This Issue Contains:
A new publication, recently released by the Utah Geological Survey shows more than 22,000 landslides, including debris flows that have occurred throughout the state. “Most landslides in Utah generally result from the reactivation of pre-existing landslides or hillslope modification of landslide-prone geologic units,” says Ashley Elliott, UGS Geologist. “If we understand the distribution of landslides and landslide-prone geologic units, we can reduce future landslide-related losses.”
The landslide maps can be used by local governments, developers, geotechnical consultants, the general public, and others interested in or concerned about landslides to identify potential landslide hazards and the need for site-specific geologic-hazard and geotechnical investigations in areas of proposed development.
A new geologic-hazards investigation, published by the Utah Geological Survey, could help Zion National Park (ZNP) keep its 2.5 million annual visitors safe. The results of the investigation will provide the National Park Service (NPS) with geologic-hazard information for future park management.
Zion National Park is subject to a variety of geologic hazards that may affect park development and visitor safety. “One of the nation’s scenic jewels, Zion National Park, is also home to a variety of geologic hazards. By supporting this study of geologic hazards in high-use areas of the park, the National Park Service has taken a proactive approach to protecting visitor safety,” says William Lund, UGS Senior Geologist.
The ZNP geologic-hazards study area is a 154-square-mile area that encompasses Zion Canyon, Kolob Canyon, Kolob Terrace, the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway corridor, and all developed and high-use areas of the park. This investigation includes nine 1:24,000-scale geographic information system (GIS)-based maps that show areas subject to flooding, debris flows, rock fall, landslides, surface faulting, liquefaction, collapsible and expansive rocks and soils, and/or soil piping and erosion.
CALENDAR IS SOLD OUT!
The 2011 Calendar of Utah Geology is now available for purchase in the Natural Resources Map & Bookstore!
Featuring everything from slot canyons to snowy glaciers, the calendar has more than 50 photos depicting Utah’s fantastic scenery and geologic wonders.
“The photos are taken by staff members who are often on assignment in some of the most intriguing areas of the state,” says Rick Allis, UGS Director.
This year, 318 photos were juried for inclusion in the calendar. This was the first time Martha Hayden, a paleontologist, had submitted photos for consideration, and her shot of pictographs in Salt Creek Canyon in Canyonlands National Park won a coveted spot. “I’m happy the photo was selected because it’s one of the truly great places in Utah.”
The pictures are accompanied by geologic descriptions and location information. “I hope that these pictures will encourage people to get outside and off the beaten path,” says Tyler Knudsen, a geologist with several picture credits. “We are so lucky to live in a state with so much geologic diversity.”
UGS attempted to capture the diversity in the calendar with topics including igneous mountains, bridges and arches, the Green River Formation, and geologic hazards.
The calendars are on sale in the Bookstore for $4.95 or $4.25 for orders of 10 or more.
You can view the calendar online at: geology.utah.gov/whatsnew/news/new1010.htm Remember, the holidays are fast approaching, and the calendar makes a great gift for friends and family!
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Utah’s mineral extraction industry recorded a successful year on 2009, according to a recently released publication.
The Utah Geological Survey’s (UGS) 2009 Summary of Mineral Activity in Utah publication reveals that despite a recession induced dip from peak commodity values in 2008, Utah ranked third nationally in the value of nonfuel minerals produced in 2009, accounting for about 7% of the total value of U.S. production. Utah mines and energy companies produced a gross value of $6.97 billion in mineral and energy commodities in 2009 from oil gas (37%), base metals (31%), industrial minerals (14%), coal-uranium (9%), and precious metals (9%). All sectors suffered a dip from mid-2008, except for precious metals which expanded on higher prices.
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Did you know that Utah Has been a net exporter of energy since 1980? That Utah has the second-lowest price for home heating via natural gas production in 2008 reached an all time high of $2.7 billion?
These are just a few of the facts detailed in a new publication, “Utah’s Energy Landscape,” from the Utah Geological Survey. Michael Vanden Berg, project geologist, said the 41-pages publication provides details bars, graphs, and breakdowns of Utah’s energy resources and is the result of months of comprehensive data gathering.
“This is the first time we’ve put all of this information together in one sources,” he said. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for quite a while.”
GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE ST. GEORGE AND EAST PART OF THE CLOVER MOUNTAINS 30′ x 60′ QUADRANGLES, WASHINGTON AND IRON COUNTIES, UTAH
Robert F. Biek, Peter D. Rowley, Janice M. Hayden, David B. Hacker, Grant C. Willis, Lehi F. Hintze, R. Ernest Anderson, and Kent D. Brown
A just-released map presents southwestern Utah’s geology in unprecedented detail. There is also an innovative 3-D version of the map and a virtual field trip for online viewing. The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) created all versions of the map.
The new geologic map covers 2000 square miles of southwest Utah. It stretches from Zion National Park on the east, through the St. George area, to the Beaver Dam and Bull Valley Mountains on the west, and from the Arizona border north through the Pine Valley Mountains.
GLACIAL GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE UINTA MOUNTAINS AREA, UTAH AND WYOMING
Jeffrey S. Munroe and Benjamin J.C. Laabs
This dataset represents the first complete inventory of the glacial deposits in the Uinta Mountains since Atwood (1909) described the glacial geology of this area. It is the result of previous and continuing work by the authors and others to better understand the glacial and climatic history of this fascinating area. It depicts the distribution of glacial deposits and post-glacial sediments including mass wasting, lacustrine, and rock glacier deposits. A discussion of the glacial history and a figure showing a reconstruction of the ice extent during the local Last Glacial Maximum are also included.
This DVD contains the geologic map at 1:100,000 scale in PDF format and an ArcMap 9.3 map document. Geographic Information System (GIS) files are provided in an ESRI file geodatabase and as ESRI shapefiles. Metadata, PDF, HTML, text, and image files are included to help the user view, evaluate, and use the spatial data.
DVD (1 pl., scale 1:100,000 [contains GIS data])
MP-09-4DM (DVD)……….$24.95
MP-09-4DM (plot)……….$19.95
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.
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