The Most Diverse Geology on Earth? Jackson Hole & Northwest Wyoming

There is a very long list of geologic events which through >2.7by of time have combined to create one of the most dramatic & beautiful places on earth. It is possible that one can see clear evidence of more geologic events in the Jackson Hole / NW Wyoming area than any other place of roughly comparable size on the planet.

The following sequential-through-time list highlights the geologic events that are evident here:

1. Earliest documented continent-continent collision & suture (~2.65 bya).
2. Evidence for the breakup of the Rodinia Supercontinent, associated rift related volcanism, at ~765mya.
3. Continental scale unconformity and subsequent continental scale transgression (basal Cambrian Flathead SS).
4. Equatorial position of Laurentia and resultant shallow, warm water deposition throughout most of Paleozoic.
5. Sedimentary evidence for dramatic post-end-Permian climate change, northward drift of Laurentia.
6. Sevier Orogeny, thin skinned tectonics.
7. Laramide Orogeny, thick skinned tectonics (one of only 2 places in North America where Sevier & Laramide are both readily viewed & are directly interacting).
8. Absaroka volcanism, likely related to end of Laramide orogeny.
9. Cenozoic burial of uplifted Laramide features, Wyoming basins' elevations relatively close to sea level.
10. Yellowstone volcanism, unusual intracontinental major volcanism.
11. Regional, continental scale, ~mile-high uplift and associated exhumation of Laramide mountain uplifts & of the intervening basins.
12. Basin & Range extension reaching NW-W Wyoming, formation of Jackson Hole & Teton Range (still ongoing today as evidenced by tectonism in local region).
13. Alpine and quasi-continental style glaciation.
14. Dramatic evidence for the impact & interaction of the above on local flora, fauna, and creation of the dramatic landscape.

This long & complex geologic history can readily be seen here in and adjacent to Jackson Hole, and it is noteworthy that absent this geologic history, the creation of Grand Teton National Park would almost certainly never have occurred or been possible.

To learn more about John's exploits see his bio on the Geologists of Jackson Hole website.