Sandstone is also resistant because of the cementation between particles and because quartz is a very stable mineral resistant to chemical reactions. To begin our assessment of the underling rock structure, we first measure the angle at which the rocks occur, which is referred to as dip , as well as the compass direction in which the rock is trending, which is called the strike . Landforms of Horizontal Strata At distant times in the past, sedimentary layers of rock were lain down in layers called strata when deposited in shallow inland seas. After crustal uplifting due to tectonic activity, these sedimentary layers become continental surfaces ready to be denuded. In arid environments, a plateau may form, which is a broad platform of rock layers with a resistant rock layer on top, usually sandstone.
Cliffs usually develop on the edges of features found in arid environments.
Over time, the cliffs retreat at the base of the plateau to eventually form a mesa , which is a table-topped smaller plateau with cliffs on all sides. Eventually, the mesa becomes further eroded into a small steep-sided hill called a butte . The Grand Canyon is the most widely-known example of this type of landscape formation, and contains many layers of rocks found with different erosional capabilities. The predominant drainage pattern found in landscapes characterized by horizontal strata is the dendritic drainage pattern . This patterns occurs because the rock layers lie flat, not allowing one flow direction to persist.