This film gives an overview of the geological forces that shaped the canyon as it is seen today. (12 minutes) | Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

METAMORPHIC PETROLOGY: HORNFELS INTRODUCTION Hornfels is a fine-grained, tough, and compact metamorphic rock that forms primarily through contact metamorphism. The word "hornfels" is derived from the German words “Horn” (horn) and “Fels” (rock), reflecting its toughness and horn-like appearance when broken. Hornfels is widely recognized for its unique texture, durability, and mineralogical features, making it one of the most important contact metamorphic rocks studied in geology. ORIGIN AND FORM