Origins
Seventy-five million years ago, an ancient sea covered this landscape, depositing layers of sediment that hardened into Pierre Shale. This forms the base of the Badlands and is its oldest layer.
Deposition
On top of the Pierre Shale, 30- to 34-million-year-old rock known as the Brule formation sits just below the Sharps formation, which contains ancient volcanic ash.
Water Erosion
About 500,000 years ago, rainwater began to seep through these layers at the relatively fast rate of one inch per year, exposing ancient rock and creating local rivers.
Additional Erosion
Wind and the effects of water seeping into cracks, freezing and then thawing also contributed to the region's erosion, most actively at the Badlands Wall, a 60-mile-long spine of buttes.
Article Written By Kelly Aspen
Kelly Aspen's writing focuses on natural places, cultural sites and wildlife. She has nine years of experience as an editor and writer for magazines, books and websites, including Trails.com, Travels.com and Weekendnotes.com. She attended Vassar College and now lives in the mountains of Colorado.
