Gigantic Crack in Earth in Wyoming: Landslide in Big Horn Mountains causes canyon-like gash and it could get even Bigger
A gigantic 'crack in the earth' has opened over Wyoming.
The gigantic opening was spotted in the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming this month.
Now, a geologist has suggested it is in fact a 'slow-moving landslide' - and warned it could get even bigger.
The Wyoming Geological Survey's Seth Wittke told GrindTV: 'Without getting out there and looking at it, I can't be positive, but from what I've seen on the Internet it looks like a slow-moving landslide.'
He told the website: 'A lot of landslides are caused by subsurface lubrication by ground moisture or water and things like that, or in this case, a spring.'
Wittke told GrindTV the crack may get larger 'as long as there's room for it to move it could keep moving.'
He explained to The Powell Tribune that 'A number of things trigger them, moisture in the subsurface which causes weakness in soil or geology, and any process that would weaken the bedrock or unstabilize it somehow.'
Wyoming Geological Survey spokeswoman Chamois Andersen told the newspaper: 'All we have seen is pictures since it is on private land.
'It's hard to assess without someone on the ground looking at it.'
The newspaper reported that geologists will need the landowner's approval to go on the land in order to determine the cause.
It's been estimated 15 to 20 million yards of movement have occurred, and the gash is believed to be 750 yards long and about 50 yards wide.
A hunting outfitter company called SNS Outfitter & Guides earlier shared an image of the site on Facebook last Friday,writing: 'This giant crack in the earth appeared in the last two weeks on a ranch we hunt in the Bighorn Mountains.
'Everyone here is calling it 'the gash'. It's a really incredible sight.'
On Monday, the company posted more information on what's behind the 'crack.'
It said: 'An engineer from Riverton, WY came out to shed a little light on this giant crack in the earth.
'Apparently, a wet spring lubricated across a cap rock.
'Then, a small spring on either side caused the bottom to slide out.
'He estimated 15 to 20 million yards of movement.
'By range finder, an estimate is 750 yards long and about 50 yards wide.'
The gigantic opening was spotted in the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming this month.
Now, a geologist has suggested it is in fact a 'slow-moving landslide' - and warned it could get even bigger.
The Wyoming Geological Survey's Seth Wittke told GrindTV: 'Without getting out there and looking at it, I can't be positive, but from what I've seen on the Internet it looks like a slow-moving landslide.'
He told the website: 'A lot of landslides are caused by subsurface lubrication by ground moisture or water and things like that, or in this case, a spring.'
Wittke told GrindTV the crack may get larger 'as long as there's room for it to move it could keep moving.'
He explained to The Powell Tribune that 'A number of things trigger them, moisture in the subsurface which causes weakness in soil or geology, and any process that would weaken the bedrock or unstabilize it somehow.'
Wyoming Geological Survey spokeswoman Chamois Andersen told the newspaper: 'All we have seen is pictures since it is on private land.
'It's hard to assess without someone on the ground looking at it.'
The newspaper reported that geologists will need the landowner's approval to go on the land in order to determine the cause.
It's been estimated 15 to 20 million yards of movement have occurred, and the gash is believed to be 750 yards long and about 50 yards wide.
A hunting outfitter company called SNS Outfitter & Guides earlier shared an image of the site on Facebook last Friday,writing: 'This giant crack in the earth appeared in the last two weeks on a ranch we hunt in the Bighorn Mountains.
'Everyone here is calling it 'the gash'. It's a really incredible sight.'
On Monday, the company posted more information on what's behind the 'crack.'
It said: 'An engineer from Riverton, WY came out to shed a little light on this giant crack in the earth.
'Apparently, a wet spring lubricated across a cap rock.
'Then, a small spring on either side caused the bottom to slide out.
'He estimated 15 to 20 million yards of movement.
'By range finder, an estimate is 750 yards long and about 50 yards wide.'
Music : Ossuary 3 - Words by Kevin MacLeod
Source : CNN, Facebook , DailyMail , Express.co , Grind TV
Comments
Post a Comment