Utah Geological Survey

UTAH’S CEDAR MESA FORMATIONS YIELDS NEW RAPTOR DINOSAURS

Mark Davis — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:20:20 +0000

sltrib.com

Utah geologists have discovered what appear to be three new raptor species of dinosaurs based on fossils recovered near Arches National Park.

A team led by the Utah Geological Survey published a paper describing one of these early Cretaceous fossils, which are between 120 and 130 millions years old, on Tuesday in the online journal PLos One, or the Public Library of Science.

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SURVEY NOTES volume 44 number 2

Mark Davis — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:45:31 +0000

This Issue contains:

Evaluating the seismic relation between the West Valley fault zone and Salt Lake City segment of the Wasatch fault zone
Another large landslide closes highway near Cedar City, Utah
2011 Landslides in Utah
Energy News: Hydraulic fracturing and shale gas
GeoSights: Comb Ridge, San Juan County, Utah
Glad You Asked: Are those animal tracks in the sidewalk?
Teacher’s Corner
Survey News
New Publications

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PAST ISSUES

Utah Geological Survey Receives National Award for Earthquake Research

Mark Davis — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:57:42 +0000

The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) received a 2012 National Award in Excellence for Research at the National Earthquake Conference. The award recognizes the significant contributions to earthquake research and risk reduction made by three Utah Earthquake Working Groups convened under the auspices of the UGS in cooperation with the Utah Seismic Safety Commission and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Utah’s Earthquake Working Groups program was initiated in 2003 to bring together a broad spectrum of technical experts from state and federal agencies, universities, and the private sector to prioritize and coordinate earthquake-hazard research in Utah.

The three groups, which meet annually, focus on (1) active faulting, (2) earthquake ground shaking, and (3) liquefaction. The groups have been highly successful in expanding various targeted areas of research (in part by obtaining funding and developing partnerships), which has advanced earthquake-related knowledge in Utah.

EARTHQUAKE SCIENTISTS TRYING TO PINPOINT THE ‘BIG ONE’

Mark Davis — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:55:30 +0000

sltrib.com

Fourteen scientists are quietly working on a Utah earthquake forecasting project that will provide the most specific estimates ever of when and where major temblors are expected along the Wasatch Front.

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Utah Geological Association’s Utah Earth Science Teacher of the Year Award

Mark Davis — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:16:32 +0000

The Utah Geological Association (UGA) is soliciting nominations for the Utah Earth Science Teacher of the Year Award to:

(1) recognize and support an outstanding Utah teacher of natural resources in earth sciences for grades K–12, and

(2) provide a Utah candidate for the regional competition sponsored by the American Association of Petroleum Geologist’s (AAPG) Rocky Mountain Section.

Ultimately, the UGA candidate could qualify for the annual AAPG competition and be selected as The National Teacher of the Year for Excellence in the Teaching of Natural Resources in the Earth Sciences. Application deadline is June 1, 2012.

More information at Utah Geological Association.

GeoSights—The Honeycombs, Juab County, Utah

Mark Davis — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:47:45 +0000

Far out in Utah’s west desert, 25 miles from the Nevada border, is a solitary cluster of hills called The Honeycombs, also known as the Honeycomb Hills. Rising just a few hundred feet above the surrounding landscape, the humble Honeycombs are overshadowed by neighboring Great Basin mountain ranges.

The hills barely draw notice, until examined up close. Their rough and craggy rocks—mostly gray but also red, orange, lavender, and pink—are permeated with hollows ranging from pea-sized pits to alcoves large enough to shelter a horse and rider. The pattern of the hollows and the thin walls that separate them resemble the hexagonal cellular structures of beehives that give The Honeycombs their name.

Utah Friends of Paleontology (UFOP) Annual Meeting

Mark Davis — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:18:26 +0000

Join us for the Utah Friends of Paleontolgy Annual Meeting, April 27–29, at the Natural History Museum of Utah. This year’s theme is A DECADE OF DISCOVERY. Guest speaker is Joe Sertich, PhD, curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Visit www.utahpaleo.org/annual-meeting.html for details and registration.

Utah Friend of Paleontology (UFOP) has a new website

Mark Davis — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:09:45 +0000

UFOP is a statewide non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to preserving Utah’s fossil resources through public education and volunteer support of sponsoring institutions. Visit the new website at www.utahpaleo.org/index.html

Utah’s Energy Landscape

Mark Davis — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:47:31 +0000

Did you know that Utah has the third lowest price for home-heating natural gas in the nation and Utah is one of only five states that generates electricity from geothermal sources? Utah also enjoys the second lowest industrial electricity rate in the nation.

These are just some of the interesting facts found in the Utah Geological Survey’s (UGS) newly updated Utah’s Energy Landscape – a booklet designed to assist people in becoming more familiar with Utah’s diverse energy portfolio.

“With energy use and development at the forefront of many citizens’ minds, we thought it would be important for us to update this booklet, providing valuable, balanced energy information for the state of Utah,” said Mike Vanden Berg, UGS geologist.

Other interesting facts: in 2010, the majority of energy produced in Utah was from natural gas, surpassing coal for the first time in history and Utah has been a net-exporter of energy since 1980.

GET IT HERE

New Geologic Hazard Maps for the Western Salt Lake Valley and Magna Areas

Mark Davis — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:27:48 +0000

New geologic hazard maps of western Salt Lake Valley have just been released by the Utah Geological Survey (UGS). The 10 maps include the town of Magna and portions of Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Kearns, and West Jordan to the south.

“This area is expected to experience a significant population increase in the next several decades. As urbanization expands into areas less suited for development, geo hazards become of increasing concern in the planning, design, and construction of new facilities,” says Jessica Castleton, a UGS geologist.

The ten maps show the hazards of earthquakes, landslides and rock falls, floods, indoor radon, shallow groundwater, and problem soil and rock. Historically, flooding has been the most widespread and frequent hazard in the area. Landslides and rock falls will be of increasing concern as development moves into hill slope areas. And, earthquake hazards (mainly ground shaking, liquefaction, and surface fault rupture) have the potential for producing catastrophic property damage, economic disruption, and loss of life.

GET IT HERE