Entries by Utah Geological Survey

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UGS Earth Science Week begins today!

We’re celebrating #EarthScienceWeek this week! The Utah Geological Survey hosts hands-on activities for school groups (usually 4th and 5th graders) during October. Here, students join Utah State Paleontologist James Kirkland, and geophysicist Hobie Willis in the paleontology prep lab where they examine dinosaur and ice age fossils while learning about geologic history. Stay tuned with our daily […]

Throwback Thursday October 2, 2014: Mount St. Helens 2004-08 Eruption

For this #tbt we’re looking at Mount St. Helens and the beginning of its 2004 eruption. While it wasn’t to the magnitude of its notable 1980 eruption, the 2004-08 eruption resulted in a remarkably rapid, though nearly steady, rate of dome growth. Check out the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)‘s youtube video for a time lapse of the dome […]

Have Humans Really Created a New Geologic Age?

Here is a very interesting read for your afternoon. Have humans created the next chapter in Earth’s geologic history through our relationship and interactions with our environment? Check it out! smithsonianmag.com If you know how to read it, the face of a cliff can be as compelling as the latest bestselling novel. Each layer of […]

POTD September 30, 2014: San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah

San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah Photographer: Robert Ressetar; © 2013 Window Blind Peak rises to an elevation of 7,030 feet in the interior of the San Rafael Swell. The resistant Triassic to Jurassic-age Wingate and Navajo Sandstones form, respectively, the massive lower cliffs and the upper pinnacle.

On Japan’s Mt. Ontake volcano, a perfect day turns deadly for hikers

latimes.com It was a perfect fall weekend, with sunny skies and the prospect of colorful autumn foliage. Hundreds of people flocked to Mt. Ontake in central Japan, planning to hike to its volcanic summit. READ MORE Japan’s Mount Ontake Erupted Suddenly Over the Weekend smithsonianmag.com Over the weekend, the Mount Ontake volcano—a popular hiking spot in […]