File:Delicate Arch (Arches National Park, eastern Utah, USA) 1 (15512662583).jpg

Delicate Arch, developed in the Jurassic of Utah, USA.

Rock arches are rare erosional features. Rock arches that are not formed by river or stream erosion are called "natural arches". Those that are formed by river or stream erosion are called "natural bridges". Natural bridges are rarer than natural arches. Very small erosional openings in rocks are called windows. Larger erosional openings are arches.

Arches National Park in eastern Utah has the highest concentration of natural arches on Earth. Over 2000 natural arches have been identified, in all stages of development.

The natural arches in the park are developed in the Entrada Sandstone (Middle Jurassic), which is entirely composed of siliciclastics stained red by abundant hematite (= iron oxide, Fe2O3). Most of the arches occur at & just above the contact between the lower and middle members of the Entrada Sandstone.

Traditionally, the Entrada Sandstone has been subdivided into three members: a lower Dewey Bridge Member, a middle Slickrock Member, and an upper Moab Member (a.k.a. "Moab Tongue"; a.k.a. "Moab Tongue Member")..

The lower unit, the Dewey Bridge Member of the Entrada Sandstone, consists principally of relatively soft, interbedded siltstones and fine-grained sandstones that have contorted and wavy bedding. Recent stratigraphic revision (e.g., Doelling, 2010) has changed the name to the Dewey Bridge Member of the Carmel Formation. I reject this formation-level stratigraphic assignment. The Dewey Bridge is time-equivalent to the Carmel Formation, but the bulk lithology is quite different, necessitating a different formation name, according to the code of stratigraphic nomenclature.

Overlying the Dewey Bridge is the Slickrock Member, a unit of relatively hard, massive, quartzose sandstones.

Differential weathering & erosion along the sides of relatively narrow Entrada Sandstone fins, or walls, has formed blind arches and, ultimately, natural arches. Some of the park's arches have their origin as deep potholes that have punched through.

Shown above is Delicate Arch - the # 1 most famous natural arch on Earth It is uniquely isolated and is developed in the Moab Member of the Entrada Sandstone, unlike other arches in the park. Delicate Arch is about 85 feet high and 65 feet wide. It's been estimated that 70,000 years of weathering and erosion were required to form this feature. The eastern pedestal is relatively narrow - this natural arch will collapse soon (geologically).

Stratigraphy: Moab Member, upper Entrada Sandstone, Middle Jurassic

Locality: Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, southern Grand County, eastern Utah, USA (38° 44' 36.65" North latitude, 109° 29' 57.60" West longitude)

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