TAPEATS SANDSTONE Cambrian Period, 515 Million Years Old, 300 Feet Thick Brown cliff with distinct layering  Up to Layers Page  Introduction Kaibab Formation  Toroweap Formation  Coconino Sandstone  Hermit Formation  Supai Group  Redwall Limestone Tonto Group  Muav Limestone  Bright Angel Shale  Tapeats Sandstone  Vishnu Complex  

The Tapeats is a massive cliff-forming unit of brown sandstone. Much of the sand is very coarse-grained, often pea-sized or larger, and some grains are beautifully colored--my students call this the M&M conglomerate. The Tapeats Sandstone represents near-shore beach and sand bar deposits.     The base of the Tapeats contains a conglomerate member (part of the Tapeats), called the Hotauta Conglomerate. This was a pebble beach formed as the Tonto Sea encroached and tore up the Vishnu, so the Hotauta contains schist and granite pebbles.

 

Here is a closer view of the Tapeats Sandstone as seen from below.

Up to Layers Page  Introduction Kaibab Formation  Toroweap Formation  Coconino Sandstone  Hermit Formation  Supai Group  Redwall Limestone Tonto Group  Muav Limestone  Bright Angel Shale  Tapeats Sandstone  Vishnu Complex