrance of J Tree west to the Sultan sea lake and hiked around side canyons reminding me of your hike.

[@brianlock7177]

I wonder if the carbonate deposits represent a playa lake, possibly cyanobacterial. I assume no marine macrofossils or you might have drawn attention to them. The lensoid form is also suggestive of ephemeral ponds or lakes. The association with debris flows fits that interpretation.

[@shawnwillsey]

These deposits in this region are part of the Bouse Formation and there is debate over their origin, either marine or lake. I choose to go with marine but don't really have a dog in the fight.

[@SusanC147]

Thank-you for another great hike thru a slotted canyon! In regards to the andesitic layer, what volcano/complex did that come from? Stay safe

[@shawnwillsey]

Not sure but there are vents to west in mountains.

[@grovedas]

Professor, thank you for this magnificent video. However, if you'll just hold your camera a bit more still, and linger for a few more seconds, your videos will be even more magnificent. Thanks!

[@kestenyi3873]

Thanks for this one, I've been through that area so many times but always between one place and another so never stopped to explore. Going to have to go check it out! Any idea what the age of that andesite is?

[@shawnwillsey]

Miocene for sure. Not sure exact age.

[@rickmessina5396]

Interesting geology but I am looking for gold. Not this area….. thanks for taking us along…..

[@rjeder57]

Professor, A quick question, If I may? Then, if you will indulge me, I would like to demonstrate my keen perception of the obvious by making an observation. Realistically, how many students do you think you had, in person, out there during your two years at Paolo Verde? Be generous in your estimate... Now consider this fact: in just five months, you have guided more than THIRTY-SIX THOUSAND curious students through this canyon... Oh, and extra credit is also due, because the total ecological impact to the Canyon itself, from having this many visitors, is literally only your own footfalls on the stones. Now that's what I call, "Science Communication"! Thank you for taking the time to educate the geologically ignorant [like me]! I raise my cup to toast you, good Sir! Bravo!!

[@shawnwillsey]

Wow. Very cool perspective. Thanks.

[@amariebeaubien]

what is the white veining in the andesite made of? calcite maybe since that is what is around everywhere else?

[@jamiedbg51]

There are huge emperor scorpions down there! They are so deadly. Please be careful!!!!

[@keithrosenberg5486]

Could the rocky layer have been caused by the lava dammed lakes in the Grand Canyon when they failed?

[@AAAsn888s]

Near Anza Borrego?

[@lukeweidner9110]

Does the fault extend into the overlying sedimentary rocks... or does it terminate??

[@shawnwillsey]

It terminates against them. I forgot to point that out.

[@689moonstone]

What are the best months to visit this area, dry and passable, not blazing hot?

[@shawnwillsey]

I was there in early December and it was perfect.

[@LookAtThisRock]

I watched the whole video and not one Gargoyle. 1 out of 5 stars. But the rocks in the video made up for it. So 3 out of 5 stars.

[@Chris.Davies]

Sadly, 30fps means having to pan at about 1/4 the speed you currently do, to avoid nausea in your viewers. Or, you could just shoot and render at 60fps, and wave the camera around like you do here. 60fps is required for proper watching of any hand-held footage in 2024. It's like watching a fast slideshow, and 2 seconds is all it takes on my huge 200Hz monitor, before my eyes hurt, and my stomach is flip-flopping. Framerate is the single largest deciding factor in video quality. The future thanks you, for making the switch to 1080p60!

[@charlesward8196]

Could the carbonate rocks be freshwater deposits? How does “sea level” correlate with Ice Ages/Interglacials in the Pliocene when the carbonates were laid down? Ice ages are colder and wetter, favoring intermittent lakes, but moving the fresh/salt water boundary further to the southeast as sea levels were lowered as more water was tied up in ice sheets. Would an isotope analysis show that the carbonates were deposited during an ice age with a lower percentage of 18-Oxygen as cooler global temperatures favored less 18-Oxygen evaporation? As the Colorado River swept back and forth across the fan that built into the Salton Sea depression, it could dam up the southern end of the basin, backing up an intermittent freshwater lake. The way the sediments are “draped” over the largest clasts in the “fanglomerate” it almost looks like it could be algal mats that grew in the shallow warm water and sank to cover the bigger rocks. A lot of the bedrock in that area is Paleozoic carbonates that could have increased dissolved carbonates that were then deposited as a combination chemical precipitation/ evaporite deposit. Once the lake was drained or evaporated flash floods would have traveled farther across the basin and debris from the west would be able to move further across the basin. Another factor would be, how fast was the basin deepening as the right lateral movement of the nascent San Andreas Fault/ Basin and Range extensional faulting created the Salton basin”? As the basin deepened, the gradient from the mountains would have increased, shifting the boundaries between the fan, the bajada, and the playa. There are a LOT of moving parts in this whole depositional picture. That is a huge contrast between the carbonate sediments and the coarse fan sediments showing wide swings in the local environment. We see a similar contrast between the playa deposits and the fan deposits in a short lateral distance at Bad Water in Death Valley. Thanks for the video. It raises a lot of questions.

[@shawnwillsey]

There is some debate over whether these are marine or freshwater lake deposits.

[@jimjimgl3]

Shawn Willsey and His Hidden Rattlesnake Tour...

[@Anne5440_]

Living in the American West and going out into nature, you learn to constantly be aware of snake possibilities. You simply learn how to watch out and avoid possible situations of danger. Actual snake encounters are then not very frequent. If you do see one, you simply go the other way and keep your eyes open. If you camp, you learn precautions about sleeping arrangements.

[@jimjimgl3]

@@Anne5440_ I was joking, not joking 🙃. I have relatives in CA and they are smart about snake encounters. Still the occasional snake shows up. They are especially careful with their dogs. Where I grew up in the east coast the Appalachians and Adirondack had tons of rattlesnakes and copperheads. We were more wary of copperheads since they have no sound and are weirdly aggressive. Well geologists love rocks and so do snakes.

[@Anne5440_]

@jimjimgl3 I did not think you were joking. Snakes and other venomous creatures are never anything to joke about. There are times serious precautions are needed. Where I live a friend frequently finds rattlers in her because she lives below a cliff on the edge of town. They come to the irrigated yards in search of water and cooler sleeping places when it is 100 f.

[@bravendyer9529]

So much fun . Love 💗 it . A thousand thanks . Off to bear lake camp 🏕️ and check out rocks 🪨 skin dive barbecue. ❤🎉 happy 4th !

[@debdiemer3749]

Do the arroyos and canyons tend to be faults?

[@shawnwillsey]

sometimes.

[@hughaskew6550]

From whence came its name?

[@SonOfTheOne111]

Looks like giant flood deposits to me

[@danduzenski3597]

Wasting? First time hearing this term.

[@kcstafford2784]

as a oil driller i learned to dislike geologists on a trip to the grand canyon i said if a geologist said it was a million years old it is probably from the 1860s,,,,, the christians in he bunch got a kick out of that,,,,

[@teresaballard2137]

Makes me nervous watching these narrow passages. Just because it is clear here, doesn't mean at this moment water may be barreling down toward you!

[@stevewhalen6973]

Thanks!

[@timpate6259]

Thanks!

[@shawnwillsey]

Thank you kindly. Much appreciated.

[@bravendyer9529]

Thanks!

[@tolson57]

Thanks!

[@terezasnyder]

Thanks!