May 7 , 2007

The Utah Geological Survey’s newest geologic map of the Copperton quadrangle is now available. The map covers an area of about 55 square miles of southwest Salt Lake Valley and portions of the adjacent Oquirrh Mountains, and includes all or parts of the cities of Copperton, West Jordan, South Jordan, Herriman, and Riverton.

Of particular interest are landforms and shoreline features created by prehistoric Lake Bonneville. This map also shows the bedrock geology of the easternmost part of Kennecott Utah Copper’s Bingham mine operation, now exposed as the eroded eastern flank of an old volcano.

In this fast-growing metropolitan area, the Copperton geologic map provides geologic data useful to city and county agencies, consulting geologists, and developers to address geologic hazard and resource issues; it will also be of interest to educators and others simply curious about the fascinating geology of this area.

Mapping was jointly funded through a cooperative agreement between the Utah Geological Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey under the National Geologic Mapping Act.

The map is available for $11.95 at the Natural Resources Map & Bookstore, located at 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City, (801) 537-3320 or 1-888-UTAHMAP, http://mapstore.utah.gov.