Slates from Mariposa County 🛘

Hi,

I am developing an engine that simulates deep-time landscape evolution from first principles (combining stress-driven brittle/ductile crustal deformation, multi-layer lithology, and fluvial/gravity transport).

Rather than generating standard visual heightmap fractal noise, the pipeline uses multi-layer 32-bit raster strata stacks (mapped in Krita as discrete compositional layers with individual silica/carbonate/clay fractions and mechanical rock states: regolith, sedimentary, metamorphic, magma). The engine translates these layers into a 3D volume, accumulates tectonic stress until it exceeds failure criteria (Byerlee's law), and routes surface/subsurface weathering based on differential lithological resistance.

"I’m currently calibrating the physics for this simulation and want to make sure the structural behavior is scientifically grounded."

some quuestion I would like answered are

1. Differential Weathering & Dip Slopes: In the stepped terrain slices, does the scarp-and-dip geometry convincingly reflect what you would expect from alternating competent/incompetent strata (e.g., sandstone vs. shale beds undergoing tilted block faulting or homoclinal shifting)?
2. Drainage Realism vs. Structural Control: In the central valley between the two main massifs, does the channel incision look like genuine antecedent/subsequent drainage capturing fault lines, or does it look too artificial/regular?
3. Talus & Angle of Repose: In the high-relief peaks, the scree/avalanche slopes are driven by friction angles based on rock state. Does the slope angle and valley wall steepness look physically defensible for crystalline/metamorphic basement rock under rapid uplift?
4. Missing Mesoscale Features: What key mesoscale structural or erosional landforms (e.g., flatirons, knickpoints, specific colluvial apron behaviors) are noticeably absent that would immediately break your suspension of disbelief?

Any critical observations or suggestions for physical tuning will help refine the physics for the simulation

I’m posting this to show some tile “trash” some folks were throwing out. I cannot fathom why they would! Look at these layers. It looks like a microcosm but literally a landscape.

How long did this take to form? I assume it’s from a slow build up of run off sand in our rare rains (I’m a desert rat)

Ok but also I just wanted to share the beauty of these. Hope everyone has a great weekend

Looking for reviews/suggestions about any of the winter field camps from SDSMT. The Hawaii trip piqued my interest, but I’m open to Death Valley or Arizona. I’m not very skilled when it comes to mapping, which I understand is pretty much the point of field camp, so I’m very nervous.

Looking to see if this is safe for aquariums and any pictures of this rock to see if its the one i have. Thanks

I think I might have found a one of one, or at the very least a very rare finding at herkimer, I can’t find any information online or in any other forums whatsoever, as well as the fact that google AI claims this is impossible to find at this locality but clearly it isn’t since this is proof