Burlingame Gulch sits ~600 ft above the floor of Wallula Gap and contains an estimated 39-40 rhythmite layers. Randall Carlson argues these represent multiple surges within one giant flood rather than 39 separate Lake Missoula refills. Volcanic ash from Mount St. Helens dates these deposits to 12,900-13,000 years old. Fascinating layered evidence! 🌋
Burlingame Gulch rhythmites record multiple surges from one megaflood
Key facts
- Pasco Basin and Yakima Basin were back-flooded when discharge through Wallula Gap (~250-300 million cfs capacity) exceeded inflow
- Burlingame Gulch sits ~600 ft above the floor of Wallula Gap
- An estimated 39-40 rhythmite layers are visible in Burlingame Gulch
- Randall Carlson argues the rhythmites represent multiple surges within one giant flood, not 39 separate Lake Missoula refill cycles
- The Bonnerville (coarse gray) and Missoula (fine buff silt) flood deposits show two directional flows meeting at Tammany Bar
- Volcanic ash from Mount St. Helens dated 12,900-13,000 years old is found in the Yakima Valley deposits
- Twin Sisters near Wallula Gap are giant vortex features within a one-mile venturi flume
Site mentioned
📍 Burlingame Gulch
Sources
73050 Burlingame Canyon Stock Videosshutterstock.com
Burlingame Touchet gulch walls show clear rhythmite sediment layers 4K 0:12. Canyon is a man-made accidental erosion event
How Long Does It Take for a Canyon to Form?icr.org
Burlingame Canyon. It measures 1500 feet long, up to 120 feet deep, and 120 feet wide, winding through a hillside. was observed to form in less than six days.
Touchet Formationen.wikipedia.org
The beds consist of more than 40 to 62 distinct rhythmites – horizontal layers of sediment, each clearly demarcated from the layer below. Touchet beds in ...
Geology - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. ...nps.gov
To look at rock layers, geologists use a diagram called a stratigraphic column. It shows the rock layers with the oldest on the bottom, and the ...
Geology Rocks: Grand Canyon Rock Layersgrandcanyontrust.org
Geology rocks! A simple way to learn and remember the Grand Canyon rock layers. You'll impress your hiking buddies with your geology.
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