Hands down, Utah’s geologic beauties rock!
White Rim Trail, San Juan County, Utah
Photographer: Don DeBlieux; © 2012
Sandstone buttes and mesas along the White Rim Trail, San Juan County.
This scenery is no April Fools’—have a great afternoon!
Canyonlands National Park, San Juan County, Utah
Photographer: Don DeBlieux; © 2012
Water from a recent storm fills shallow pools on the Permian-age White Rim Sandstone near the White Rim Trail. The trail traverses a broad bench formed by the resistant sandstone above the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers.
The Wedge overlook, Emery County, Utah
Photographer: Ken Krahulec; © 2012
Little Grand Canyon from The Wedge overlook, Emery County.
Factory Butte, Wayne County, Utah
Photographer: Stevie Emerson; © 2012
The Muley Canyon Sandstone Member of the Cretaceous-age Mancos Shale forms a protective cap at the top of Factory Butte, allowing it to tower 1,500 feet above badlands of the easily erodible Blue Gate Shale Member. These rocks record the existence of an inland sea covering much of Utah around 90 million years ago.
House Range, Juab and Millard Counties, Utah
Photographer: Jim Davis; © 2012
Swasey Mountain and the House Range, Juab and Millard Counties.
Thomas Range, Juab County, Utah
Photographer: Jim Davis; © 2012
Layered volcanic rocks of the Topaz Mountain Rhyolite weather into interesting shapes. The rocks, referred to as stratified tuff, formed as ash fell from the sky and flowed across the ground during the explosive eruption of a volcanic caldera around 7 million years ago.
We can’t say “no” to Monday mornings when they feature both Utah’s red-rock and grand mountains!
Warner Valley, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Tyler Knudsen; © 2012
Red hues of rippled sands and nearby Sand Mountain (Navajo Sandstone-capped cliff in middle ground) intensify in the lateafternoon sun. The snow-capped Pine Valley Mountains, the eroded remains of a massive Miocene-age igneous intrusion, rise high above the surrounding red-rock desert.
With Spring here, we can’t wait to get back out to some of our favorite places. Here’s a bright photo for the season!
Butler Wash, San Juan River, San Juan County, Utah
Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg; © 2011
Petroglyph panel on Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone, Butler Wash, San Juan River, San Juan County.
Bear Lake, Rich County, Utah
Photographer: Jim Davis; © 2011
Storm waves deposit tiny snail and clam shells on a sand bar at Rendezvous Beach State Park, south shore of Bear Lake, Rich County.
White Cliffs, Kane County, Utah
Photographer: Tyler Knudsen; © 2011
Small, dome-shaped load structures on a block of Jurassic-age Carmel Formation, White Cliffs, western Kane County.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
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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CONTACT INFORMATION
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
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