deseretnews.com
Have a hankering to see a hoodoo? Do you find argillite alluring? Savor scallops, and not the seafood kind?
Those vastly unique geologic features showcased in landscapes across Utah are captured in the photography displayed by the 2014 Utah Geology Calendar, an annual tradition that reflects the work and expertise of geologists with the Utah Geological Survey.
Utahns can once again bring the natural wonders of the state to their walls and desks. The new calendar from the Utah Geological Survey goes on sale Monday.
Utah Geological Survey started publishing the calendar eight years ago.
standard.net
Kirsten Bahr spent much of her summer enduring near-freezing temperatures, visiting the site of an ancient sea, and squeezing through rock passages that twisted and plunged deep into the earth. All without leaving Cache County.
kcpw.org
You wouldn’t know it from experience, but the Wasatch Front is one of the most seismically at risk areas in Utah and in the Intermountain West. Scientists are looking at thousands of years of earthquake history to learn more about the hazard we face. Kim Schuske has this story.
Martharaptor greenriverensis, a puzzling dinosaur lacking a complete skeleton, has been named after its co-discoverer Martha Hayden. Hayden, a dedicated advocate of paleontology, has served for more than 20 years as the assistant to several Utah state paleontologists. She has also donated numerous volunteer hours in her paleontological endeavors, and works with the Utah Geological Survey (UGS).
The dinosaur’s remains were found in the roughly 125-million-year-old rock of the Cedar Mountain Formation southeast of Green River, Utah, and collected under permit from the Bureau of Land Management and placed into the collections of the Natural History Museum of Utah in Salt Lake City.
Until now, Utah’s online geologic maps were difficult for the general public to find and view, lacking an online interface. With the advent of ArcGIS for Server, displaying Utah’s geologic maps in one online location is now possible: http://geology.utah.gov/apps/intgeomap/index.html
A mosaic of over 400 of Utah’s geologic maps is draped over the user’s choice of base map. Map scales range from 1:500,000 (less detail) to 1:24,000 (more detail). While zooming in with the application, maps of greater detail will begin showing up where they are available, answering the question, “What am I standing on?”. This application works on any web-browser and looks great on tablets. Utah’s expansive geologic formations are described in detail in the right pane of the application by clicking anywhere on the map. Users have the option to download GIS data (raster/vector), and each map’s corresponding report. Check back often as there will be additional maps added in the future. Feel free to provide feedback—we are looking for ways to improve the application.
Utah Geological Survey (UGS) paleontologists have uncovered three new dromaeosaur (“raptor”) dinosaurs near the base of Utah’s Cretaceous fossil record (130-120 million years ago) in eastern Utah on Bureau of Land Management lands near Arches National Park.
The paper describing these new dinosaurs — New dromaeosaurids (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Utah and the evolution of the dromaeosaurid tail — was published today in PLos One (Public Library of Science) as part of a collaboration between UGS paleontologists and Phil Senter, an expert on dromaeosaurs from Fayetteville University in North Carolina.
Dromaeosauridae is a diverse family of predatory (carnivorous) dinosaurs with a plethora of species that have been discovered within the last two decades and a few that were known previously. The three newly discovered species were found at two nearby dinosaur sites: Doelling’s Bowl Bone Bed and Andrew’s Site.
The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) was honored “for [its] past and ongoing exemplary contributions to the understanding of the geology of Utah and surrounding states” by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) — the largest professional organization of petroleum geologists worldwide with more than 39,000 members.
At the recent AAPG Rocky Mountain Section annual meeting, the UGS Energy and Minerals Program was presented with a plaque stating “With sincere appreciation for your support of the AAPG Rocky Mountain Section, of the AAPG meetings and members, and for your continued timeless contributions to the geoscience knowledge of the West. We are in your debt.”
Two new geologic maps near Vernal, Utah have been released. The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) recently published two 1:24,000-scale geologic maps covering a part of the south flank of the Uinta Mountains near Vernal. These maps provide data useful to consultants/land-use managers to address geologic hazard and resource issues; they will also be of interest to educators and others simply interested in learning about the fascinating geology of the Vernal area.
“The Dry Fork and Steinaker quadrangles contain some of the most scenic and geologically diverse landscapes in the southern Uintas,” said Doug Sprinkel, UGS geologist. “These quadrangles reflect that diversity and provide basic geologic information for the popular Steinaker Reservoir, the Red Cloud Loop Drive, and the spectacular Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway.”
Shopping is now easier at the Natural Resources Map & Bookstore. The store, known for its extensive collection of topographic and recreational maps, now provides easy-to-use online shopping for its customers. The Web site is: mapstore.utah.gov.
“Our customers who have been frustrated by the construction on the North Temple viaduct and TRAX rail will be able to shop at their own convenience,” said Pat Stokes, bookstore manager.
“The Web site is a wonderful resource for anyone unable to visit the store during our regular business hours or those who live out-of-state.”
The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) is a division of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Several specialized programs comprise the UGS: Data Management, Energy & Minerals, Geologic Hazards, Geologic Information & Outreach, Geologic Mapping, Groundwater & Wetlands, and Paleontology.
