Creation of the Yule marble, near Marble, Colorado

The Yule marble is the state rock of Colorado. This animation shows a block diagram of the Paleozoic strata that were intruded by the Treasure Mountain Dome ~20 million years ago (i.e. an igneous body). The Mississippian Leadville Limestone was metamorphosed by the heat from the intrusion, and was transformed into marble. During the last 10 million years, the area was eroded, and the marble was exposed on the surface.   Animation by Leo Ascarrunz, Joseph Rogers, Jay Austin, and Paul Weimer.  Interactive Geology Project, University of Colorado-Boulder. igp.colorado.edu