What do the different layers of Grand canyon do?

The Kaibab Formation is the uppermost layer of the Grand Canyon and is composed primarily of fossilized sand dunes and other shallow marine deposits. It is characterized by its bright red color and is an important source of sandstone for building materials.

2. Coconino Sandstone

The Coconino Sandstone is a layer of windblown sand that lies beneath the Kaibab Formation. It is a white to pink-colored sandstone and is relatively soft and easily eroded. The Coconino Sandstone is famous for its "cross-bedding", which is a type of sedimentary structure that forms when sand deposits are repeatedly shifted by the wind.

3. Hermit Shale

The Hermit Shale is a thin layer of shale that lies beneath the Coconino Sandstone. It is a dark red to brown color and is composed of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone. The Hermit Shale is important for its fossils of marine invertebrates, including brachiopods, clams, and gastropods.

4. Supai Group

The Supai Group is a series of red beds that lie beneath the Hermit Shale. It is composed primarily of sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone, and is characterized by its bright red, orange, and yellow colors. The Supai Group is an important source of water and is also home to a variety of plants and animals, including the endangered peregrine falcon.

5. Redwall Limestone

The Redwall Limestone is a layer of limestone that lies beneath the Supai Group. It is a hard, massive limestone that is relatively resistant to erosion. The Redwall Limestone is an important source of water and is also home to a variety of plants and animals, including the Grand Canyon rattlesnake.

6. Muav Limestone

The Muav Limestone is a layer of limestone that lies beneath the Redwall Limestone. It is a thin, shaly limestone that is easily eroded. The Muav Limestone is important for its fossils of marine invertebrates, including trilobites, brachiopods, and clams.

7. Bright Angel Shale

The Bright Angel Shale is a layer of shale that lies beneath the Muav Limestone. It is a dark red to brown color and is composed of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone. The Bright Angel Shale is important for its fossils of marine invertebrates, including trilobites, brachiopods, and clams.

8. Tapeats Sandstone

The Tapeats Sandstone is the lowest layer of the Grand Canyon and is composed of sandstone and quartzite. It is a hard, massive sandstone that is resistant to erosion. The Tapeats Sandstone is important for its fossils of marine invertebrates, including trilobites, brachiopods, and clams.