Tag Archive for: UGS

Utah Geological Survey

"Spot the Rock" February 20, 2014

It’s time again for another round of “Spot the Rock”! Can you guess where this interesting sight is located?

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UPDATE: Location Revealed
This “Spot the Rock” photo was taken in northwestern most part of Utah, at the southern end of the Grouse Creek Mountains, Box Elder County. As was correctly guessed it is in the area of the Devils Playground.

Devils Playground consists of Tertiary-age (approximately 38 million years old) granitic rock formed from a cooling magma body that intruded overlying Paleozoic (400 to 300 million years old) sedimentary rocks. Known as the Emigrant Pass pluton, this intrusion covers an area of approximately 10 square miles. For more information including directions, visit our GeoSights article-http://geology.utah.gov/surveynotes/geosights/devils_playground.htm

Utah Geological Survey

POTD February 19, 2014: Ferron Mountain, Wasatch Plateau, Sanpete County, Utah

Ferron Mountain, Wasatch Plateau, Sanpete County, Utah
Photographer: Greg McDonald; ©2011

Fall colors at the base of striped layers of the Tertiary-age Flagstaff Limestone, southeastern end of Ferron Mountain, Wasatch Plateau, Sanpete County.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD February 18, 2014: Mount Timpanogos, Wasatch Range, Utah County, Utah

Mount Timpanogos, Wasatch Range, Utah County, Utah
Photographer: Grant Willis; ©2011

White traces of early snow dust prominent sandstone and limestone rock layers on Mount Timpanogos and contrast with lower-elevation yellow-tinted aspen trees. The sedimentary rocks are the Pennsylvanian-age Bear Canyon Member of the Oquirrh Formation that have been transported eastward over 30 miles on thrust faults.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD February 17, 2014: Wellsville Mountains near Honeyville, Utah

Hope you all enjoy the President’s Day holiday! Here’s your photo for the day.


Wellsville Mountains near Honeyville, Utah
Photographer: Chris DuRoss; © 2011

Limestone clasts deposited by a debris flow (fast-moving mixture of sediment and water) at the base of the Wellsville Mountains near Honeyville. Debris flows form as saturated hillslope sediments move or are eroded, and commonly occur in areas burned by wildfires.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD February 14, 2014: Bear River, Rich County, Utah

Would you be our Valentine? You geo friends really rock!

Bear River, Rich County, Utah
Photographer: Chris DuRoss; © 2011

This sand boil (eruption of liquefied sand) resulted from ground shaking during the 2010 magnitude 4.5 Randolph earthquake, which is one of the smallest earthquakes recorded to generate liquefaction. Bear River, Rich County.

Utah Geological Survey

"Spot the Rock" February 13, 2014

It’s Thursday, and time for another “Spot the Rock” challenge! Let’s see how many of you can guess where this is!

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UPDATE: Location Revealed

Alhambra Rock is a diatreme seen to the west of Scenic Byway 163 is southeastern Utah just south of Mexican Hat. Explosive Tertiary volcanic events created diatremes, which are volcanic necks or plugs. Small vents erupted pulverized rock and gas from the magma chamber to the earth’s surface. The magma-filled vents cooled and hardened, and were covered by sediments that later eroded. The remaining volcanic necks now stand in stark outline above the surrounding landscape. Diatremes are present along Comb Ridge, and are also in adjacent states, and include the famous Shiprock in northwestern New Mexico. You can read more about the surrounding area in our “Canyon County” pamphlet (pdf) here: http://1.usa.gov/1cqMLQ9

Utah Geological Survey

POTD February 12, 2014: Wasatch Plateau, eastern Sanpete County, Utah

Wasatch Plateau, eastern Sanpete County, Utah
Photographer: Rich Giraud; © 2011

The lower part of the Slide Lake landslide has averaged 14 feet of movement per year between 2004 and 2009. The landslide occurred in the Tertiary-Cretaceous-age North Horn Formation, which is known for producing many large landslides. Near Joes Valley Reservoir, the 1.2 miles long landslide deflects Seely Creek.

Utah Geological Survey

Interim Geologic Map of the Enoch Quadrangle, Iron County, Utah

By: Tyler R. Knudsen

The Enoch quadrangle, in eastern Iron County, Utah, includes the northeastern part of Cedar Valley and parts of the adjacent Red Hills. The Red Hills-structurally consisting of an elevated, fault-bounded horst block-expose the upper parts of the Tertiary Claron Formation as well as a chaotic mass of Miocene and Oligocene volcanic rocks that may be part of the Markagunt Megabreccia that is widely exposed on the central and northern Markagunt Plateau to the east. Basaltic andesite flows cover large parts of the North Hills in the northeastern part of the quadrangle. Earth fissures related to groundwater overdraft of the Cedar Valley aquifer and resultant land subsidence have formed along parts of the eastern and western margins of the Enoch graben.

This CD contains two plates-a geologic map at 1:24,000 scale and an explanation plate-and a 12-page booklet, all in PDF Format. The latest version of Adobe Reader is required to view the PDF files.

GET IT HERE

Utah Geological Survey

POTD February 11, 2014: Salt Creek Canyon, Canyonlands National Park, San Juan County, Utah

Salt Creek Canyon, Canyonlands National Park, San Juan County, Utah
Photographer: Martha Hayden; © 2011

Pictographs painted about 1,000 years ago on a Permian-age Cedar Mesa Sandstone cliff face in Salt Creek Canyon, Canyonlands National Park, San Juan County.

Utah Geological Survey

Interim Geologic Map of the Cedar City NW Quadrangle, Iron County, Utah

By: Tyler R. Knudsen and Robert F. Biek

The Cedar City NW quadrangle includes the southwestern part of Cedar Valley and parts of the adjacent Eightmile Hills and Granite Mountain in Iron County, Utah. Exposed strata range from the Jurassic Temple Cap Formation to Oligocene-age quartz monzonite of the Granite Mountain laccolith. Emplacement of the Granite Mountain and Three Peaks laccoliths was controlled by the east-verging Sevier-age Iron Springs Gap thrust fault. Replacement manetite-hematite ore bodies in the Co-op Creek Limestone Member exist locally along the margins of the laccoliths and have made the Iron Springs mining district the largest iron-producing district in the western U.S. In the Eightmile Hills, regional ash-flow tuffs are locally involved in a large gravity slide shed off the Granite Mountain laccolith. Earth fissures related to groundwater overdraft of the Cedar Valley aquifer and resultant land subsidence have formed north and west of Quichapa Lake.

This CD contains two pates-a geologic map at 1:24,000 scale and an explanation plate-and a 18-page booklet, all in PDF format. The latest version of Adobe Reader is required to view the PDF files.

GET IT HERE