Utah Geological Survey

POTD June 15, 2015: Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah Photographer: Sonja Heuscher; © 2014

We had to turn our air conditioning on this weekend—it’s getting hot! Cool down with this photo while we thaw out our spectacular Utah Geology.

POTD 6-2-15 Delicate Arch, Arches

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah
Photographer: Sonja Heuscher; © 2014

Utah Geological Survey

POTD June 4, 2015: Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah

The view through North Window arch in The Windows Section of Arches National Park reveals snow-covered sandstone spires and fins of the Jurassic-age Entrada Sandstone. The spires and fins result from weathering and erosion along parallel fractures, or joints, in the rock. Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah Photographer: Sonja Heuscher; © 2014

POTD 5-26-15 Arhces National Park

Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah
Photographer: Sonja Heuscher; © 2014

The view through North Window arch in The Windows Section of Arches National Park reveals snow-covered sandstone spires and fins of the Jurassic-age Entrada Sandstone. The spires and fins result from weathering and erosion along parallel fractures, or joints, in the rock.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD May 29, 2015: Newspaper Rock petroglyph panel along Indian Creek, San Juan County, Utah

Newspaper Rock petroglyph panel along Indian Creek, San Juan County, Utah Photographer: Adam Hiscock; © 2014

POTD 5-19-15 Newspaper Rock Petroglyph

Newspaper Rock petroglyph panel along Indian Creek, San Juan County, Utah
Photographer: Adam Hiscock; © 2014

Utah Geological Survey

POTD May 19, 2015: Dead Horse Point State Park, San Juan County, Utah

The Colorado River loops around the Gooseneck between Dead Horse Point State Park and distant cliffs of the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. The river has carved and exposed nearly flat-lying Jurassic to Pennsylvanian-age sedimentary strata of the Colorado Plateau. Dead Horse Point State Park, San Juan County, Utah Photographer: Gregg Beukelman; © 2014

While this photo is a throwback to colder seasons, we cannot deny the stunning #UtahGeology present. This crisp, cold picture is worth a thousand hand warmers—that’s how the saying goes, right?

POTD 5-12-15 Dead Horse Point San juan

Dead Horse Point State Park, San Juan County, Utah
Photographer: Gregg Beukelman; © 2014

The Colorado River loops around the Gooseneck between Dead Horse Point State Park and distant cliffs of the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. The river has carved and exposed nearly flat-lying Jurassic to Pennsylvanian-age sedimentary strata of the Colorado Plateau.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD May 5, 2015: Needles District, Canyonlands National Park, San Juan County, Utah

Needles District, Canyonlands National Park, San Juan County, Utah Photographer: Adam Hiscock; © 2014

POTD 5-5-15 Needles District Canyonlands

Needles District, Canyonlands National Park, San Juan County, Utah
Photographer: Adam Hiscock; © 2014

 

Utah Geological Survey

POTD April 21, 2015: Metate Arch, Devils Garden Outstanding Natural Area, Garfield County, Utah

Metate Arch is sculpted by weathering and differential erosion of two sandstone layers along the contact of the Gunsight Butte and overlying Cannonville Members of the Jurassic-age Entrada Sandstone. The arch is about 17 miles southeast of Escalante, just east of the Straight Cliffs. Metate Arch, Devils Garden Outstanding Natural Area, Garfield County, Utah Photographer: Ken Krahulec; © 2014

POTD 4-21-15 Devils Garden Metate Arch

Metate Arch, Devils Garden Outstanding Natural Area, Garfield County, Utah
Photographer: Ken Krahulec; © 2014

Utah Geological Survey

POTD April 17, 2015: San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah

Erosion has exposed and sculpted Jurassic-age sedimentary rocks in the southern San Rafael Swell. Near Goblin Valley State Park, towering Wild Horse Butte comprises the Morrison and Summerville Formations (top cliff layers), Curtis Formation (middle slope layer), and Entrada Sandstone (bottom reddish layer). San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah Photographer: Taylor Boden; © 2014

POTD 4-14-15, San Rafael Swell

San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah
Photographer: Taylor Boden; © 2014

Erosion has exposed and sculpted Jurassic-age sedimentary rocks in the southern San Rafael Swell. Near Goblin Valley State Park, towering Wild Horse Butte comprises the Morrison and Summerville Formations (top cliff layers), Curtis Formation (middle slope layer), and Entrada Sandstone (bottom reddish layer).

Utah Geological Survey

POTD April 9, 2015: Entrada Sandstone in Cathedral Valley, Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne County, Utah

Entrada Sandstone in Cathedral Valley, Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne County, Utah Photographer: Tyler Knudsen; © 2014

POTD 4-7-15 Capitol Reef National Park

Entrada Sandstone in Cathedral Valley, Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne County, Utah
Photographer: Tyler Knudsen; © 2014

Utah Geological Survey

POTD March 24, 2015: The Doll House, Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, Wayne County, Utah

The Doll House, Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, Wayne County, Utah Photographer: Tyler Knudsen; © 2014

POTD 3-24-15, doll house, Canyonlands

Not everyone grows up with this kind of doll house! We’re having southern Utah geology day dreams today.

The Doll House, Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, Wayne County, Utah
Photographer: Tyler Knudsen; © 2014

Utah Geological Survey

POTD March 17, 2015: Bryce Canyon National Park, Garfield County, Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park owes its existence to high rates of erosion by the Paria River and its tributaries, in combination with the alternating resistant and soft, jointed and fractured layers of the Tertiary-age Claron Formation. The park is adorned with a fantastic variety of hoodoos and sculpted fins eroded into the rapidly retreating Paunsaugunt Plateau escarpment. Bryce Canyon National Park, Garfield County, Utah Photographer: Bob Biek; © 2014

Happy St. Patrick’s day, geo friends! Even the red rocks of Bryce Canyon can boast a little green.

POTD Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park, Garfield County, Utah
Photographer: Bob Biek; © 2014

Bryce Canyon National Park owes its existence to high rates of erosion by the Paria River and its tributaries, in combination with the alternating resistant and soft, jointed and fractured layers of the Tertiary-age Claron Formation. The park is adorned with a fantastic variety of hoodoos and sculpted fins eroded into the rapidly retreating Paunsaugunt Plateau escarpment.