Utah Geological Survey

Dinosaurs on Mars

Mark Davis — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:50:16 +0000

nationalgeographic.com

I’ve never been to Mars, but I’ve been close. From my Salt Lake City home, the journey takes a relatively scant four and a half hours – through the smoggy sprawl of the valley and over lonely highways pocked here and there by small Utah farming towns before reaching the tourist-dependent outpost of Hanksville. I wonder how many people speed along the main drag, on their way to see the imposing geology of Capitol Reef National Park or make the spirit of Edward Abbey cringe by boating over Lake Powell, without ever realizing what lies up a unremarkable dirt road just a few miles outside of town.

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Dinosaur death trap outside Arches National Park could reveal a lot about how they lived

Mark Davis — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:39:24 +0000

deseretnews.com

A herd of dinosaurs are trapped in rock outside Arches National Park, and state paleontologists need a helicopter to bring it back to the lab to see what’s really inside.

State paleontologists hope to line up a helicopter in the next few weeks to bring back the extraordinary discovery near Moab.

How to prepare for fire season

Mark Davis — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:50:59 +0000

ksl.com

Two Thursday night fires in Utah County served as a reminder that fire season is upon the state. Wildfires may not be entirely preventable, but steps can be taken to help prevent fires and to prepare your home and family in case of evacuation.

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POTD June 18, 2013: Bryce Canyon National Park, Garfield County Utah

Mark Davis — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:27:07 +0000

Garfield County
Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg

Windows form within the Tertiary-age Claron Formation as wind and water erode the brightly colored sandstone and siltstone into fins and hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park. Thor’s Hammer, the official icon of the Utah Geological Survey, is visible in the lower-right corner.

POTD June 17, 2013: Wilson Arch, San Juan County, Utah

Mark Davis — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:36:54 +0000

Sixty years of Utah Geology will leave you with A LOT of photos, so we are going to share them with you. Introducing the UGS Photo Of The Day, or POTD for short. Enjoy!

San Juan County
Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg

Wilson Arch is probably the most accessible natural arch in southern Utah. It is perched on a cliff of the Jurassic-age Slick Rock Member of the Entrada Sandstone next to Highway 191 half way between Moab and Monticello. North of Moab, the Entrada Sandstone is host to the vast majority of the arches in Arches National Park.

Dinosaur death trap outside Arches National Park could reveal a lot about how they lived

Mark Davis — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:16:56 +0000

deseretnews.com

A herd of dinosaurs are trapped in rock outside Arches National Park, and state paleontologists need a helicopter to bring it back to the lab to see what’s really inside.

State paleontologists hope to line up a helicopter in the next few weeks to bring back the extraordinary discovery near Moab.

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GeoSights—Comb Ridge, San Juan County, Utah

Mark Davis — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:44:59 +0000

One may say Comb Ridge was Mother Nature’s way of splitting southern San Juan County with an enormous

wall. Another may say it was a giant skateboard ramp for dinosaurs. One thing is certain: Comb Ridge is a spectacular

ridge of steeply tilted sandstone rock layers, trending north-south for approximately 80 miles from Utah’s Abajo Mountains to Kayenta, Arizona. Similar to a rooster’s comb, the jagged appearance of Comb Ridge provides the logic behind its name.

GeoSights—Gandy Warm Springs, Northwestern Millard County, Utah

Mark Davis — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:35:03 +0000

The entrance to a cave, unofficially called “Beware Cave,” is marked by an overhang under which springs emerge at the deepest part of Gandy Warm Springs and Warm Creek—almost 4 feet deep. Gandy Warm Springs is a refreshing oasis of tiny waterfalls, pools, caves, and crystal clear streams with water temperatures up to 81 ̊F. Located on the western edge of Snake Valley, near the Nevada border, the springs are at the base of the southern tip of Spring Mountain (also called Gandy Mountain). The spring water that cascades down the slope of Spring Mountain joins a larger spring that emerges from a cave, initiating the eastward-flowing Warm Creek (also called Gandy Creek). Lush green vegetation, including mosses, watercress, and bright green algae, and animals such as aquatic snails (including the endemic springsnail,Pyrgulopsis saxatilis, found only at Gandy) and the native speckled dace wonderfully stand in stark contrast to the surrounding dry yellow grasses and desert shrubs. Gandy is a popular spot for locals who use the area for soaking, swimming, and baptisms.

GeoSights—Notch Peak—Big Cliff, Millard County, Utah

Mark Davis — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:21:49 +0000

The enormity and vastness of the cliff forming the north face of Notch Peak is difficult to describe. Standing near the cliff’s base and looking up is awe inspiring. The view while standing at the top and looking over the edge? I would not know as I was on my hands and knees, too fearful to stand and look over the edge at one of the greatest vertical drops in the contiguous U.S.

Reported estimates of the cliff’s actual height vary significantly from under 2,000 feet to over 4,500 feet, which is likely due to differences in defining where the base of the cliff starts. Photogrammetry (measurements from digital stereoscopic photographs), verified with a paper 7.5′ topographic map, suggests the cliff has an uninterrupted near-vertical drop of over 1,500feet. The addition of cliff below a small bench 50 to 100 yards wide increases the distance to approximately 2,250 feet. Adding a portion of the very steep base of the sheer drop increases the distance to nearly 2,900 feet.

Geophysical Maps

Mark Davis — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:05:32 +0000

Geophysical maps provide insight into an area’s geology by illuminating features and characteristics not apparent from a geologic map alone. Data collected from geophysical surveys are used to create maps showing the variability in physical properties of different rock types including density, thermal attributes, seismic velocity, magnetic susceptibility and other electromagnetic parameters.