caprock
Mesa's protective layer
Caprock is a hard, resistant layer of rock that overlies softer or more easily eroded material beneath it.
In geology, caprock protects underlying formations from weathering, creating flat-topped mesas and buttes across arid landscapes.
In petroleum geology, caprock is the impermeable layer that traps oil and gas in a reservoir: The caprock kept the natural gas from escaping.
Horizontal layer of material
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- dolomiteCalcium magnesium carbonate mineral
- sandstoneCemented grain sediment
- chertFine-grained siliceous stone
overburden · substratum · cementation · sedimentation · concretion · anhydrite · gypsum · caliche
Flat-topped steep-sided elevation
- butteIsolated flat-topped hill
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
- badlandsArid, heavily eroded terrain
cliff · plateau · tableland · highland · upland · ridge · valley · gulch
Withstanding external forces
- durableAble to withstand use
- imperviousUnable to be affected
- armoringAdding protective covering
- shieldingProtecting from harm
preservation · groundwater · recharge · water table · Ogallala Aquifer · seal · barrier · overburden
stratum
Horizontal layer of material
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- dolomiteCalcium magnesium carbonate mineral
- sandstoneCemented grain sediment
chert · overburden · substratum · cementation · sedimentation · concretion · anhydrite · gypsum · caliche · laterite
mesa
Flat-topped steep-sided elevation
- butteIsolated flat-topped hill
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
badlands · cliff · plateau · tableland · highland · upland · ridge · valley · gulch · ravine
resistant
Withstanding external forces
- durableAble to withstand use
- imperviousUnable to be affected
- armoringAdding protective covering
shielding · preservation · groundwater · recharge · water table · Ogallala Aquifer · seal · barrier · overburden · integrity
weathering
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
- underminingWeakening by covert means
- talusAnkle's main bone
- gullyingForming erosion channels
abrasion · scouring · fluvial · alluvium · streambed · cliff collapse · alcove · overhang · debris · spalling
- Great PlainsGreat Plains, high plains, High Plains, grassland, grasslands
- sandstone landformsarch, butte, canyon wall, cliff, fin
- Southwest geologymesas, buttes, arroyos, sandstone formations, slot canyons
- Texas landscapemesquite, bluebonnet, bluebonnets, prickly pear, longhorn
- petroleum geologypetroleum, crude oil, hydrocarbon, oil field, gas field
- Plains Geologybadlands, buttes, mesas, loess, shale