Tag Archive for: geology

Utah Geological Survey
,

Kennecott slide triggered 16 earthquakes, study shows

deseretnews.com

The gargantuan awe-inspiring landslide at Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon mine last April was so stunning, the “firsts” and “mosts” it accomplished are something wild to ponder.

READ MORE

 

Read further at The Salt Lake Tribune with this article—sltrib.com
“Kennecott landslide so big it triggered earthquakes”

Accelerating to speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, April’s massive landslide in Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon mine actually triggered earthquakes, the first time that is known to have occurred.

READ MORE

Utah Geological Survey

POTD January 6, 2014: Green River, San Rafael Desert, Emery County, Utah

Green River, San Rafael Desert, Emery County, Utah
Photographer: Tom Chidsey

An ancient, meandering river channel composed of resistant sandstone in the Cedar Mountain Formation now stands 100 feet higher than the surrounding, less resistant siltstone and shale landscape southwest of Green River, San Rafael Desert, Emery County.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD January 3, 2014: White River, southeastern Uintah County, Utah

White River, southeastern Uintah County, Utah
Photographer: Robert Ressetar

The White River carved this amphitheater in the flat-lying and remarkably parallel rock layers that were deposited in a Tertiary-age lake on the south flank of the Uinta Mountains.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD January 2, 2014: Wah Wah Mountains, Millard County, Utah

Wah Wah Mountains, Millard County, Utah
Photographer: Tyler Knudsen

Nearly 1,000 feet of the Tunnel Spring Tuff, erupted from a nearby caldera about 35 million years ago, makes up Crystal Peak in the Wah Wah Mountains, Millard County.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD January 1, 2014: House Range, Millard County, Utah

Happy New Year, everyone!! Here’s a beautiful photo to start out the new year.

House Range, Millard County, Utah
Photographer: Tyler Knudsen

Sawtooth Mountain, which exhibits desert varnish and spheroidal weathering along joints, is a granitic intrusion in the House Range, Millard County.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD December 31, 2013: Henry Mountains, Garfield County, Utah

Here is a gorgeous photo to the end of another great year. We wish all of our geo friends a safe and wonderful New Year. See you in 2014!

Henry Mountains, Garfield County, Utah
Photographer: Ken Krahulec

The “dome” character of a laccolith, where the sedimentary rock layers are tilted upward on the mountain flanks, is evident at Mount Ellsworth in the Henry Mountains, Garfield County.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD December 30, 2013: La Sal Mountains, Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah

La Sal Mountains, Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah
Photographer: Jay Hill

The La Sal Mountains, near Moab in southeastern Utah, are laccoliths formed when upwelling magma intruded into and bulged the overlying sedimentary rock layers upward. The magma did not reach the surface, but subsequent erosion of the softer sedimentary rocks exposed the peak-forming igneous rocks that rise above the surrounding landscape.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD December 27, 2013: Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Garfield County, Utah

Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Garfield County, Utah
Photographer: Rich Emerson

Cottonwood trees in a slot canyon, Rattle-snake Bench, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Garfield County.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD December 26, 2013: The Narrows, Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah

The Narrows, Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Tyler Knudsen

Small waterfall framed by the constricting walls of Navajo Sandstone in The Narrows, Zion National Park, Washington County.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD December 25, 2013: Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area, Kane County, Utah

From everyone at the Utah Geological Survey, we hope you have a Merry Christmas that rocks!

Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area, Kane County, Utah
Photographer: Tyler Knudsen

Morning sunlight illuminates water-sculpted walls of the Buckskin Gulch slot canyon. Cut deeply into Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone, the Buckskin’s slot ranges from 5 to 25 feet wide and 100 to 500 feet high for 12 miles, making it the longest slot canyon in the world.