The Colorful Mountain in Peru; Rainbow Mountain

One of the most impressive features within Peru is a beautiful mountain which contains almost all of the colors of the rainbow called Rainbow Mountain. This ancient mass of rock contains colorful near vertical layers of unique rock types which rises to a height of 5200 meters or 17060 feet. This unique tourist attraction was only recently discovered, and is part of the Andes Mountain range. This video will discuss how this beautiful geologic feature formed, and mention some nearby geologic features. This video was made by a geologist who is based in Arizona.

Google Earth imagery used in this video: ©Google & Data Providers

Creative Commons License:

[GeologyHub]

I want to note that there are numerous conflicting sources on what rock types and mineral alteration formed the various colors. I picked the source which best matched my knowledge of rock sequences in similar geologic settings (for example green being caused by chlorite alteration). As a final note, if you were to visit Rainbow Mountain, you cannot stay for too long due to the risk of altitude sickness.

[augustolobo]

Very cool! Although volcanoes are fascinating, I reeeeally like these other videos where you discuss other types of geological features. After all it's the Geology Hub, and geology is not only volcanoes right? Continue with this great content, it's definitely one of my top 3 favourite youtube channels at this moment.

[cadjosrez]

Could you do a future video on the Canadian Shield please? It’s crazy how what used to contain some of the tallest mountains on earth is now reduced to eroded rolling hills.

[gaius_enceladus]

What a *stunning* mountain! Beautiful!

[LolUGotBusted]

I honestly thought you were going to warn us about the alpacas

[paststeve]

Great video! Thanks! The mountain is gorgeous!

[harrimat]

Wow, that's like looking at the Marble cliffs and Chasm, both located here in BC.

[samuelmiller]

Reminds me of the Painted hills in Oregon although it was sediment deposits more so than rocks.

[TheAverageGuy]

Seen videos on this and looks amazing. Your video was so clear in explaining the layers of deposition. Consider carefully though, it's no hike in the woods, more a trek at altitude!

[djolley]

Though not as dramatic, there are similar colored layers in Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Perhaps you'd like to do a video on that area.

[Jim_n_the_wilds]

I remember watching a video on this from another science channel! Thanks for making one with your added touch!

[robbabcock_]

Amazing! Just about anything we could imagine probably exists somewhere on Earth. Thanks for showing these wonders to us.🏔️🗻🌋🌊

[kswsquared]

I hope you do one on the South American tepuis in the future. 👍

[AtarahDerek]

Two problems:
1. There is no time evident between the layers, indicating they were all laid down at once and sorted by density.
2. Hard rock doesn't bend without breaking, so this formation had to be soft when it was wrinkled. In order to reach the height of the Andes, it would have to have been thrust upward extremely rapidly. The Nasca plate is one of the fastest subducting plates in the world, but at its current rate it is still not raising the Andes nearly fast enough to fold soft rock layers. Meaning it must have been moving even faster at some point in the past--as fast as 5 mph (the average forward speed of a sailboat, or the speed at which a human can power walk).

[muhammadibnmustafa]

And Quran told about those rainbow mountains 1400 years ago.❤️ Subhan'Allah.😮💛
(Surah fatir verse 27)

[michaellee]

I'd like to know more about Artist's Palette/Drive in Death Valley, since you seem to be diversifying your content lately 😃.

[louisvalentino]

This gave me the best idea for my current hair colour.

[peterway]

How about a video on the Tethys Ocean and its subsequent uplift into the Himalayan Mountains.

[joshuapatrick]

Makes the painted desert look like a complete hack.

[cgl]

Great videos. There are young rift zones, but no young subduction zones. Very puzzling. What's the latest on young subduction zones?