This is an early morning view of West Temple from Watchman campground. In the sunny flat face of the mountain you can see the dominate rock of Zion Canyon - 2000 feet of white and pink sandstone. This massive wall of sandstone was laid down during the Jurassic era, some 208 million years ago, and may be the thickest accumulation in the country. Although not easily seen in this picture, diagonal crossbedding and ripplemarks can be seen in the cliff's sandstone face. West Temple Mountain also illustrates the interesting effects of "lithification." This is the term used when sand grains cement to one another. What happens is mineral-laden water filters through the grains of sand and acts as a cementing agent. Between this cementing action and the enormous pressure of the sand's weight from above, sandstone get harder, forming a more erosion-resistant rock. The cool thing is where the harder sandstone begins there are little springs seeping out of the Canyon's wall during wet periods.
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