What’s hiding inside? Why Wyoming’s Devils Tower is still a geological mystery
Standing tall at 1,267 feet in Northeastern Wyoming lies Devils Tower, an iconic natural formation. While much has been learned over time, much about its origins remains beyond scientists’ ability to explain. This is what actually lies inside the ancient marvel.
Before explaining what Devils Tower is, it’s important to explain what it isn’t. If you ask anyone on the internet, they’ll say it’s a very large, petrified tree stump, thanks to tweets like this:
Devils Tower, Wyoming
A weathered 867ft geological formation?
or,
Ancient giant tree stump? 🌲 pic.twitter.com/jFoN98WtEf— Jimmy Corsetti (@BrightInsight6) October 29, 2023
According to Reuters, internet clickbait has made false claims about Devils Tower since 2017. Rumors circulated that scientists had discovered “an incredibly large petrified root system” that ran four miles deep while doing seismic readings.
In reality, this phenomenon results from millions of years of erosion and from two types of rock. Approximately 200 million years ago, the area was a shallow sea, and sediment hardened into multiple layers of sedimentary rock. During the Paleocene Epoch, 56-66 million years ago, magma pushed through Earth’s crust, forcing its way into sedimentary rock. Eventually, it cooled into the bark-like texture that’s visible today, hardening into igneous rock. Over tens of millions of years, wind, rain, snow, and the nearby Belle Fourche River eroded the sedimentary rock, exposing the igneous core beneath.
Erosion is an endless process. Now that the igneous rock is exposed, Devils Tower will shrink and wear down over time. Proof of this is already apparent. Entire columns of rock break off, leaving boulders and small rocks at the bottom of the tower today.
The mystery of Devils Tower? Scientists have three theories on the original size and shape of the igneous rock intrusion, or Devils Tower, before erosion:
- Igneous Stock: The mass of igneous rock was irregularly shaped, similar to a plateau. At the time, the magma never reached the Earth’s surface.
- Laccolith: Devils Tower was originally mushroom-shaped. Again, the magma solidified before reaching the surface.
- Volcanic plug: In this version, magma reached or neared the surface. It formed the “throat” of a volcano, but the volcano was “plugged” when the magma cooled.
With such an intricate geological history, it’s no surprise that Devils Tower has received so much attention. It’s been the subject of local Indigenous myths, became the first ever national monument, and was a significant plot point in the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” It’s even a common travel destination for climbers. Ultimately, Devils Tower is an ancient beauty you might just need to see for yourself, so go get started on those travel plans!
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