Current Issue Contents:
The Early Miocene Markagunt Megabreccia
UGS Releases New Interactive Geologic Map
Energy News: Liquid-rich Shale Potential of the Uinta and Paradox Basins
Geologic Maps As Art
Glad You Asked: Can Rockfalls Cause Wildfires?
GeoSights: Notch Peak—BIG Cliff, Millard County
Teacher’s Corner
Survey News
New Publications
by Hellmut H. Doelling and Paul A. Kuehne
The Short Canyon quadrangle in Emery County, central Utah, has some world-class examples of Utah’s spectacular geology. Driving through the quadrangle on the Moore Road takes you from the Jurassic Carmel Formation through about 100 million years or 3700 feet (1200 m) of rock into the Cretaceous Mancos Shale. Many species of dinosaur have been discovered in the Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation, which is beautifully exposed here. The Short Canyon Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation was mapped and newly described in the quadrangle. Mineral resources from the area include gypsum, coal, and chalcedony.
GIS files are provided in an ESRI file geo database and as ESRI shapefiles. Also included is a 13-
page booklet and two plates.
Map 255DM $24.95
by Michael D. Vanden Berg, Danielle R. Lehle, Stephanie M. Carney, and Craig D. Morgan
As petroleum production increases in the Uinta Basin, Utah, operators are pressed to establish
suitable saline water disposal plans. Several natural gas operators have identified the Birds Nest aquifer in central Uintah County as a possible large-scale, saline water disposal zone; however, disposal into this aquifer poses unique challenges and risks. The Birds Nest aquifer formed from the dissolution of saline minerals within a saline zone in the upper Green River Formation’s Parachute Creek Member. Through the examination of core, outcrop, and geophysical logs, we determined that the aquifer is separated into an upper zone, covering about 410 square miles with an average thickness of 79 feet, and a more extensive lower zone, covering about 719 square miles with an average thickness of 84 feet. The fact that the Birds Nest aquifer lies within the Uinta Basin’s oil shale horizon raises questions as to how large-scale, saline water disposal into this zone might impact potential future oil shale development.
Special Study 147 $39.95
This issue contains:
Utah’s Potash Resources and Activity
Energy News: A Longer Term View of the Results of U.S. Energy Policy
UGS Uses Geophysics to Explore for New Geothermal Resources
Oil Shale vs. Shale Oil: What’s the Difference?
Glad You Asked: Sizing Up Titans—Navajo Erg vs. Sahara Ergs; Which was the larger sand box?
GeoSights: Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
Survey News
Teacher’s Corner
New Publications
LATE HOLOCENE EARTHQUAKE HISTORY OF THE BRIGHAM CITY SEGMENT OF THE WASATCH FAULT ZONE AT THE HANSEN CANYON, KOTTER CANYON, AND PEARSONS CANYON TRENCH SITES, BOX ELDER COUNTY, UTAH
By Christopher B. DuRoss, Stephen F. Personius, Anthony J. Crone, Greg N. McDonald, and Richard W. Briggs
This report (28 p. + 5 appendices, and 3 plates) presents new information on the timing and displacement of late Holocene surface-faulting earthquakes on the Brigham City segment of the Wasatch fault zone, collected as part of a joint Utah Geological Survey and U.S. Geological Survey seismic-hazard evaluation. Paleoseismic data from two trench sites on the northern Brigham City segment (Hansen Canyon and Kotter Canyon sites) confirm the timing of the youngest surface-faulting earthquake, and results from a trench site on the previously unstudied southern part of the segment (Pearsons Canyon site) have important fault-segmentation implications. These results help clarify the timing, recurrence, and extent of large-magnitude earthquakes on the Brigham City segment, which will help improve seismic-hazard evaluations of the region. This study was partially funded by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.
Special Study 142 $19.95
GREAT SALT LAKE BRINE CHEMISTRY DATABASE, 1966–2011
by Andrew Rupke and Ammon McDonald
This open-file release includes a brief 7-page report and the Great Salt Lake brine chemistry database in digital format. The report briefly describes the Great Salt Lake brine sampling program and database that the Utah Geological Survey has conducted and maintained since 1966. The Great Salt Lake brine chemistry database includes information on chemistry, salinity, and density of Great Salt Lake brine samples that have been collected from over 50 locations on Great Salt Lake. For this release the database has been reorganized into one Excel spreadsheet file for ease of use.
Open-File Report 596 $14.95
MODERATELY SALINE GROUNDWATER IN THE UINTA BASIN, UTAH
By Paul B. Anderson, Michael D. Vanden Berg, Stephanie Carney, Craig Morgan, and Sonja Heuscher
The base of the moderately saline water (BMSW) (10,000 mg/L TDS transition) in the Uinta Basin was first mapped in 1987 and re-mapped in this study using similar methods. Water samples from primarily oil and gas activities through the basin’s history were compiled into a database (2788 records) and used as an aid in mapping. In addition, geophysical logs from 260 wells distributed throughout the basin were interpreted and used in mapping the BMSW. Regional groundwater flow paths, saline minerals, structural shape of the basin, and faults and fractures strongly influence the distribution of TDS levels. Both older and new data points were used to create an elevation contour map of the position of the shallowest occurrence of the BMSW below the surface. Depth-correlated water analysis data were mapped and compared to the log-derived BMSW. Mapped water analysis data indicate the northern portion of the basin has numerous occurrences of water fresher than 10,000 mg/L below the BMSW, indicating a complex stratification of salinity coincident with the area of primary recharge, whereas shallow saline waters dominate the central portion of the basin. 30-page report + 9 plates
Special Study 144 $24.95
Interim Geologic Map of the Rush Valley 30′ x 60′ Quadrangle, Tooele, Utah, and Salt Lake Counties, Utah
By Donald L. Clark, Stefan M. Kirby, and Charles G. Oviatt
This CD contains two plates—the geologic map at 1:62,500 scale and the explanation sheet—plus a 62-page booklet, all in PDF format.
Open-File Report 593 $19.95
The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) published two new geologic maps for the St. George area of Washington County.
The maps will be useful to government officials, land and resource managers, geological consultants, geological engineers, and other interested persons to identify and plan for geologic hazards; identify, develop, and protect geologic resources; and to aid in developing land management strategies. The maps are also a valuable resource for those wishing to better understand the colorful, fascinating landscape of southwestern Utah’s largest urban area.
The Geologic Map of the St. George 7.5’ Quadrangle covers approximately 50 square miles of land in and around the City of St. George, extending south to the Arizona border.
The Geologic Map of the White Hills Quadrangle covers 50 square miles immediately west of the St. George map and includes the suburb of Bloomington and the upper reaches of the Virgin River Gorge.
READ MORE:
Geologic Map of the White Hills Quadrangle, Washington County (M-250DM)
Geologic Map of the St. George 7.5′ Quadrangle, Washington County (M-251DM)
GET IT HERE:
Geologic Map of the White Hills Quadrangle, Washington County (M-250DM)
Geologic Map of the St. George 7.5′ Quadrangle, Washington County (M-251DM)
Did you know that Utah has the third lowest price for home-heating natural gas in the nation and Utah is one of only five states that generates electricity from geothermal sources? Utah also enjoys the second lowest industrial electricity rate in the nation.
These are just some of the interesting facts found in the Utah Geological Survey’s (UGS) newly updated Utah’s Energy Landscape – a booklet designed to assist people in becoming more familiar with Utah’s diverse energy portfolio.
“With energy use and development at the forefront of many citizens’ minds, we thought it would be important for us to update this booklet, providing valuable, balanced energy information for the state of Utah,” said Mike Vanden Berg, UGS geologist.
Other interesting facts: in 2010, the majority of energy produced in Utah was from natural gas, surpassing coal for the first time in history and Utah has been a net-exporter of energy since 1980.
The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) has released a new full-color preliminary geologic map covering about 1800 square miles of diverse geology and landscape in parts of Utah, Wasatch, and Salt Lake Counties. The map encompasses large tracts of Forest Service, BLM, and state public lands, important watersheds and wilderness areas, and densely populated cities and towns.
Within the map area are Deer Creek Reservoir, Wasatch Mountain State Park, Utah Lake, American Fork Canyon and Timpanogos Cave National Monument, and Provo Canyon and Sundance Resort. The Traverse Mountains and Heber City lie on the map’s northern border, Payson City and Spanish Fork Canyon mark the southern border, the Lake Mountains and Utah Lake are to the west, and Strawberry and Currant Creek Reservoirs are on the eastern border.
The map with accompanying information depicts the geology in unprecedented detail and is available as a GIS database or color plot. It will be useful to consultants and land-use managers to address geologic hazard and resource issues, as well as to educators and others interested in learning about the varied geology of the area.
Featuring scenic photographs highlighting Utah’s geologic diversity.
The photographs were taken by UGS employees who are often on assignment in some of the state’s most interesting and unique locations. Pictures are accompanied by geologic descriptions and location information.
The calendar is available now and sells out fast, so don’t miss out!
Only $4.95.
Click to purchase or order now by calling 801.537.3320 or 1.888.UTAHMAP.
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.
1594 West North Temple, Suite 3110
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
801-537-3300 (phone)
801-537-3400 (fax)
Mailing Address:
PO BOX 146100
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
