Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Gregg Beukelman; © 2014
The Watchman (6,545 feet), composed of Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone, stands guard over the southern entrance to Zion Canyon. The canyon has been carved by the North Fork Virgin River, which has eroded downward thousands of feet through the Navajo and underlying Kayenta and Moenave Formations.
A BIG BIG “Thanks” to Cross Marine Projects of American Fork for helping us move our nearly 9-ton Utahraptor fossil block from our UGS headquarters in Salt Lake City down to Thanksgiving Point’s Museum of Ancient Life in Lehi today.
Looking for somewhere fun to go in Utah this weekend? You don’t even have to leave home! Check out our GeoSights virtual tour page to find some of Utah’s coolest places!
Last Thursday the Utah Geological Survey participated in Teens in the Woods: Mapping our Future outdoor program, an education initiative designed to bring underserved, urban, and diverse children and adolescents to the forests to spark curiosity, exercise, and connect the next generation with nature. The week-long event is chock-full of activities set up by scientists from many fields in the Earth sciences, emphasizing conservation, stewardship, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. On our trip with high school and middle school students we traveled to Big Cottonwood Canyon and Silver Lake to explore geology, forestry, air photo interpretation, and aquatic biology.
Teens in the Woods is a new nation-wide program spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture/U.S. Forest Service and in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, partnered with some dozen other organizations including the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation and Bad Dog Art.
Ms. Amy discusses water chemistry and lake health with students in the rain.
A student examines a leech and other aquatic invertebrates that inhabit Silver Lake.
A young bull moose examines the students at Silver Lake.
kcsg.com
Residents living within high rock-fall-hazard zones in Rockville, Utah, face the possible consequences of a large rock fall similar to the fatal event that occurred last December. That is the principle finding of a geologic investigation into the rock fall that killed two people on December 12, 2013. That afternoon, a huge, joint-controlled rock mass, with an estimated volume of almost 1,400 cubic yards and weighing about 2,700 tons, detached from the cliff face at the top of the Rockville Bench, near Zion National Park. The rock mass fell onto the steep slope below the cliff, and shattered into numerous fragments. The rock fall debris then moved rapidly downslope before striking and destroying a house, detached garage, and a car. The largest boulder to strike the house weighed an estimated 520 tons.
Congratulations to Tom Chidsey who was named the 2013 UGS Employee of the Year. Tom is a senior scientist with the Energy and Minerals Program and has worked at the UGS for 24 years. Tom always strives to make everything he does perfect. From core workshops to field trips to reports, he always goes above and beyond. Tom consistently produces a high volume of superb quality work, has impeccable character, and brings respect and praise to the UGS. His work on the petroleum geology of Utah is so well respected that he has been invited several times by many organizations to present talks on the subject. Tom is a role-model employee, carrying a heavy workload capably, cheerfully, and with high productivity and integrity. He is a deserving recipient of the UGS Employee of the Year Award.
Tom Chidsey accepts award from Utah Geological Survey Director, Rick Allis.
UGS’s Dr. Jim Kirkland, State Paleontologist of Utah, was the keynote speaker for the “2013 Utah Governor’s Medals for Science and Technology” awards banquet held on January 15, 2014, at The Leonardo in Salt Lake City. The annual event honors outstanding achievements in science relative to education and technical innovation. Kirkland addressed this year’s theme on dinosaurs by presenting an historical overview of Utah’s outstanding dinosaur heritage, while Dr. Randy Irmis, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Utah, served as the master of ceremonies.
Dr. Jim Kirkland and Governor Gary Herbert
Many of you may already know the Utah Geological Survey has a Facebook page. Well, did you know that you could win a 2014 Calendar of Utah Geology by liking our page? Now you do! We’re giving away one of our gorgeous 2014 calendars to the 2,000th person to like our Facebook page! We appreciate all our followers and want to say thank you for joining our Facebook group. By liking our page you’ll get the same great pictures, articles, and geology news you get right here on our blog, and you can quickly share them with all your Facebook friends. Plus, you can send us your favorite Utah geology picures, and connect with other fans of Utah geology. If you already like our page, tell your friends to like us, too! If one of your friends happens to be our 2,000th like, maybe they’ll share the calendar with you! After all, what are friends for?
AND if you happen to be a Twitter user, we’re also giving away a calendar to the 800th follower! Twitter is a great way to get geology pictures, info, and news quickly!
So, now it’s time for you to ask your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and the occasional friendly stranger to go online and like the UGS Facebook page or follow the UGS on Twitter. Our 2014 calendar is amazing and it could be yours for FREE! Keep an eye on the numbers and good luck!
Like us here: UGS Facebook
Find us on Twitter here: UGS Twitter
Info on the calendar here: 2014 Calendar of Utah Geology
standard.net
Using laser scanning and sophisticated computer modeling, scientists in England and Argentina have simulated the likely lumbering gait of the largest-known dinosaur, according to a new study.
Check out this little clip documenting the installation of the new signage!
Then come in and check out all of the publications available at the
Utah Natural Resources Map & Bookstore
Or take a look online:
mapstore.utah.gov
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.