Exfoliating formation in Ordovician

[Kato]

Subject is a bit off topic, but while out exploring a local canyon for Ordovician fossils, I chanced upon this strange exfoliating section in a formation known as the Valmont. 

 

Would anyone happen to have knowledge on the processes behind this? The area was not conducive for finding fossils.

 

This is 'as viewed' from the side. It is not taken from above. The bed is in a normal horizontal orientation but exposed in a staircase cleft.

 

Sedimentary rock formation

 

 

Found in the orange box in this photo

 

 

 

[Kato]

After having written the previous entry, something in the back of my mind reminded me I'd probably seen the view of this exfoliation from above in another canyon a few miles away. It's the same formation but with little to no side exposure.

 

After digging around awhile online I'm somewhat convinced this is 'onion skin'...although the name seems to be reserved for the actual exfoliation process. This pic seems to show the layers exist pre-exfoliation?