Desert varnish is a dark coating on rocks in arid regions. It often coats canyon walls where water has flown down the the sides of canyons. The coating is composed mainly of fine-grained clay minerals and within the clays are black manganese oxide and red iron oxide which create the different colors.

When hiking in areas, particularly in southern Utah and northern Arizona, I've often come upon areas where desert varnish has covered a rock face like a beautiful painting. Please feel free to add your own photos of desert varnish!

Images

Scorpion Falls

Tiger Wall

Sandy TOWERS!

Wading the Yampa River

Red Watchers Watch In The Shadows

Outlaw Arch

Another shot of Scorpion...

Rainy Day

Erosional features and...

Returning to camp

Desert Varnish and Painted Maple

Who spilled the paint?

Desert Varnish

Outlaw Arch Canyon

Belay ledge atop P3 of Dark...

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Comments

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Bob Sihler

Desert Varnish

Voted 10/10

This is a really cool album and a very good idea with some great pictures. I tacked one on, and soon I'll scour my album for other suitable ones. Thanks for making this page! I'm noticing that you really have an eye and a love for desert scenery.

Posted Oct 20, 2006 3:21 am


	tarol	Re: Desert Varnish
	Hasn't voted	Thanks for your compliments and additions :)
		Posted Oct 20, 2006 10:09 pm

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