Tag Archive for: Utah Geology

Utah Geological Survey
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A look back on the Bingham Canyon Mine Landslide

earthsky.org

This date in science: Landslide at Bingham Canyon Mine

April 10, 2013. On this date – a year ago today – a towering wall of dirt and rocks gave way and crashed down the side of Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah. The landslide was to be one of the largest non-volcanic landslides in the history of North America. University of Utah researchers later reported that the landslide – which moved at an average of almost 70 mph and reached estimated speeds of at least 100 mph – left a deposit so large it would cover New York’s Central Park with about 20 meters (66 feet) of debris.

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Utah Geological Survey

POTD April 14, 2014: Goblin Valley State Park, Emery County, Utah

Goblin Valley State Park, Emery County, Utah
Photographer: Stevie Emerson; © 2012

Sandstone hoodoos at Goblin Valley State Park, Emery County.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD April 11, 2014: The Rimrocks, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Kane County, Utah

Here’s a rockin’ scenic view to jump start another weekend!

The Rimrocks, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Kane County, Utah
Photographer: Taylor Boden; © 2012

Spire-like formations called “toadstools” form where resistant sandstone boulders of Cretaceous-age Dakota Formation (toadstool caps) protect the underlying, softer, Jurassic-age Entrada Sandstone (toadstool stems) from erosion. Beneath their protective caps, the spires stand tall above the surrounding eroded landscape.

Utah Geological Survey

Explore: A fairyland of phantasmic formations, Wahweap Hoodoos

stgeorgeutah.com

Stroll through some of Southern Utah’s most bizarre formations along this 9.2 mile round-trip hike to the Wahweap Hoodoos in the vast Grand-Staircase Escalante area near Lake Powell. Mother nature’s erosive artistry has left several groups of divine pearly-white towers capped with brown mushroom-like tops nuzzled in several coves for off-the-beaten-path hikers.

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Utah Geological Survey

"Spot the Rock" April 10, 2014

We’re back with another round of “Spot the Rock”! Where do you think these red rocks reside?

Like us on FACEBOOK or follow us on TWITTER to participate!

UPDATE: Location Revealed

We’re not sure if last week’s “Spot the Rock” was too easy or too hard since we only got one guess (though that one guess was correct…so contrats!) This is a view of part of Sheep Creek Canyon Geological Area, located west of Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in Daggett County.

The deep red rock layers at left in the photo belong to the 770 to 1,600 million year old Uinta Mountain Group. The ridge forming gray rocks immediately to the right are part of the roughly 330 to 354 million year old Madison Limestone (this cliff is locally called The Palisades). Separating the two units is a 450 million year unconformity and the southwest branch of the Uinta fault zone.

This road-side overlook also provides a somber view of the site of Utah’s most deadly landslide. On June 9, 1965 a debris flow swept through the former Palisade campground (bottom left of photo) destroying the campground and killing seven campers.

For more information, a geologic road guide for the area can be found here:http://www.utahgeology.org/road_logs/uga-29_first_edition/OP_guide/sheepcrk.pdf

Utah Geological Survey

Geologic Maps of the Klondike Bluffs, Mollie Hogans, and the Windows Section 7.5' Quadrangles, Grand County, Utah

By: Hellmut H. Doelling and Paul A. Kuehne

The Klondike Bluffs 7.5′ quadrangle covers a large part of Arches National Park and encompasses colorful bedrock strata ranging in age from Pennsylvania Paradox Formation to Cretaceous Mancos Shale. Salt diapirs are common throughout the area, and the Salt-Cache Valley Salt Structure is the most prominent structure, with several additional salt structures present, including the Salt Wash and Courthouse synclines and the Elephant Butte folds. Scenic resources in the area showcase joints, fins, grabens above salt wells, and the highest concentration of arches in the world.

This CD contains geographic information system (GIS) files in ESRI file geodatabase and shapefile formats. A geologic map at 1:24,000 scale and a 31-page booklet are also included in PDF format. The latest version of Adobe Reader is required to view the PDF files.

GET IT HERE

By: Hellmut H. Doelling and Paul A. Kuehne

The Mollie Hogans 7.5′ quadrangle covers a large part of Arches National Park and encompasses colorful bedrock strata ranging in age from Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation to Cretaceous Mancos Shale. Salt diapirs are common throughout the area, and the Salt-Cache Valley Salt Structure is the most prominent structure, with several additional salt structures present, including the Salt Wash and Courthouse synclines and the Elephant Butte folds. Scenic resources in the area showcase joints, fins, grabens above salt walls, and the highest concentration of arches in the world.

This CD contains geographic information system (GIS) files in ESRI file geodatabase and shapefile formats. A geologic map at 1:24,000 scale and a 31-page booklet are also included in PDF format. The latest version of Adobe Reader is required to view the PDF files.

GET IT HERE

By: Hellmut H. Doelling and Paul A. Kuehne

The Windows Section 7.5′ quadrangle covers a large part of Arches National Park and encompasses colorful bedrock strata ranging in age from Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation to Cretaceous Mancos Shale. Salt diapirs are common throughout the area, and the Salt-Cache Valley Salt Structure is the most prominent structure, with several additional salt structures present, including the Salt Wash and Courthouse synclines and the Elephant Butte folds. A one-mile-wide zone of faults is located in the Windows Section northeast of the Moab fault. Scenic resources in the area showcase joints, fins, grabens above salt walls, and the highest concentration of arches in the world.

This CD contains geographic information system (GIS) files in ESRI file geodatabase and shapefile formats. A geologic map at 1:24,000 scale and a 31-page booklet are also included in PDF format. The latest version of Adobe Reader is required to view the PDF files.

GET IT HERE

Utah Geological Survey

POTD April 9, 2014: Henry Mountains, Garfield County, Utah

Henry Mountains, Garfield County, Utah
Photographer: Ken Krahulec; © 2012

Oligocene-age igneous intrusions exposed in the Henry Mountains, Garfield County.

Utah Geological Survey

Utah Gemstones and Gemstone Mining

geology.com

Red beryl is one of the world’s rarest gemstones. It is found in a few locations in the Thomas Range and the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah, it is also found in the Black Range of New Mexico. The crystals are generally small, often too small to facet. High quality rough that is large enough to facet can produce finished stones that sell for as much as $2,000 per carat.

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Utah Geological Survey

POTD April 8, 2014: The Cockscomb, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Kane County, Utah

The Cockscomb, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Kane County, Utah
Photographer: Stevie Emerson; © 2012

The Cockscomb formed along the steeply tilted sedimentary layers of a geologic feature known as the East Kaibab monocline. Faulting and erosion have shaped the tilted Jurassic and Cretaceous-age rocks into the spectacular “rooster’s comb” features seen today along Cottonwood Canyon Road.

Utah Geological Survey

POTD April 7, 2014: Scudder Lake, Uinta Mountains, Duchesne County, Utah

Who’s ready to get back out into that beautiful Utah Spring scenery?

Scudder Lake, Uinta Mountains, Duchesne County, Utah
Photographer: Ken Krahulec; © 2012

Scudder Lake in the glaciated Uinta Mountains, Duchesne County.