SAND AND SAGE: A MATCH MADE IN WYOMING

The Killpecker Sand Dunes, one of the largest active dune fields on the planet, present a unique dark “toothpick” shape in contrast to the surrounding landscape, when viewed aerially on Google Earth. Research was performed to investigate the source of this darker color, with an initial hypothesis of underlying lamproite dikes, known to exist in the area. By traveling to the area to compare what was seen on the ground with GPS location data and collecting ant hill samples to search for indicator minerals, it was determined that a relatively subtle change in vegetation, rather than rock type, is the cause for the “toothpick” feature.

Sagebrush dots the whole of the Great Divide Basin, in which the dunes reside. However, where the substrate consists of deeper sand, the sagebrush grows somewhat taller and thicker, with individual plants possibly closer together. This provides an effect akin to pointillism, seen in art. Future research will determine the controls on the sagebrush growth, combining knowledge from several different fields - biology, meteorology, chemistry, and climatology, perfectly demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of geoscience.