Articles | Volume 11, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-995-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-995-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Building a bimodal landscape: bedrock lithology and bed thickness controls on the morphology of Last Chance Canyon, New Mexico, USA
Sam Anderson
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
Nicole Gasparini
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
Joel Johnson
Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
Related authors
Angel D. Monsalve, Samuel R. Anderson, Nicole M. Gasparini, and Elowyn M. Yager
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 3427–3451, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-3427-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-3427-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Rivers shape landscapes by moving sediments and changing their beds, but existing computer models oversimplify these processes by only considering erosion. We developed new software that simulates how rivers transport sediments and change over time through both erosion and deposition. This helps scientists and engineers better predict river behavior for water management, flood prevention, and ecosystem protection.
Laurent O. Roberge, Nicole M. Gasparini, Benjamin Campforts, and Gregory E. Tucker
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2445, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2445, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscientific Model Development (GMD).
Short summary
Short summary
Landscape evolution models compute the movement of sediment across landscapes. However, few account for the storage, fate, and transport of sediment properties, such as lithology or geochemistry. We present new Landlab model components that track such properties. Our unit-agnostic approach allows users to define the sediment properties for a wide range of applications (for example, mass of magnetite, volume of quartz, number of zircons, number of 10Be atoms, "equivalent dose" of luminescence).
Claire C. Masteller, Joel P. L. Johnson, Dieter Rickenmann, and Jens M. Turowski
Earth Surf. Dynam., 13, 593–605, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-593-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-593-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents a novel model that predicts how gravel riverbeds may evolve in response to differences in the frequency and severity of flood events. We test our model using a 23-year-long record of river flow and gravel transport from the Swiss Prealps. We find that our model reliably captures yearly patterns in gravel transport in this setting. Our new model is a major advance towards better predictions of river erosion that account for the flood history of a gravel-bed river.
Angel D. Monsalve, Samuel R. Anderson, Nicole M. Gasparini, and Elowyn M. Yager
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 3427–3451, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-3427-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-3427-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Rivers shape landscapes by moving sediments and changing their beds, but existing computer models oversimplify these processes by only considering erosion. We developed new software that simulates how rivers transport sediments and change over time through both erosion and deposition. This helps scientists and engineers better predict river behavior for water management, flood prevention, and ecosystem protection.
Matanya Hamawi, Joel P. L. Johnson, Susan Bilek, Jens M. Turowski, and John B. Laronne
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-591, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-591, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Earth Surface Dynamics (ESurf).
Short summary
Short summary
Water level suddenly rises during flash floods in dry regions having a distinct impact on bedload – large sediment rolling and saltating on the riverbed. Using sensor-equipped pebbles and seismic monitoring in a field setting, we demonstrate that bedload activity is very high in both shallow and deep sudden flows. These findings can help improve bedload transport models, particularly when using seismic sensors, by providing new insights into bedload dynamics.
Nicole M. Gasparini, Adam M. Forte, and Katherine R. Barnhart
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1227–1242, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1227-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1227-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The time it takes for a landscape to adjust to new environmental conditions is critical for understanding the impacts of past and future environmental changes. We used different computational models and methods and found that predicted times for a landscape to reach a stable condition vary greatly. Our results illustrate that reporting how timescales are measured is important. Modelers should ensure that the measurement technique addresses the question.
Nathan J. Lyons, Pedro Val, James S. Albert, Jane K. Willenbring, and Nicole M. Gasparini
Earth Surf. Dynam., 8, 893–912, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-893-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-893-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Organisms evolve in ever-changing environments under complex process interactions. We applied a new software modelling tool to assess how changes in river course impact the evolution of riverine species. Models illustrate the climatically and tectonically forced landscape changes that can drive riverine biodiversity, especially where topographic relief is low. This research demonstrates that river course changes can contribute to the high riverine biodiversity found in real-world lowland basins.
Cited articles
Agisoft PhotoScan Professional: (Version 1.4.5) (Software), Agisoft [code],
http://www.agisoft.com/downloads/installer, 2018.
Allen, J. R.: Morphodynamics of Holocene salt marshes: a review sketch from
the Atlantic and Southern North Sea coasts of Europe, Quaternary Sci.
Rev., 16, 939–975, 1997.
Anderson, S.: y05emite-sam/data_from_last_chance_canyon: data, Zenodo [data set], https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8370596, 2023.
Bell, F. G.: Engineering Geology and Construction, Elsevier, https://books.google.com.tr/books?hl=en&lr=&id=m1uSzpaD_V8C&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=Bell,+F.+G.+sandstone++60+%25+quartz&ots=rpJxkVWXYu&sig=xQSq7yojrPLD8zqwt3Ai50_7Dn0&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false (last access: 5 October 2023), 2005.
Brocard, G. Y. and van der Beek, P. A.: Influence of incision rate, rock
strength, and bedload supply on bedrock river gradients and valley-flat
widths: Field-based evidence and calibrations from western Alpine rivers
(southeast France), in: Tectonics, Climate, and Landscape Evol., edited by: Willett, S. D., Hovius, N., Brandon, M. T., and Fisher,
D., GSA Special Paper 398,
101–126, https://doi.org/10.1130/2006.2398(07), 2006.
Bursztyn, N., Pederson, J. L., Tressler, C., Mackley, R. D., and Mitchell,
K. J.: Rock strength along a fluvial transect of the Colorado Plateau –
quantifying a fundamental control on geomorphology, EPS Letters, 429,
90–100, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.07.042, 2015.
Chapin, C. E., Cather, S. M., and Keller, G. R.: Tectonic setting of the
axial basins of the northern and central Rio Grande rift, Special
Papers – GSA, 5–5, https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ybECAQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA5&dq=Tectonic+setting+10+of+the+axial+basins+of+the+northern+and+central+Rio+Grande+rift&ots=Ru1VGg1uOX&sig=7CoXBM4ueT81r8y1x-zFxvqAnYk&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Tectonic%20setting%2010%20of%20the%20axial%20basins%20of%20the%20northern%20and%20central%20Rio%20Grande%20rift&f=false (last access: 5 October 2023), 1994.
Chilton, K. D. and Spotila, J. A.: Preservation of Valley and Ridge
topography via delivery of resistant, ridge-sourced boulders to hillslopes
and channels, Southern Appalachian Mountains, USA, Geomorphology, 365, 107263,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107263, 2020.
Chilton, K. D. and Spotila, J. A.: Uncovering the Controls on Fluvial
Bedrock Erodibility and Knickpoint Expression: A High-Resolution Comparison
of Bedrock Properties Between Knickpoints and Non-Knickpoint
Reaches, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 127, e2021JF006511, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JF006511, 2022.
Darling, A. and Whipple, K.: Geomorphic constraints on the age of the
western Grand Canyon, Geosphere, 11, 958–976, https://doi.org/10.1130/GES01131.1,
2015.
Decker, D. D., Polyak, V. J., Asmerom, Y., and Lachniet, M. S.: U–Pb dating
of cave spar: a new shallow crust landscape evolution tool, Tectonics,
37, 208–223, 2018.
DiBiase, R. A., Rossi, M. W., and Neely, A. B.: Fracture density and grain
size controls on the relief structure of bedrock landscapes, Geology, 46,
399–402, https://doi.org/10.1130/G40006.1, 2018.
Duvall, A., Kirby, E., and Burbank, D.: Tectonic and lithologic controls on
bedrock channel profiles and processes in coastal California, J.
Geophys. Res.-Earth, 109, F03002, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JF000086, 2004.
Forte, A. M., Yanites, B. J., and Whipple, K. X.: Complexities of landscape
evolution during incision through layered stratigraphy with contrasts in
rock strength, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 41, 1736–1757,
https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3947, 2016.
Finnegan, N. J., Klier, R. A., Johnstone, S., Pfeiffer, A. M., and Johnson,
K.: Field evidence for the control of grain size and sediment supply on
steady-state bedrock river channel slopes in a tectonically active setting,
Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 42, 2338–2349, 2017.
Gasparini, N. M. and Brandon, M. T.: A generalized power law approximation
for fluvial incision of bedrock channels, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 116, F02020, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JF001655, 2011.
Hack, J. T.: Studies of longitudinal stream profiles in Virginia and
Maryland, US Government Printing Office, Vol. 294, US Government Printing Office, https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=BMHMKaKYdl0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA47&dq=:+Studies+of+longitudinal+stream+profiles+in+Virginia+and+Maryland,&ots=waYis_Thas&sig=a-ZBqu9_qeGLiBY2pJ1e89TmhDU&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%3A%20Studies%20of%20longitudinal%20stream%20profiles%20in%20Virginia%20and%20Maryland%2C&f=false (last access: 29 September 2023), 1957.
Harel, M.-A., Mudd, S. M., and Attal, M.: Global analysis of the stream
power law parameters based on worldwide 10Be denudation rates, Geomorphology,
268, 184–196, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.05.035, 2016.
Healy, D.,. Rizzo, R. E., Cornwell, D. G., Farrell, N. J. C., Watkins, H., Timms, N. E., Gomez-Rivas, E., and Smith, M.: FracPaQ: A MATLABTM toolbox for the
quantification of fracture patterns, J. Struct. Geol., 95, 1–16,
2017.
Hill, C. A.: Geology of Carlsbad Cavern and other caves in the Guadalupe Mountains,
New Mexico and Texas, New Mexico Bur. Mines Min. Resour. Bull., 117, 1–150, 1987.
Hill, C. A.: Geology of the Guadalupe Mountains: An overview of recent
ideas, Caves and karst of southeastern New Mexico: Guidebook, 57th Field
Conference, New Mexico Geological Society, Guidebook, 57th Field Conference, Albuquerque,
145–150, https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/57/57_p0145_p0150.pdf (last access: 5 October 2023), 2006.
Hill, C. A.: Overview of the geologic history of cave
development in the Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico, J. Cave
Karst Stud., 62, 60–71, 2000.
Hilley, G. E. and Arrowsmith, J. R.: Geomorphic response to uplift along
the Dragon's Back pressure ridge, Carrizo Plain, California, Geology, 36,
367–370, 2008.
Hoffman, L. L.: Spatial variability of erosion patterns along the eastern
margin of the Rio Grande Rift, Illinois State University, https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1184&context=etd (last access: 5 October 2023), 2014.
Howard, A. and Dolan, R.: Geomorphology of the Colorado River in the Grand
Canyon, J. Geol., 89, 269–298, 1981.
Howard, A. D.: A detachment-limited model of drainage basin evolution, Water
Resour. Res., 30, 2261–2285, 1994.
Hurst, M. D., Mudd, S. M., Yoo, K., Attal, M., and Walcott, R.: Influence of
lithology on hillslope morphology and response to tectonic forcing in the
northern Sierra Nevada of California, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 118, 832–851, 2013.
Jansen, J. D., Codilean, A. T., Bishop, P., and Hoey, T. B.: Scale
dependence of lithological control on topography: Bedrock channel geometry
and catchment morphometry in western Scotland, J. Geol., 118,
223–246, 2010.
Johnson, J. P. L., Whipple, K. X., Sklar, L. S., and Hanks, T. C.: Transport
slopes, sediment cover, and bedrock channel incision in the Henry Mountains,
Utah, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 114, F02014,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JF000862, 2009.
Johnstone, S. A. and Hilley, G. E.: Lithologic control on the form of
soil-mantled hillslopes, Geology, 43, 83–86, 2015.
Katz, O., Reches, Z., and Roegiers, J.-C.: Evaluation of mechanical rock
properties using a Schmidt Hammer, Int. J. Rock Mech.
Min., 37, 723–728, 2000.
Keen-Zebert, A., Hudson, M. R., Shepherd, S. L., and Thaler, E. A.: The
effect of lithology on valley width, terrace distribution, and bedload
provenance in a tectonically stable catchment with flat-lying stratigraphy,
Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 42, 1573–1587, 2017.
Kerans, C., Zahm, C., Garcia-Fresca, B., and Harris, P. M.: Guadalupe
Mountains, West Texas and New Mexico: Key excursions, AAPG Bull., 101,
465–474, 2017.
Kirby, E. and Whipple, K. X.: Expression of active tectonics in erosional
landscapes, J. Struct. Geol., 44, 54–75, 2012.
Lai, L. S.-H., Roering, J. J., Finnegan, N. J., Dorsey, R. J., and Yen,
J.-Y.: Coarse sediment supply sets the slope of bedrock channels in rapidly
uplifting terrain: Field and topographic evidence from eastern Taiwan, Earth
Surf. Proc. Land., 46, 2671–2689, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5200, 2021.
Lague, D., Hovius, N., and Davy, P.: Discharge, discharge variability, and
the bedrock channel profile, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 110, F04006, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JF000259,
2005.
Miller, K. L., Szabó, T., Jerolmack, D. J., and Domokos, G.: Quantifying
the significance of abrasion and selective transport for downstream fluvial
grain size evolution, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 119, 2412–2429,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JF003156, 2014.
Montgomery, D. R. and Gran, K. B.: Downstream variations in the width of
bedrock channels, Water Resour. Res., 37, 1841–1846,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2000WR900393, 2001.
Mueller-Hagmann, M., Albayrak, I., Auel, C., and Boes, R. M.: Field
investigation on 256 hydroabrasion in high-speed sediment-laden flows at
sediment bypass tunnels, Water, 12, 469, https://doi.org/10.3390/w12020469, 2020.
Murphy, B., Johnson, J., Gasparini, N., and Sklar, L.: Chemical weathering
as a mechanism for the climatic control of bedrock river incision, Nature,
532, 223–227, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature17449, 2016.
National Park Service Resources Inventory Program Lakewood Colorado: Digital
geologic map of Guadalupe Mountains National Park and vicinity, Texas (NPS,
GRD, GRE, GUMO), https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/digital-geologic-gis-map-of-guadalupe-mountains-national-park-and-vicinity-texas-nps-grd-g (last access: 5 October 2023), 2007.
Niedzielski, T., Migoń, P., and Placek, A.: A minimum sample size
required from Schmidt hammer measurements, Earth Surf. Proc. Land.,
34, 1713–1725, 2009.
Perne, M., Covington, M. D., Thaler, E. A., and Myre, J. M.: Steady state, erosional continuity, and the topography of landscapes developed in layered rocks, Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 85–100, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-85-2017, 2017.
Perron, J. T. and Royden, L.: An integral approach to bedrock river profile
analysis, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 38, 570–576, 2013.
Phelps, R. M., Kerans, C., Scott, S. Z., Janson, X., and Bellian, J. A.:
Three-dimensional modelling and sequence stratigraphy of a carbonate
ramp-to-shelf transition, Permian Upper San Andres Formation, Sedimentology,
55, 1777–1813, 2008.
PRISM Climate Group: 30-yr Normal Precipitation: Annual,
Period 1991–2020, Oregon State University,
https://prism.oregonstate.edu (last access: 8 March 2023), 2022.
Raming, L. W. and Whipple, K. X.: When knickzones limit upstream
transmission of base-level fall: An example from Kaua'i, Hawai'i, Geology, 50, 1382–1386, 2022.
Ricketts, J. W., Karlstrom, K. E., Priewisch, A., Crossey, L. J., Polyak, V.
J., and Asmerom, Y.: Quaternary extension in the Rio Grande rift at elevated
strain rates recorded in travertine deposits, central New Mexico,
Lithosphere, 6, 3–16, 2014.
Scharf, T. E., Codilean, A. T., De Wit, M., Jansen, J. D., and Kubik, P. W.:
Strong rocks sustain ancient postorogenic topography in southern Africa,
Geology, 41, 331–334, 2013.
Scholle, P. A., Ulmer, D. S., and Melim, L. A.: Late-stage calcites in the
Permian Capitan Formation and its equivalents, Delaware Basin margin, west
Texas and New Mexico: evidence for replacement of precursor evaporites,
Sedimentology, 39, 207–234, 1992.
Schwanghart, W. and Scherler, D.: Short Communication: TopoToolbox 2 – MATLAB-based software for topographic analysis and modeling in Earth surface sciences, Earth Surf. Dynam., 2, 1–7, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-1-2014, 2014.
Scott, D. N. and Wohl, E. E.: Bedrock fracture influences on geomorphic
process and form across process domains and scales, Earth Surf. Proc.
Land., 44, 27–45, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4473, 2019.
Selby, M. J.: Rock mass strength and the form of some inselbergs in the
central Namib Desert, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 7, 489–497, 1982.
Shobe, C. M., Tucker, G. E., and Anderson, R. S.: Hillslope-derived blocks
retard river incision, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, 5070–5078,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069262, 2016.
Shobe, C. M., Bennett, G. L., Tucker, G. E., Roback, K., Miller, S. R., and
Roering, J. J.: Boulders as a lithologic control on river and landscape
response to tectonic forcing at the Mendocino triple junction, GSA
Bulletin, 133, 647–662, 2021a.
Shobe, C. M., Turowski, J. M., Nativ, R., Glade, R. C., Bennett, G. L., and
Dini, B.: The role of infrequently mobile boulders in modulating landscape
evolution and geomorphic hazards, Earth-Sci. Rev., 220, 103717, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103717, 2021b.
Sklar, L. S. and Dietrich, W. E.: Sediment and rock strength controls on
river incision into bedrock, Geology, 29, 1087–1090, 2001.
Sklar, L. S. and Dietrich, W. E.: A mechanistic model for river incision
into bedrock by saltating bed load, Water Resour. Res., 40, W06301, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003WR002496, 2004.
Sklar, L. S., Riebe, C. S., Marshall, J. A., Genetti, J., Leclere, S.,
Lukens, C. L., and Merces, V.: The problem of predicting the size
distribution of sediment supplied by hillslopes to rivers, Geomorphology, 277,
31–49, 2017.
Spotila, J. A., Moskey, K. A., and Prince, P. S.: Geologic controls on
bedrock channel width in large, slowly eroding catchments: Case study of the
New River in eastern North America, Geomorphology, 230, 51–63,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2014.11.004, 2015.
Strahler, A. N.: Quantitative analysis of watershed geomorphology, EOS,
Transactions American Geophys. Union, 38, 913–920, 1957.
Stock, J. D. and Montgomery, D. R.: Geologic constraints on bedrock river
incision using the stream power law, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol.
Ea., 104, 4983–4993, 1999.
Thaler, E. A. and Covington, M. D.: The influence of sandstone caprock
material on bedrock channel steepness within a tectonically passive setting:
Buffalo National River Basin, Arkansas, USA, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 121, 1635–1650, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JF003771, 2016.
Tranel, L. M. and Happel, A. A.: Evaluating escarpment evolution and
bedrock erosion rates in the western Guadalupe Mountains, West Texas and New
Mexico, Geomorphology, 368, 107335, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107335, 2020.
USGS: 1/3rd arc-second digital elevation models (DEMs), USGS
National Map 3DEP downloadable data collection, https://data.usgs.gov/datacatalog/data/USGS:35f9c4d4-b113-4c8d-8691-47c428c29a5b (last access: 5 October 2023), 2017.
Verdian, J. P., Sklar, L. S., Riebe, C. S., and Moore, J. R.: Sediment size on talus slopes correlates with fracture spacing on bedrock cliffs: implications for predicting initial sediment size distributions on hillslopes, Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 1073–1090, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1073-2021, 2021.
Weissel, J. K. and Seidl, M. A.: Influence of rock strength properties on
escarpment retreat across passive continental margins, Geology, 25,
631–634, 1997.
Whipple, K. X. and Tucker, G. E.: Dynamics of the stream-power river
incision model: Implications for height limits of mountain ranges, landscape
response timescales, and research needs, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol.
Ea., 104, 17661–17674, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JB900120, 1999.
Willett, S. D., McCoy, S. W., Perron, J. T., Goren, L., and Chen, C. Y.:
Dynamic reorganization of river basins, Science, 343, 1248765, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1248765, 2014.
Wobus, C., Whipple, K. X., Kirby, E., Snyder, N., Johnson, J., Spyropolou,
K., Crosby, B., and Sheehan, D.: Tectonics from topography: Procedures,
promise, and pitfalls, in: Tectonics, Climate, and Landscape Evolution, GSA,
https://doi.org/10.1130/2006.2398(04), 2006.
Wohl, E. E., Greenbaum, N., Schick, A. P., and Baker, V. R.: Controls on
Bedrock Channel Incision Along Nahal Paran, Israel, Earth Surf. Proc.
Land., 19, 1–13, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3290190102, 1994.
Wolpert, J. A. and Forte, A. M.: Response of transient rock uplift and base
level knickpoints to erosional efficiency contrasts in bedrock
streams, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 46, 2092–2109, 2021.
Yanites, B. J., Becker, J. K., Madritsch, H., Schnellmann, M., and Ehlers,
T. A.: Lithologic effects on landscape response to base level changes: a
modeling study in the context of the Eastern Jura Mountains, Switzerland,
J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 122, 2196–2222, 2017.
Short summary
We measured rock strength and amount of fracturing in the two different rock types, sandstones and carbonates, in Last Chance Canyon, New Mexico, USA. Where there is more carbonate bedrock, hills and channels steepen in Last Chance Canyon. This is because the carbonate-type bedrock tends to be more thickly bedded, is less fractured, and is stronger. The carbonate bedrock produces larger boulders than the sandstone bedrock, which can protect the more fractured sandstone bedrock from erosion.
We measured rock strength and amount of fracturing in the two different rock types, sandstones...