Waimea Canyon, on the island of Kauai, is often referred to as the "Grand Canyon
of the Pacific". Throughout the day the rocks appear to change color, alternating
between vibrant yellow, orange and red hues. As the sun's angle changes, the
beautiful rust colors and the contrasting green of the vegetation offer spectacular
views as seen in the photo. Basalt, the extrusive volcanic rock found in this
location, is characteristically black in color. Over time, the composition of
the Basalt changed due to oxidation (rusting) of iron bearing minerals such
as Pyroxene and Olivine.
Do the varied and vibrant rock colorations seen in this photo show the process
of weathering or erosion?
