9315937 Chan PIs will conduct sedimentological analyses of the Proterozoic Big Cottonwood Formation, including facies and basin analysis, attempted correlation, and detailed studies of tidal rhythmites. The rhythmites are the oldest yet documented and offer an opportunity to study paleoseasonality, lunar cycles, lunar recession rates, and paleotidal and paleorotational periods, extending knowledge of tidal settings and earth-moon dynamics several hundred million years farther into Earth history.