Fury as 140 million-year-old rocks at Lake Mead National Recreation Area damaged

Two men are accused of causing “appalling” and irreversible damage to rocks that are believed to be 140 million years old.

Two men have been indicted after allegedly damaging 140 million-year-old rocks in Nevada, United States.

Wyatt Clifford Fain, 37, and Payden David Guy Cosper, 31, are accused of pushing “large chunks of ancient rock formations over the edge of a cliff”, according to a media release by the US Attorney’s Office, District of Nevada.

The rocks were formed from ancient sand dunes and the damage is irreversible. A spokesman for the park called the damage “appalling”.

“Why on earth would you do this to this area that’s so beautiful? It’s one of my favourite places in the park and they’re up there just destroying it. I don’t understand that,” park spokesman John Haynes told KVVU.

The incident sparked outrage on social media.

Charges have been laid over the incident.

The incident took place on or near the Redstone Dunes Trail at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and resulted in damages of more than $US1000.

The men are facing up to 10 years in prison over the act, which was reported on April 7 this year.

Earlier, the US National Park Service sought information from the public to help identify the men, which it described as a “vandalism incident”.

At the time, footage of the alleged vandalism was shared widely on social media and showed the men appearing to throw the rocks, accompanied to a young girl.

The men have been “charged with one count of injury and depredation of government property and one count of aiding and abetting”, according to the press release.

A jury trial has been scheduled for October 8 this year to be heard before Judge Jennifer Dorsey.

Originally published as Fury as 140 million-year-old rocks at Lake Mead National Recreation Area damaged