Tag Archive for: Utah Geological Survey

Small cave-like features called tafoni pockmark the walls of a slot canyon in the southern San Rafael Swell, Emery County. San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah Photographer: Mark Milligan; © 2015

An afternoon escape—

POTD 4-19-16 San Rafael Swell

San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah
Photographer: Mark Milligan; © 2015

Small cave-like features called tafoni pockmark the walls of a slot canyon in the southern San Rafael Swell, Emery County.

Pinnacles eroded from Tertiary-age lava flow breccia along State Route 20, Garfield County.

POTD 4-12-16 lava flow Garfield County

State Route 20, Garfield County, Utah
Photographer: Bob Biek; © 2015

Pinnacles eroded from Tertiary-age lava flow breccia along State Route 20, Garfield County.

 

Little Deer Creek cascades over sandstone ledges of the Precambrian-age Hades Pass unit of the Uinta Mountain Group into Cataract Gorge on the Duchesne River, Duchesne County. Duchesne River, Duchesne County, Utah Photographer: Rich Emerson; © 2015

POTD 4-5-16 Duchesne County Waterfall

Duchesne River, Duchesne County, Utah
Photographer: Rich Emerson; © 2015

Little Deer Creek cascades over sandstone ledges of the Precambrian-age Hades Pass unit of the Uinta Mountain Group into Cataract Gorge on the Duchesne River, Duchesne County.

Glacially scoured and polished quartzite of the Precambrian-age Big Cottonwood Formation near Lake Blanche, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch Range, Salt Lake County. Photo by Adam Hiscock, UGS.

I know there’s snow up in the Wasatch today, but the valley sure feels as nice as this photo!

POTD 3-29-16 Glacier Wasatch

Big Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch Range, Salt Lake County, Utah
Photographer: Adam Hiscock; © 2015

Glacially scoured and polished quartzite of the Precambrian-age Big Cottonwood Formation near Lake Blanche, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch Range, Salt Lake County.

Delicate Arch, a 65-foot-tall natural arch in Arches National Park, Grand County, is composed of Jurassic-age sandstone including the Slick Rock Member of the Entrada Sandstone (base and pedestals) and Moab Member of the Curtis Formation (bridge). Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah Photographer: Marshall Robinson; © 2015

POTD 3-22-16 Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah
Photographer: Marshall Robinson; © 2015

Delicate Arch, a 65-foot-tall natural arch in Arches National Park, Grand County, is composed of Jurassic-age sandstone including the Slick Rock Member of the Entrada Sandstone (base and pedestals) and Moab Member of the Curtis Formation (bridge).

Towering 1,488 feet above the canyon floor, Angels Landing is a joint-controlled resistant fin of Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone, carved out by the incised North Fork Virgin River. A popular, but steep and exposed, hiking trail guides park visitors along the sheer fin to inspiring views of Zion Canyon. Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah Photographer: Adam McKean; © 2015

POTD 3-15-16 Angels Landing Zion National Park

Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Adam McKean; © 2015

Towering 1,488 feet above the canyon floor, Angels Landing is a joint-controlled resistant fin of Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone, carved out by the incised North Fork Virgin River. A popular, but steep and exposed, hiking trail guides park visitors along the sheer fin to inspiring views of Zion Canyon.

Congratulations to Tyler Knudsen for receiving UGS’s 2015 Employee of the Year Award!

tyler knudsen employee of the year

Tyler’s geologic hazard and mapping knowledge are formidable, his computer skills are impressive, and he keeps up-to-date on the latest technologies. He produces many high quality studies, one of which recently received national accolades. He responds quickly to geologic hazard events and interacts well with the media. His knowledge of southwestern Utah geology is impeccable, which he enthusiastically shares with the public through blogs and local newspapers. He is wholly reliable, easy to be around, and a joy to work with. These special talents make him an essential member of our Cedar City office.

Fluted crimson walls of Jurassic-age Entrada Sandstone rim Cathedral Valley in the remote northern part of Capitol Reef National Park. The near-vertical Entrada walls owe their existence to the overlying white Curtis Formation that serves as a protective cap rock. Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne County, Utah Photographer: Tyler Knudsen; © 2015

Wishing our Tuesday was spent out there! The weather just gets nicer and nicer by the day. What Utah places do you want to explore this year?

POTD 3-8-16 Capitol Reef National Park, WAyne County

Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne County, Utah
Photographer: Tyler Knudsen; © 2015

Fluted crimson walls of Jurassic-age Entrada Sandstone rim Cathedral Valley in the remote northern part of Capitol Reef National Park. The near-vertical Entrada walls owe their existence to the overlying white Curtis Formation that serves as a protective cap rock.

Wasatch Range from northern Goshen Valley, Utah County, Utah Photographer: J. Lucy Jordan; © 2015

POTD 3-1-16 Wasatch Goshen Valley

Wasatch Range from northern Goshen Valley, Utah County, Utah
Photographer: J. Lucy Jordan; © 2015

Lower Red Pine Lake occupies part of a cirque basin below White Baldy (11,321 feet). Pleistocene glaciers carved the Tertiary-age granitic bedrock of the Little Cottonwood Stock into a variety of alpine landforms including cirques, arêtes, and horns. Little Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch Range, Salt Lake County, Utah. Photographer: Taylor Boden; © 2015

POTD 2-23-16 Little Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch Range

Little Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch Range, Salt Lake County, Utah
Photographer: Taylor Boden; © 2015

Lower Red Pine Lake occupies part of a cirque basin below White Baldy (11,321 feet). Pleistocene glaciers carved the Tertiary-age granitic bedrock of the Little Cottonwood Stock into a variety of alpine landforms including cirques, arêtes, and horns.