Devil's Tower Research Project

Slide 2 - Formation - Janie

195-225 mya. During the Triassic and the rise of the dinosaurs, Devil's Tower is formed. Although there is a debate among geologists regarding the origins of this massive structure, the simplest explanation is that Devil's Tower was an intrusion of mafic magma into the crust encountered a hard rock layer and was eventually forced to spread. The magma then cooled and crystallized, which formed a rock type known as phonolite porphyry. As the rock cooled, the sides contracted, forming hexagonal columns separated by vertical cracks. Erosion has stripped away the softer rock layers to expose the tower.

Slide 7 - Culture - Caroline

Because many Native American tribes all over the US consider the Devils Tower to be sacred, they use it as their place of worship. It was named "Bad Gods Tower" in 1875 through a misinterpretation of the native's name. However, the tribes have other names for this tower, the most prominent being "Bear Lodge."

Slide 5 - Wildlife - Caroline

Lichens cover many parts of the Devils Tower, and other greenery, such as sage, moss, and grass, grows on the flat top. Chipmunks and birds lives on the summit, while a pine forest stretches along the surrounding countryside. Standing at the base of this monument, the different songs of over 160 different birds can be heard. Along with the music, some prairie dog are nearby, popping their heads up above the ground for the perfect photo op. These prairie dogs are just one of the over forty different types of species of mammals. The Belle Fourche River stretches along the base of the tower, and contains many different types of fish, from minnows to catfish. Amphibians also roam along the river and the surrounding base, such as toads and salamanders.

Slide 4 - Structure - Janie

The Devil's Tower is a looming landform with a diameter of 1,000 ft and 275 ft at the top. There is a 1.25 mile tower trail, which encircles the base, allowing tourists to hike along the base. This structure takes up 221 square miles, its flat top covering 1.5 acres. The tower is 5,112 ft above sea level and is 867 ft high from its base. It is made out of basalt, which is a buff, light gray to greenish gray color, and has hexagonal columns running from the flat top covering down to the base. These columns are formed when hot, molten, felsic magma cools and contracts, forming these columns, which are separated by vertical cracks.

Slide 3 - History - Caroline

The Lakota tribe of Native Americans, formed in 900 C.E., claimed to have a spiritual connection to the tower, which is their sacred site of worship. One of the legends they have, as well as other tribes, of how this tower was made is that a giant bear clawed the grooves into the mountainside while chasing several young Indian maidens. However, this tower has significance in modern history as well. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the Devil's Tower as the nation's first national monument. And, this landmark is remembered as the movie location for "Close Encounters of Third Kind."

Slide 8 - Timeline - Janie

The Sundance Formation began to evolve about 225 million years ago out of sandstone, siltstone, and shale from the seafloor that Wyoming used to be. The Gypsum Spring is a layer in this formation that is made from gypsum and forms a thin white band. 136 years ago another part of this formation was created called the Stockade Beaver Shale Formation and was formed from the tide rising and lowering. The Hulett Sandstone formation created columnar jointing up the sides of Devil's Tower. Around 60 million years ago magma either got trapped under this formation or came up from under this formation making the tower. On September 24, 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt named this the first national monument of the USA.

Slide 6 - Location - Janie

This tower is located in northeast Wyoming. Wyoming was once a sea floor containing many types of rock, such as shale, sandstone, and limestone. The Devil's Tower was only visible after millions of years of erosion, worn away by wind and precipitation, and is still continuing to erode. Overtime, Devil's Tower will become rubble.

Introduction - Caroline

We researched and learned about Devils Tower.