The prestigious 2016 Crawford Award was presented to UGS geologist Bob Biek in recognition of his work in mapping the Panguitch 30’ x 60’ quadrangle (UGS Map 270DM). Bob’s mapping makes several significant contributions to our understanding of the geology of southwest Utah, including correcting significant aspects of Cretaceous and early Tertiary stratigraphy that have caused geologists problems for decades, and unraveling the enormous and complex Markagunt gravity slide. The Markagunt gravity slide study was initially published with co-authors Dave Hacker and Pete Rowley in Geology. Recognizing the significance of this work, the Geological Society of America recently agreed to fund a Thompson Field Forum on mega-gravity slides to be held in southern Utah in 2017. Additionally, UGS Map 270DM recently received the national Charles G. Mankin Award for geological mapping from the Association of American State Geologists.
The Crawford Award recognizes outstanding achievement, accomplishments, or contributions by a current UGS scientist to the understanding of some aspect of Utah geology or Earth science. The award is named in honor of Arthur L. Crawford, first director of the UGS.
