(9/24 and 9/25 continued)
While the rock of the Claron formation was buried by younger sediments and under pressure, it developed a system of perpendicular stress joints. Now that this beautiful pink and white rock is exposed, it erodes along those joints.
Erosion in one direction separates the rocks into fins . . .
. . .then erosion in the perpendicular direction through the fins produces spires, or at least spire-topped fins.
The caprocks on these spires are from the more resistant limestone or sandstone beds and have rather broad tops.
When the caprock erodes off, the less resistant rock below erodes more quickly, and the spires then have more pointed tops.
