Tag Archive for: Utah Geology

The stream in the lower section of Dark Canyon runs reddish brown following heavy morning rain. Sandstone of the Permian-age Cutler Group forms the canyon walls and limestone of the Pennsylvanian-age Honaker Trail Formation is exposed along the stream bed. Dark Canyon Primitive Area, San Juan County, Utah Photographer: Diane Menuz; © 2015

POTD 11-17-15 Dark Canyon San Juan County

Dark Canyon Primitive Area, San Juan County, Utah
Photographer: Diane Menuz; © 2015

The stream in the lower section of Dark Canyon runs reddish brown following heavy morning rain. Sandstone of the Permian-age Cutler Group forms the canyon walls and limestone of the Pennsylvanian-age Honaker Trail Formation is exposed along the stream bed.

White Rim, Canyonlands National Park, San Juan County, Utah Photographer: Tyler Knudsen; © 2015

POTD Canyonlands 11-10-15

White Rim, Canyonlands National Park, San Juan County, Utah
Photographer: Tyler Knudsen; © 2015

The setting sun illuminates the Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone cliffs of Cougar Mountain (right) and South Guardian Angel (left) as viewed from Kolob Reservoir Road. Here, the road travels on top of the 220,000- to 310,000-year-old Grapevine Wash lava flow (dark rocks in middle ground). Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah Photographer: Adam McKean; © 2015

POTD 11-3-15 Zion National Park

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

The setting sun illuminates the Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone cliffs of Cougar Mountain (right) and South Guardian Angel (left) as viewed from Kolob Reservoir Road. Here, the road travels on top of the 220,000- to 310,000-year-old Grapevine Wash lava flow (dark rocks in middle ground).

Cane Creek anticline and the Colorado River, Grand County, Utah Photographer: Rebekah Stimpson; © 2015

A view to drink in over your lunch time daydream.

POTD 10-27-15

Cane Creek anticline and the Colorado River, Grand County, Utah
Photographer: Rebekah Stimpson; © 2015

 

Someone dropped a box of yellow crayons in this hot water. Now, the algae and sulfur crystals can’t stop coloring! Just kidding, there’s no crayons in this natural color field.

10-20-15

Roosevelt Hot Springs Geothermal Area, Beaver County, Utah
Photographer: Mark Milligan; © 2015

Yellow sulfur crystals and various colors of bacteria and algae give these hissing steam vents and bubbling pools an otherworldly look. This landscape is a recent and evolving phenomenon resulting from changing groundwater levels associated with nearby geothermal power generation.

Pine Valley Mountains, Washington County, Utah Photographer: Nikki Simon; © 2015

POTD 10-13-15 Pine Valley Mountains Washington County

Pine Valley Mountains, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Nikki Simon; © 2015

Snow highlights cross-bedding on the sides of buttes and mesas along the Clear Creek drainage on the east side of Zion National Park. Cross-beds in the nearly 2,000-foot-thick Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone formed in ancient sand dunes and reflect changing wind directions as the sand was being deposited. Zion National Park, Kane County, Utah Photographer: Adam Hiscock; © 2015

The mornings are becoming a little crisper, and night comes a little quicker. It won’t belong before we see this scene!

POTD 10-6-15 Zion National Park, Kane County

Zion National Park, Kane County, Utah
Photographer: Adam Hiscock; © 2015

Snow highlights cross-bedding on the sides of buttes and mesas along the Clear Creek drainage on the east side of Zion National Park. Cross-beds in the nearly 2,000-foot-thick Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone formed in ancient sand dunes and reflect changing wind directions as the sand was being deposited.

Chocolate Drops, Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, Wayne County, Utah Photographer: Tyler Knudsen; © 2015

Fall is upon us and October is just around the corner. If there were a Pumpkin Spice Geology, maybe it would look a little like this photo. What do you think? We’re in the Fall spirit here at the UGS!

9-29-15

Chocolate Drops, Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, Wayne County, Utah
Photographer: Tyler Knudsen; © 2015

Alpenglow illuminates the glacially sculpted Stansbury Mountains as seen from the shores of Great Salt Lake. Deseret Peak (11,031 feet), the leftmost high summit, is the range’s highest peak and is underlain by Cambrian-age Prospect Mountain Quartzite. Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah. Photographer: Gregg Beukelman; © 2015

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

POTD 9-25-15 Stansbury Mountains Tooele County

Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah
Photographer: Gregg Beukelman; © 2015

Alpenglow illuminates the glacially sculpted Stansbury Mountains as seen from the shores of Great Salt Lake. Deseret Peak (11,031 feet), the leftmost high summit, is the range’s highest peak and is underlain by Cambrian-age Prospect Mountain Quartzite.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

eastern Uinta Basin, Uintah County, Utah
Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg; © 2014

Algal stromatolites from the Green River Formation, eastern Uinta Basin, Uintah County.