Slide 46 of 66
Notes:
The next section deals with the use of simulation models to replicate the erosional history of a specific area - in this case the issue is what erosional history is responsible for the development of the badlands and pediments that occur along the Fremont River (in the picture above) near Caineville, Utah (USA). In the foreground and background of this picture is a 300 m tall escarpment capped by resistant sandstone. Beneath this is the Mancos Shale, which is about 600m of grey, nearly uniform marine shale. Between the scarps and the Fremont river the shale has been eroded into steep, intricate badlands up to 30 m in relief which are bounded near the Fremont River by pediments. Prominent late Quaternary (Early Wisconsinan) terraces bound the river and some of these are indicated by red arrows. The badlands never extend above the terrace level (except on the ramparts of the sandstone scarps) and in places the badlands are capped with sandstone gravel that grades to the level of the Wisconsinan terrace.
Note that the usual progression of landforms from the scarp to the river level is:
2) steep, partially debris mantled ramparts below the scarp
3) badlands, some capped with remnants of sandstone gravels derived from the scarps
4) pediments at the base of the badlands graded to the modern river level
