BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON RIVER, COLORADO

Light-colored intrusives.
The Gunnison River has eroded a deep canyon. On the walls of the canyon, rock that formed thousands of feet or more underground is exposed for us to see. Sheets of molten rock (magma) invaded the dark rock and solidified to form the swarms of light-colored intrusives that criss-cross the canyon wall.


© 2001
Photo by David J. Leveson