Hills

The photo above shows the eye-catching Painted Hills Unit in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument of Oregon. These conspicuous layers represent different claystone deposits laid down thousands of years ago when this area was a floodplain.  Photographer Paul Marcellini; Paul’s Webpage

Over time, erosion has exposed the ochre, orange and apricot layering.



The coloration of the claystone strata seem to change with changing light conditions and moisture levels. Photo taken on May 18, 2010.

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