Mudcracks, Harris Wash, Utah

Mudcracks in a variety of shapes and sizes are visible in the sediment at the base of Harris Wash in Utah. Mudcracks, also known as desiccation cracks, result when the top layer of sediment dries before lower layers. When the water in the top layer evaporates, the thin layer separates from the layers below. The loss of moisture also causes the layer to shrink somewhat, causing a strain that results in the cracks.

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Mudcracks in a variety of shapes and sizes are visible in the sediment at the base of Harris Wash in Utah. Mudcracks, also known as desiccation cracks, result when the top layer of sediment dries before lower layers. When the water in the top layer evaporates, the thin layer separates from the layers below. The loss of moisture also causes the layer to shrink somewhat, causing a strain that results in the cracks.