Utah Geological Survey

POTD August 21, 2013: Kodachrome Basin State Park, Kane County, Utah

Kodachrome Basin State Park, Kane County, Utah
Photographer: Carole McCalla

Sand pipe of Carmel Formation sediment intruded into the overlying Entrada Sandstone. One of the most photographed geologic formations in Utah if not the world, the Entrada Sandstone is the featured rock unit of Arches National Park, Goblin Valley State Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, and parts of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Variations in the Entrada’s appearance across the state are due to differences in internal structure and composition as well as external stresses.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD August 20, 2013: Temple of the Sun, Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne County, Utah

Temple of the Sun, Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne County, Utah
Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg

Two of Capitol Reef National Park’s popular attractions: Glass Mountain (foreground) and Temple of the Sun (background). Glass Mountain is a large exposed mound of selenite gypsum that formed within the Jurassic-aged Entrada Sandstone. The “gypsum plug” became exposed as the relatively soft Entrada Sandstone eroded away. Temple of the Sun is a large monolith that was also created by erosion of the Entrada Sandstone.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD August 16, 2013: Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne County, Utah

 

Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne County, Utah
Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg

A claret cup cactus is neighbor to a basalt boulder in Capitol Reef National Park. Utah’s impressive topography directly influences temperature and precipitation and consequently shapes Utah’s flora and fauna. The state’s substantial elevation differential—over two vertical miles between the highest and lowest points—contributes to a variety of habitats and a great diversity of species. Mountains force air to flow up in a process called “orographic lifting,” which causes air to cool and humidify, and enhances precipitation.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD August 15, 2013: Lone Peak Wilderness, Wasatch Range, Salt Lake and Utah Counties, Utah

Lone Peak Wilderness, Wasatch Range, Salt Lake and Utah Counties, Utah
Photographer: J. Lucy Jordan

Wildflowers on Lone Peak bloom among quartz monzonite (granitic) boulders of the Oligocene-aged Little Cottonwood stock. Near-vertical cliffs on the skyline form part of the glacier-carved cirque near the summit of the 11,253-foot-high peak.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD August 14, 2013: Snow Canyon State Park, Washington County, Utah

Snow Canyon State Park, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: J. Buck Ehler

Iron  concretions lie on top of the Navajo Sandstone in Snow Canyon State Park, Washington County. Utah’s red sandstone contains an iron-oxide mineral called hematite. When hematite is bleached from the sandstone, the stone appears almost white. When hematite is concentrated in concretions, they can appear almost black.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD August 13, 2013: Snow Canyon State Park, Washington County, Utah

Snow Canyon State Park, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Lance Weaver

Red- and white-stained Navajo Sandstone in Snow Canyon State Park, Washington County.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD August 12, 2013: Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Garfield County, Utah

Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Garfield County, Utah
Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg

Sausageleaf talinum finds suitable habitat in sand and spherical concretions eroded from the lower part of the Jurassic-aged Navajo Sandstone. The concretions (about half an inch in diameter) formed when iron-oxide minerals precipitated out of ground water that flowed through the sandstone.

Utah Geological Survey

Special POTD submission! August 9, 2013: San Rafael Swell, Emery County, UT.

This photo was submitted to us by Mike McCandless of Emery County. The San Rafael Swell is an eroded anticline approximately 600,000 acres in size inside the Colorado Plateau contained entirely in Emery County. The Swell exposes many different types of colorful sedimentary rocks that have been eroded into beautiful valleys, canyons, gorges, mesas and buttes. Great photo Mike!

Remember, you can always send us your favorite photos at ugssmedia@gmail.com, here on Facebook, or Twitter!

Utah Geological Survey

POTD August 9, 2013: Wall Arch, Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah


Wall Arch, Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah

Photographers: Grant Willis (top)
and Rich Giraud (bottom)

Now you see it, now you don’t. Formerly located along the Devils Garden Trail in Arches National Park, Wall Arch collapsed sometime during the night of August 4th, 2008.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD August 8, 2013: Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah

Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah
Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg

A small window in the Slick Rock Member of the Entrada Sandstone frames a view of Utah’s most famous landform, Delicate Arch. The arch is composed of Jurassic-aged sandstone including the Slick Rock Member (base and  pedestals) and Moab Member of the Curtis Formation (bridge). In the distance, Oligocene-aged igneous rock forms the snow-covered La Sal Mountains.