Grand Canyon Supergroup Hakatai Shale with Basalt Dike

At Hance Creek, Basalt Dikes shoot through the Hakatai Shale, a geologic wonder easily seen from the end of the New Hance Trail.
NPS Photo by: Carl Bowman
Hakatai Shale
Thickness: 445-985 feet

This colorful formation contains layers of red sandstones, red shales, and blue to purple shales. As the sea level dropped, the environment slowly changed from a shallow sea to coastal mud flats. Mudcracks, raindrop impressions, and cross-beds are found in this layer.