Alberta
Drumheller
Alberta Badlands
Badlands are where sedimentary rocks have been significantly eroded by the elements, such as wind and water. Because of this erosion Drumheller has striking cannons and ravines. Badlands are also classified as semi-arid deserts due to the lack of precipitation and rain in the area.
The Badlands are an excellent place to find fossils because of the large deposits of sedimentary rock and because the erosion from the elements exposes the fossils that are buried within the sediment.
The valley of Drumheller was formed when glaciers melted 15,000 years ago. Large blocks of ice broke off and then formed ice dams that held back glacial water. When these massive ice dams broke the meltwater cut through all of the soft rock in the area and formed the Drumheller valley.
Stratigraphy is the study of rock layers, and Drumheller is a great place to see all of the different layers of rocks and sediment that has built up over time. These deposits are easy to see along the hills, cliffs and crags in the form of coloured bands.
Sedimentary Rocks
Drumheller has deposits of bituminous coal, Mudstone, and sand stone all of which are sedimentary rocks.
Sedimentary rocks are formed when minerals and organic materials slowly accumulate and settle over time. Usually these sediments are deposited by wind, water or ice. They form rock through cementation which involves water ions chemically precipitating to make a crystalline material between the sedimentary grains. This holds the original sediment together and this process is what turns sand into sandstone. Generally this process can take millions of years to fully complete.
Over time the process of erosion has broken apart the soft sedimentary rocks. On a hike through the badlands you can see ‘gravel’ which is actually a mixture of the sedimentary rock that has been eroded away over time.
There are many different types of sedimentary rocks found around the world, and it is within sedimentary rock that fossils are found. Fossils are the preserved remains, impressions or traces of an organism that get left in rock. These remains become hardened and petrified, examples include: bones, shells, imprints such as a foot print, and plants.
Wildlife In The Badlands
Alberta Badlands are semi-arid deserts. Because of this wildlife has to make special adaptations in order to survive the dry hot conditions.
The arid climate suits cactuses just fine, and prickly pear, desert rose, and purple ball cactuses can all be found growing in the Badlands.
The badlands have a hard time supporting large trees but many types of grasses can accommodate the harsh environment such as cordgrass, Buffalo grass, and blue gama.
Small mammals such as gophers and the western small-footed bat can be found in the Badlands. As well as some reptiles such as the prairie rattle snake and the short-horned lizard.
In the spring and summer months many insects also make their home in the arid environment. Many types of beetles can be found, box elder bugs, grasshoppers, and the tiger beetle can all be found here.
Moose, elk has coyotes can also be seen periodically in the area with moose and elk sightings being more common during the early morning or dusk.
Hoodoos
Hoodoos are large mushroom shaped rock formations. Their unusual shape is caused by the different resistances to erosion within the layers of the rock itself.
Hoodoos are formed by erosion, where wind and water slowly wears away at the sediments in the rock. A harder layer remains as the ‘cap’ and helps to protect the softer rock layers beneath it creating the mushroom shape.
These rock formations are often tall and spire like and can be formed in both sedimentary rock and volcanic rock.
Hoodoos can be found throughout the world, and generally occur where there is a thick layer of soft sedimentary rock such as sandstone or mudstone. The Alberta Badlands has both mudstone and sandstone layers and as such is an ideal place to find Hoodoos.
The large ‘cap’ at the top of the hoodoo is a harder layer of rock that is more resistant to erosion. The heavy ‘cap’ also presses down on the softer sediment layers giving the softer layers more resistance to erosion.
If the top layer or ‘cap’ of the hoodoo erodes, brakes, or falls off, the layers underneath making up the body or spire of the Hoodoo quickly erode away.
In the Badlands of Alberta the Hoodoos are mostly consisting of sandstone that rest on a thick bed of shale. They can stand as tall as 20 feet but are very fragile, and Hoodoos take millions of years to form.
Most Hoodoos in the Alberta Badlands are around 5 -7 meters tall and many smaller ones can be found dotting the landscape.
Blackfoot and Cree Nations tell stories of how these rock formations are petrified giants that are able to come alive at night in order to protect the land, and will throw stones at intruders.