Thor’s hammer is one of the best-known hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park. The look of Thor’s Hammer continues to change as shown in Figure 1.

Question

This figure shows the changes that have occurred to Thor's Hammer from 1936 until 2010.

Figure 2 - Formation of Hoodoos
This figure shows how a hoodoo forms from a plateau (1) then as rocks break it forms walls (2), windows (3), and then individual hoodoos(4).

Based on the diagram, choose the rock processes that most contribute to the formation of Thor's Hammer in Bryce Canyon National Park.

(4 points)
Included Not Included
weathering

melting

plant growth

erosion

abrasion

ice wedging

dissolving

deformation

Answer 1

Based on the processes that contribute to the formation of hoodoos like Thor's Hammer as indicated in the diagrams, the following rock processes are included:

Included:

1. Weathering - This is a primary process that breaks down rocks and contributes to the shaping of hoodoos.
2. Erosion - Erosion helps in removing the weathered materials, contributing to the formation of distinct hoodoos.
3. Ice wedging - The freeze-thaw cycle can widen cracks in rocks, leading to further weakening and separation of rock formations, which is important in hoodoo formation.
4. Plant growth - The roots of plants can grow into cracks in rocks, further aiding in weathering and breaking down the rock.

Not Included:

1. Melting - This process is not relevant in the formation of hoodoos, as it typically refers to the transition of solid to liquid rock, relevant in volcanic contexts.
2. Abrasion - While it can wear away rock, it is less significant in the formation of hoodoos compared to other processes listed.
3. Dissolving - This process is more related to chemical weathering in soluble rocks (like limestone), not typically relevant in the context of hoodoos formed from sedimentary rocks.
4. Deformation - This process involves the alteration of rocks under stress and is not a significant factor in hoodoo formation.

So, the processes most contributing to the formation of Thor's Hammer are weathering, erosion, ice wedging, and plant growth.