Good morning, everyone! At the request of NASA, Tom Chidsey (geologist for the UGS) supplied a list of Utah-related names for use during the current operations of the Mars Curiosity rover mission. As the rover begins its journey up the slopes of Mt. Sharp, NASA scientists are starting to use names from the Utah list to reference specific Martian rock outcrops. Names like Upheaval Dome and Shinarump have already been used. Follow THIS LINK to see amazing photos and commentary. Out of this world!
San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah
Photographer: Robert Ressetar; © 2013
Window Blind Peak rises to an elevation of 7,030 feet in the interior of the San Rafael Swell. The resistant Triassic to Jurassic-age Wingate and Navajo Sandstones form, respectively, the massive lower cliffs and the upper pinnacle.
A small team of our geologists have been working in Snake Valley to determine future effects the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s proposal to tap Snake Valley aquifers could have on ranchers and fragile desert ecosystems. Check out this Salt Lake Tribune article for more information on the matter.
sltrib.com
For years, Snake Valley ranchers and environmentalists have complained Las Vegas’ designs on rural groundwater would wreck their livelihoods and dry up fragile desert ecosystems in Utah’s West Desert.
This video was taken by Don DeBlieux when the UGS paleontology team left the excavation site and headed home. Jim Kirkland and Scott Madsen were with him.
Don DeBlieux: “This was shot yesterday around 12:30 p.m. as we were trying to leave our Stike’s Dinosaur excavation. Our usual way out was blocked by a large mud hole from the previous day/night rain, so we tried the only other way through Yellow Cat flat. Things were looking nice and dry until we got to Yellow Cat Wash that drains a large area of the Book Cliffs. We figured this would subside and would be a better bet than the mud hole. We had to wait about 3 hours until we felt confident that we could get through safely!”
Fall is here! Utah is just stunning in the fall, and the colors compliment our geology so well! Where is your favorite Utah fall destination found?
White Rock Bay, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Photographer: Adam McKean; © 2013
Check out this bit of information we’ve got up on our website on the North Salt Lake landslide at Parkway Drive!
Silver Island Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah
Photographer: Gregg Beukelman; © 2013
Chemical weathering produces pits and holes in the surface of Jurassic-age quartz monzonite at Crater Island, in the northeast part of the Basin and Range Province. The “island” of rock rises from the barren, salt-covered plains of the Great Salt Lake Desert east of the distant Pilot Range.
The Springhill landslide site has been turned into the new Springhill Geologic Park by the City of North Salt Lake. 
In 2012, the city was awarded a matching-fund Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant to buy and demolish homes and turn the landslide site into an open-space park.
The Utah Geological Survey provided landslide activity data for the grant application including the collection of location data from 32 monitoring points on a monthly basis from May 5, 2011 until August 1, 2011, and mapping of geomorphic landslide features indicating ground deformation.
The new park was created after 12 homes were demolished and grading had leveled the lots, roadways were removed, and a drainage system was constructed to collect surface and spring water for transport to existing storm drains.
The Utah Geological Survey will continue monitoring landslide activity, but less frequently (based on landslide conditions) than in the past.
Read more about the Springhill landside HERE.
Time for another round of “Spot the Rock”! You might think these photos seem faded or have altered colors, but that’s actually the mineral’s appearance at this site! Can you tell us what mineral is pictured?
For those that know the answer, take the super “Spot the Rock” challenge and tell us the one place in Utah this mineral is found, or what causes the texture in some of the pieces (shown in the close-up photo).
Like us on FACEBOOK or follow us on TWITTER to participate!
UPDATE: Answer revealed!
How many of you knew what mineral was shown in last week’s “Spot the Rock”, or where the spectacular purple mineral is located? It looks like we only had one correct guess—it is fluorite! However, fluorite in this area can also be found in various shades of white, blue, green, buff, yellow, and reddish-brown, dependent upon the presence of various trace elements.The fluorite pictured is located at Bell Hill mine, at the south end of Spor Mountain, Thomas Range, Juab County, Utah.
The textures seen in the close-up picture are fossil corals.
Ore from the Bell Hill mine only contains trace amount Beryllium (0.004% to 0.002%) and no visible bertrandite (bertrandite is a beryllium bearing mineral found at the Brush Wellman mine about a mile to the west).
If you haven’t heard yet, our latest Calendar of Utah Geology is out and on the shelves. Check out this press release for more information! The calendars are on sale for $4.95 each or $4.25 for orders of 10 or more at the Utah Natural Resources Map & Bookstore, 1594 West North Temple in Salt Lake City. Buy it online HERE.
The photos are taken by staff members who are often on assignment in some of the most intriguing areas of the state.
kcsg.com
The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) is now selling the 9th edition of its popular calendar.
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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