Survey Notes: January 2012

8/3/2019 Survey Notes: January 2012

1/16

January 2012Volume 44, Number 1

U T A H G E O L O G I C A L S U R V E Y


2/16

The Utah Geological Survey has recentlyproduced two important reports that willhelp inform discussions about Utahseconomic directions. One is a second editionof Utahs Energy Landscape (UGS Circular113, by Michael Vanden Berg), which showsenergy production and consumption trendsupdated with 2010 data. The second is UtahMining 2010 (UGS Circular 114, by MarkGwynn, Ken Krahulec, and Michael VandenBerg), which highlights recent trends in themining of all geologic commodities in Utah.The take-away message from both reports isthat despite volatility in commodity prices inrecent years, and a pattern of declining con-sumption of some key commodities sinceabout 2008 due to the economic downturn,the contribution of local energy and mineralproduction to Utahs economy remainsstrong. The total value of energy and mineralproduction in 2010 was $8.4 billion, thesecond-highest value in Utahs history (after

2008). Strong metals prices during 2010enabled copper, molybdenum, magnesium,

and gold production to contribute $3.3 billionto this gure. In addition, Utah continuesto be a strong net exporter of energy in theform of natural gas and electricity, largelygenerated from coal. Utah produces about30 percent more energy than it consumes,a trend that has continued since the early

1980s (see graphs of production and con-sumption of energy in Utah). Declining coalproduction since 2001 has largely been com-pensated for by increases in natural gas andoil production.

Utahs overall energy consumption hasgrown at an average of 2.1 percent per yearsince 1960, a gure very close to the statesaverage popula-tion growth overthat time (2.3percent per year).Although elec-

tricity demandgrowth along theWasatch Fronthas been almosttwice that rate,energy efciencysavings elsewherehave compen-sated for this. Acloser look at geo-logical commod-ity trends in Utahshows signicant

changes duringthe past decade,

and especially since the economic downturnthat began in late 2008. The downturn hasignicantly affected the consumption oindustrial minerals such as aggregate (sandgravel, crushed stone) and cement, which aredown by over 30 percent since they peaked in2007 (for a historical review, see DirectorsPerspective in the September 2009 issue ofSurvey Notes). Similarly, the consumption opetroleum products in Utah has decreasedby about 10 percent during this time, largelydue to a decrease in diesel fuel use, withmotor gasoline demand remaining relatively steady. As a result of this decline and

Design: Jeremy Gleason

Cover: Exposure of glassy Snake River Plain-typerhyolite near Goose Creek, Box Elder County.Photograph by Donald Clark.

Survey Notes is published three times yearly by Utah Geological Survey, 1594 W. North Temple, Suite 3110, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116; (801) 537-3300. The Utah Geological Survey provides time

scientifc inormation about Utahs geologic environment, resources, and hazards. The UGS is a division o the Department o Natural Resources. Single copies oSurvey Notes are distributed reecharge within the United States and reproduction is encouraged with recognition o source. Copies are available at geology.utah.gov/surveynotes. ISSN 1061-7930

The DirectorsPerspective

by Richard G. Allis

StateofUtahGary R. Herbert, Governor

DepartmentofNaturalResourcesMichael Styler, Executive Director

UGSBoardWilliam Loughlin, Jack Hamilton,

Tom Tripp, Sunny Dent,

Mark Bunnell, Kenneth Puchlik,

Marc Eckels,

Kevin Carter (Trust Lands

Administration-ex ofcio)

UGSStaff

Administration

Richard G. Allis, Director

Kimm Harty, Deputy Director

John Kingsley,Associate Director

Starr Losee, Secretary/Receptionist

Dianne Davis,Administrative Secretary

Kathi Galusha,Accounting Ofcer

Linda Bennett, Accounting Technician

Michael Hylland, Technical Reviewer

Robert Ressetar, Technical Reviewer

EditorialStaffVicky ClarkeLori Steadman, Stevie Emerson,

Jeremy Gleason, Jay Hill

GeologicHazardsSteve BowmanRichard Giraud, William Lund,

Greg McDonald, Jessica Castleton,

Gregg Beukelman, Chris DuRoss,

Tyler Knudsen, Corey Unger,

Adam McKean, Ben Erickson

GeologicInformationandOutreachSandra EldredgeChristine Wilkerson, Patricia Stokes,

Mark Milligan, Stephanie Earls,

Emily Chapman, Lance Weaver,

Gentry Hammerschmid, Jim Davis,

Marshall Robinson, Randi Ryan

GeologicMappingGrant WillisJon King, Douglas Sprinkel,

Janice Hayden, J. Buck Ehler,

Kent Brown, Basia Matyjasik,

Donald Clark, Bob Biek, Paul Kuehne

EnergyandMineralsDavid TabetRobert Blackett, Craig Morgan,

Mike Laine, Je Quick,

Taylor Boden, Thomas Chidsey,

Cheryl Gustin, Tom Dempster,

Brigitte Hucka, Stephanie Carney

Ken Krahulec, Brad Wolverton,

Sonja Heuscher, Mike Vanden B

Andrew Rupke, Mark Gwynn,

Christian Hardwick, Peter Nielse

GroundwaterandPaleontologyMichael LoweJames Kirkland, Janae Wallace,

Martha Hayden, Hugh Hurlow,

Don DeBlieux, Kim Nay,

Paul Inkenbrandt, Lucy Jordan,

Kevin Thomas, Rebecca Medina

Walid Sabbah, Rich Emerson,

Stean Kirby, Scott Madsen,

Toby Hooker, Gary Hunt

continued on page 5

ContentsNorthwest UtahCould it be Utah's

Newest Energy Hotspot? ............. ..........1

What is a Metamorphic Core Complex? ......3

very Record Must FallAn Updateon the Largest Arches in the World ........4

nergy News ..............................................6

Glad You Asked ....................... ............. ......8

GeoSights .................................................10

urvey News ............................................12

Teachers Corner ......................................13

New Publications .....................................13

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

MineralProductionValue(million2011$)

Years

nonfuel

crude oil

natural gas

coaluranium

Source: Utah Geological Survey

Note: 2011 data are UGS estimate

Total annual value of Utah's energy and mineral production, ination-adjusted to 2010 d


3/16

Few people visit there, ewer people live there, and other than a

dry strip along I-84, ew people have even seen most o north-west Utah, yet this area may prove to be an important player inUtahs energy uture. The roughly 7000-square-mile area thatextends rom the Wasatch Front, across Great Salt Lake to theNevada and Idaho border, is remote and desolate, but it holdsa rugged beauty o its own. It hosts some o Utahs most com-plex, poorly exposed, and least understood geology; however,a ew intriguing clues suggest that vast geothermal resourcesmay lie beneath these desert basins. This potential, coupledwith largely unknown potential or resh water, a rapidly grow-ing building-stone and lagstone trade, a scarcity o accurategeologic maps, and a lack o knowledge about earthquakesand others hazards, induced UGS geologists to team up withUSGS and university colleagues to improve surace maps and

subsurace knowledge o the our 30' x 60' quadrangles thatcover this huge area.

Over the past ew years, the drive to develop alternative (non-hydrocarbon) energy resources has ocused much attentionon Utah. Deep-seated aults, abundant warm and hot springs,high temperatures encountered in some drill holes, three oper-ating geothermal power plants, and much success passivelyheating greenhouses and buildings all hint at large untappedgeothermal resources beneath parts o western Utah. Thenorthwest part o the state may have signiicant potential. Ithas very young volcanic rocks (some less than 500,000 yearsold), and the Indian Cove well in Great Salt Lake encounteredtemperatures o 430 Fahrenheit at 12,400 eet depth. This

high temperatureabout as hot as the highest setting on yourkitchen ovenmakes it very attractive or traditional-style geo-

thermal power plants. But this is only one good data point

in a vast area. I we want to accurately assess the resourcewe need a better understanding o which sedimentary basinshave the best potential or high temperatures, and which hosrocks have the best permeability and porosity. Explorationeorts are handicapped by the lack o detailed geologic mapsand limited subsurace data. Beore spending millions o dollars to drill exploratory holes, we irst need to complete bettegeologic maps o the aults and rock exposures around thebasins, and to collect less expensive geophysical data to geta better handle on the depth, shape, and rock composition othe basins. Over the past our years we have ramped up geologic mapping and geophysical data acquisition in the area.

TheNeedforBetterGeologicMaps

The northwest part o the state has long stood out as an areain need o better geologic maps. It has some o the mostcomplicated geology o any similar-size area in Utah. Keygeologic and logistical challenges include: (1) it is cored bya large metamorphic complex and as a result has the mosthighly deormed and altered strata o any part o the state (seesidebar), (2) due to generally poor exposures, ormations inthe region are not well deined, making the highly deormedsections even more diicult to decipher, (3) much o the areais masked by Lake Bonneville deposits, (4) structural basinsare abundant, but they are not demarcated by the well-deinednormal aults that bound most basins in the Basin and Range

by Grant Willis and Donald Clark

NORTHWESTUTAHCOULDITBEUTAHSNEWESTENERGYHOTSPOT?

USGS geologist Dave Miller (right) discusses the complicated geology ofthe Dove Creek Hills with UGS geologists Don Clark (left) and Grant Willis(middle). Raft River Mountains in background. Photo by Bob Biek.

Track hoe perched atop an exposure of the Vipont granodiorite-intrusion (about 28 million years old). The hoe is used to remove slabs Neoproterozoic Quartzite of Clarks Basin from an active quarry oper

just out of sight. Intense deformation from the metamorphic core cocreated strong foliation that causes the quartzite to break into at slabsare used in buildings, to face walls, and in landscaping all over the worl

JANUARY2012 1


4/16

Province, (5) very little geophysical data and very ew drill holeslimit subsurace control, and (6) rugged terrain, ew roads, andlarge tracts o military and private land make mapping and dataacquisition slow and expensive.

This is not the type o area that a new geologist can drop intocold turkey and expect to immediately start mapping. Weneed specialists who have devoted many years, even decades,to working out the complicated geologic puzzle. Three years agothe stars were aligned! Through the late 1970s to mid 1990s,USGS geologist David Miller was busy mapping 7.5' quadrangles

in western Utah preparatory to completing our 30' x 60' quad-rangles. But his plans were waylaid in 1994 by budget cuts. Wewere able to publish several o his 7.5' quadrangle maps in theUGS map series. But several other uninished maps, including

three partially completed 30' x 60' maps, were relegated to ilecabinets. We recognized that his accumulated knowledge wasmore valuable than the lines on paper, and or over a decade welobbied the USGS to und Dave to inish the job.

Finally, in 2006 the USGS was able to dovetail this high desertproject into his other work. Dave was only given enough timeto work on the Newoundland Mountains and Tremonton 30x 60' quadrangles, the two with the most completed mappingbut he was determined to inish the work. Ater seeing Davesearly results, the USGS agreed to extend the project i the UGS

could contribute a signiicant portion o the eort. The UtahState Geologic Mapping Advisory Committee recognized thisunique opportunity and helped us secure National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program ederal/state cost-share und

ing. We added Mike Wells (structural geologisat University o Nevada, Las Vegas), who didhis dissertation ollowed by 20 years o guiding student projects on the Albion (Idaho)/RaRiver/Grouse Creek metamorphic core complex; Jack Oviatt (geomorphologist at KansasState University), who is the leading expert onLake Bonneville deposits; Mike Perkins (University o Utah), who spent his career studyingvolcanic ashes (tephras) rom eruptions in theYellowstone hotspot that blanketed the area inthe late Tertiary; and Donald Clark (UGS), whohas established himsel as our lead mapper onorthwest Utah geology. Dave added TraceyFelger, an experienced USGS mapper, and VickLangenheim, a USGS geophysicist.

We are now well into the third year o thisour-year project. This team has been able tocombine many older maps with extensive newmapping to accurately depict the complicatedgeology o the area. We will be ready to releasethe irst open-ile version o the Grouse Creekmap in less than a year. In time, this new map

ping and research may pave the way or development o a large, environmentally cleanrenewable energy resource in Utah.

GeophysicsRevealsBasinStructure

While the Basin and Range Province rom central Idaho to southern Nevada is characterizedin part by deep valleys, northwest Utah standsout or having unusually broad basins withirregular, poorly deined margins. In additioncomplex intervening bedrock ranges, broadsalt and mud lats, large military bombingranges, and limited surace evidence o petroleum potential have resulted in ew explora

tion drill holes or seismic lines in the area. Theone exception, thick tar-like oil seeps at RozePoint in Great Salt Lake near Promontory Pointgenerated some drilling and seismic studies inthe 1980s. The heavy, low-grade oil, logisticaproblems, and unknown size o the oil reservoir doomed the enterprise, but this project didgive us a glimpse o the subsurace geology onthe east side o the area. And one drill hole, theIndian Cove, yielded high subsurace temperatures that triggered the recent interest in geothermal resources.

Aeromagnetic maps of northwest Utah. Over the past two summers, the UGS and USGS haveooperated to improve the detail of aeromagnetic mapping. The data are collected by instruments

mounted on airplanes. Warmer colors show areas with exposed or buried rocks that have higheroncentrations of magnetic minerals. For example, the low bumpy terrain indicates that basaltows are probably buried in the shallow subsurface. When used in conjunction with gravity datand new eld mapping, these data help dene deep basins and major faults, and locate buried

gneous intrusions.

Pre-2010 data

2010 and 2011 acquisitions (white outlines)

2 SURVEYNOTES


5/16

Additional drill holes are badlyneeded, but drilling is expen-sive. Beore spending millionso dollars on a drilling program,we need better understand-ing o the shape, composition,and depth o the basins. Forthat need, we turn to geophys-ics. Over the past two years,the UGS, in cooperation withthe USGS, has been conductingdetailed aeromagnetic and grav-

ity surveys o northwest Utah.Aeromagnetic surveys consisto mounting on an aircrat ahighly sensitive instrument thatdetects very subtle changesin the earths magnetic ield.These changes reveal shallowlyand deeply buried iron-bearingminerals, thereby allowing usto distinguish shallowly buriedbasalt lows, deep-seated gra-nitic intrusions, and thick,buried sedimentary (generally

iron-poor) ormations. Gravitysurveys, conducted rom trucksand ATVs and on oot, use ahighly sensitive gravimeter tomeasure subtle changes in theearths gravity caused by rockdensity dierences (yes, youactually do weigh a ew micro-grams less in some places thanin others, but sorry dieters, thedierence is less than when youtrim your ingernails!). Thesesubtle dierences relect density

variations o underlying basinill and bedrock, and can revealthe geometry o covered basins.When these two tools are usedin conjunction with improvedgeologic maps and better geo-logic models, we can identiysites with the highest poten-tial or geothermal resources,and prioritize targets or utureexploratory drilling.

The Albion (Idaho), Grouse Creek, and RatRiver Mountains host one o the major

metamorphic core complexes in the west-ern U.S. A metamorphic core complex isan area rom a ew miles to over 50 milesacross characterized by a core o high-grade metamorphic rock, several mileso vertical uplit, and capping shells ohighly sheared, attenuated, and variablymetamorphosed sedimentary rock. Theyare common in areas o localized extensionwithin otherwise thickened hinterlands oold/thrust belts. Crustal extension (proba-bly driven by temperature dierences in theearths upper mantle) leads to the rise o adeeply buried welt o hot rock and magma.The resultant doming leads to gravitational

collapse on low-angle aults, causing over-lying rock to shear and metamorphose,separate into distinctive structural zones(somewhat like layers o an onion), andthin down to a ew percent o its originalthickness (making it nearly unrecogniz-able). Rocks at the surace commonly slideaway rom the uplit.

The Albion/Rat River/Grouse Creek meta-morphic core complex has evidence oover 10 miles o vertical uplit that occurredin episodic pulses over about 100 mil-lion years o geologic time. Each pulseproduced a unique structural abric that

overprinted each previous abric. Throughcareul ield mapping and research overthe past ew decades, geologists havepainstakingly teased this story out o therock record. We are ortunate to have oneo these geologists, Mike Wells, structuralgeologist at UNLV, on the Grouse Creekmapping team.

Map depicting existing isostatic gravity data for the northwest corner of Utah. The blueand black dots show where the UGS andUSGS have collected new data to improvethe resolution of the map. Cooler colorsdepict lower gravity values (typically lessdense basin-ll materials), while warmercolors depict higher gravity values (typicallyhigher density bedrock); sharp changestypically denote buried faults.

WHATISAMETAMORPHICCORECOMPLE

Missis-sippian

Devonian

Silurian

Ock

OgcSOd

OckOe

Pot

Pla

EmigrSpringFault

Penn-sylvanian

Cambrian

OeOf

Regional Stratigraphic Thickness(not attenuated)

Eastern RaftRiver MountainsStratigraphicThickness(highly attenuated)

2000meters

Ordov

ician

I

Ogc MahoPeaksFault

These two stratigraphic columns show a typical section of Paleozoic rock in northwest Utah (left), and the section of rock where it has been highly attenuated to less than 1/8 its original thickness as part of the AlbionRiverGrouse Creek metamorphic core complex (right). Modied from Wells (2009).

UGS new stations

USGS new stations

Prior gravity stations

JANUARY2012 3


6/16

An Update on the LargesArches in the World

EveryRecord

Must

Fall

In the May 2009 issue ofSurvey Notes, wereported that Landscape Arch in ArchesNational Park was the natural arch with thelargest measured span in the world. Thiswas based on the work of the Natural Archand Bridge Society (NABS), a small groupdedicated to nding, measuring, and clas-sifying natural arches (www.naturalarch-es.org). However, there are always obscureparts of the world where a larger archcould hide. Only about a year after NABSposted ofcial measurements of Utahs

Landscape and Kolob Arches, a NABSgroup traveled into an area of rugged karsttopography in southeast China. There,they measured two exceptionally largebridges formed by the dissolution and

undercutting of limestone (karsting). Bothof these are massive structures deep in therugged Guangxi Province of southeastChina. Fairy Bridge has an incredible spanof 400 feet. Jiangzhou Immortal Bridge isless accurately measured at 280 to 340feet, relegating Landscape Arch to 2nd

or 3rd placefor now. Other behemothscould remain hidden in some side canyonof this rugged terrain.

Though Landscape Arch doesnt have

the longest measured span of any type ofnatural arch, it holds the record for sand-stone arches and for arc-type arches,and with its thin ribbon of gravity-defyingsandstone, many would agree that it is the

most awe-inspiring arch in the world.

The May 2009 article generated questions regarding the denitions of archand bridge. Some people view archesand bridges as two separate kinds offeatures. However, NABS, the only organization that I know of that deals withsuch matters in a scientically rigorousway, states that a natural bridge is a typeof natural arch, and that when comparing

span length, bridges are included with alother types of natural arches.

Grant Willis has been amapping geologist with theUGS or 28 years, includ-ing 17 years as manager othe Geologic Mapping Pro-gram. He has authored orcoauthored over 40 geologicmaps, and is currently map-ping Glen Canyon NationalRecreation Area.

Donald Clark has been amapping geologist with theUGS or eight years, and pre-viously was a UGS contractand student mapper. He hasauthored or coauthored 12geologic maps in northwestand central Utah, and is cur-rently working on the RushValley and Grouse Creek 30' x60' quadrangle maps.

ABOUTTHEAUTHORS

Landscape Arch, Arches National ParkPhoto by Jeremy Gleason

by Grant

4 SURVEYNOTES


7/16

Top Fourteen Arches in the World (from Natural Arch and Bridge Society website at www.naturalarches.org). NABS now recognizes 14 archeswith spans over 200 feet. Expect this list to change again as searches continue. (Utah arches in bold)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

Trillion

Btu

Energy Consumption in Utah by Energy Source, 1960-2010

(Coal Consumption adjusted for Interstate Electricity Flow)

Coal Petroleum Natural Gas Hydroelectr ic Wood and Waste Geothermal

2.1% annual growth rate2.1% annual growth rate

00

00

00

00

1,000

1,200

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

Trillion

Btu

Energy Production in Utah by Primary Source, 1960-2010

oal Crude Oil Natural Gas Hydro. eothermal Biomass

The DirectorsPerspective

Rank Name Type/Lithology Location SpanLen

1 Fairy Bridge meander natural bridge in karsted limestone Buliu River, Guangxi, China 400 t

2, 3, or 4 Jiangzhou Immortal Bridge meander natural bridge in karsted limestone Jiangzhou, Guangxi, China 280340

2or3 LandscapeArch arcnaturalarchinsandstone ArchesNationalPark,Utah 290ft

3or4 KolobArch alcovenaturalarchinsandstone ZionNationalPark,Utah 287ft

5 Aloba Arch buttress arch and meander natural bridge in sandstone Ennedi Range, Chad (Sahara Desert) 250 t

6 MorningGloryNaturalBridge alcovenaturalarchinsandstone NegroBillCanyon,nearMoab,Utah 243ft

7 Gaotun Natural Bridge waterall natural bridge in karsted limestone Bazhou He Scenic Area, Guizhou, China 240 t

8 RainbowBridge meandernaturalbridgeinsandstoneRainbowBridgeNationalMonument,Utah 234ft

9 SipapuNaturalBridge meandernaturalbridgeinsandstone NaturalBridgesNationalMonument,Utah

225ft

10 StevensArch shelterarchinsandstone EscalanteRiver,Utah 220ft

11 Shiptons Arch (Tushuk Tash) ? in conglomerate Near Kashgar, Xinjiang, China 214 t

12 Hazarchishma Natural Bridge meander natural bridge in karsted limestone Bamyan Province, Aghanistan 211 t

13 Outlaw Arch alcove arch in sandstone Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado 206 t

14 Snake Bridge meander natural bridge or alcove arch in sandstone Sanostee, New Mexico 204 t

Figures modied from Utah Energy Statistics web data,http://geology.utah.gov/emp/energydata/overviewdata.htm.

continued

increased oil production within Utah, the needfor imported oil has decreased, especially from

Canada. Natural gas production and consump-tion have leveled off since 2008, although 1300megawatts of new natural gas-red electricityhas come on line since 2005 and caused theshare of coal-red electricity to drop from 96percent to 81 percent. Natural gas is now thedominant energy source produced in Utah,surpassing coal in 2010. The growth in elec-tricity demand that has dominated the last 50years ceased in 2007, and may have temporar-ily delayed plans for new generation.

The production of geological commodities isdependent on many factors such as price and

external supply variations that are often impos-sible to predict. Although we have seen a recentdecline in energy consumption in Utah, thesigns of economic recovery during 2011 andcontinued population growth are both driversthat will ensure that energy consumptionresumes a growth trend. It will be interestingto see whether the growth rate is similar to thepast 50 years, or if recent patterns of energysavings will lower that rate.

JANUARY2012 5


8/16

Over the next decade, Gordon Creek gas ield in centralUtah will be the site o a signiicant demonstration o tech-nologies or the potential commercialization o carbondioxide storage in deep, saline (brine-illed) reservoirs. Thedemonstration, which is attracting international attention,will be conducted by the Southwest Partnership or CarbonSequestration (SWP), one o seven government/industrypartnerships managed by the U.S. Department o EnergysNational Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The prin-cipal investigators or the SWP are the New Mexico Insti-

tute o Mining & Technology and the University o Utah; theUtah Geological Survey is a partner.

Recent climate change is attributed to carbon dioxide(CO2), the most common greenhouse gas. The U.S. emitsover 6 billion tons o CO2 each year primarily due to thecombustion o ossil uels; 40 percent o this is or the gen-eration o electricity. Utah, a major coal-producing state,depends on several coal-ired power plants within the stateor over 80 percent o its electricity. Demonstrating theability to saely store CO2 deep underground may lead todevelopment o commercial capture and long-term storageo greenhouse gases rom large industrial plants, greatlyreducing the volume o anthropogenic CO2 released intothe atmosphere. Fortunately, Utahs geology provides abun-

dant potential or long-term storage o CO2 in deep, salinereservoirs and depleted to nearly depleted oil and gas ields.

The SWP has successully demonstrated smaller-scalemethods o storing CO2 elsewhere in the southwesternUnited States. Two demonstrations were conducted inNew Mexicos San Juan Basin. CO2 was injected into coal-beds demonstrating the potential or long-term storageand enhancing the recovery o coalbed methane. Waterproduced by the enhanced coalbed methane process wasdesalinated and used to irrigate grasslands and increaseterrestrial sequestration (natural absorption o CO2 by

plants). CO2 has also been injected into producing ields toenhance oil recovery. The SWP demonstrated CO2 storagewith enhanced oil recovery at SACROC oil ield near SnyderTexas, and Greater Aneth ield near Montezuma CreekUtah, on the Navajo Nation.

Gordon Creek ield produces natural gas rom the Creta-ceous Ferron Sandstone about 3300 eet below the suraceGordon Creek LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary o Thunderbird Energy Corporation, is the ield operator/owneand a member o the SWP. Gordon Creek LLC will drill a

Energ

yNews

by Craig Morgan

Utahs Gordon Creek Fieldto Test Commercial-ScaleStorage of Carbon Dioxide

Location of the Gordon Creek gas eld, where the SWP wdemonstrate technologies necessary for commercial-scale storageCO2 in a deep saline reservoir.

View of the Gordon Creek Unit 1 well site, currently producing methagas from the Ferron Sandstone. The well, which was originally driland cased much deeper, will be used for the demonstration to injeCO2 into the deeper Navajo Sandstone.

GORDON

CREEK

0 5 Mil

QPC

Gas fields Coal-burning power pla

Natural gas pipeline (Questar Pipeline Co

6 SURVEYNOTES


9/16

Brigham Young University student Walter Harston (left) and the author examiniWhite Rim Sandstone in Black Box Canyon, San Rafael Swell. At Gordon Creethe White Rim contains CO2 that will be produced for the demonstration.

12,000-oot production well to produce CO2 rom the PermianWhite Rim Sandstone or the commercial-scale demonstration.CO2 rom the production well will be transported by pipeline toan injection well where the gas will be compressed into a high-

density liquid and injected down an existing cased well into theJurassic Navajo Sandstone reservoir, a saline aquier about 8500eet below the surace. A third well will be used to help monitorthe pressure and gas saturation in the deep ormation; seismicdata will be used to monitor the growth and distribution o theresulting CO2 plume. A maximum o 1 million tons o CO2 peryear will be injected or up to our years, ollowed by several yearso monitoring.

The UGS has been a member o the SWP since its inception in2003. In an earlier project, we identiied and characterized naturally occurring CO2 deposits throughout Utah to better understand the seal and reservoir properties needed or a potentia

storage site. Next, we characterized reservoirs throughout thestate, identiying saline aquiers having CO2 storage potential aswell as several speciic sites or possible commercial development or the NETL Carbon Sequestration Atlas o the U.S. Wewere also a major contributor to the reservoir characterizationor the CO2-enhanced oil recovery project at Greater Aneth ieldFor the current study, we will be leading the geologic characterization o the Navajo and White Rim Sandstone reservoirs andoverlying seal ormations at Gordon Creek ield and throughouCarbon and Emery Counties.

The Gordon Creek demonstration will be watched closelythroughout the world by scientists and policy makers involvedin climate issues. A successul commercial-scale demonstrationat Gordon Creek ield could provide long-term beneit to Utahscoal and power generation industries and possibly lead to thedevelopment o a new carbon sequestration industry in Utah.

A ull list o the SWP partners and additional inormation abouSWP activities can be ound at http://southwestcarbonpartnership.org.

Geologic formations at Gordon Creek gas eld. For the demonstration, CO2 will be produced from the WhiteSandstone and the gas will be injected into the Navajo Sandstone. Seals prevent the gas from migrating upwGordon Creek eld produces methane gas from the Ferron Sandstone. The Kaibab Formation may contain Csome areas of the eld but is a seal in other areas. Depths (formations tops) are from the Gordon Creek Unit 1 w

Perio

dFormation/Member

Depth

(feet)

CRETACEOUS

JURASSIC

TRIASSIC

PERM.

Mancos

Shale

Blue Gate Sh Mbr

Ferron Ss Mbr

Tununk Sh Mbr

Dakota Sandstone

Cedar Mountain Formation

0

3250

3668

4025

4120

Morrison Formation 4460

Summerville Formation 5895Curtis Formation 6275

Entrada Formation 6585

Carmel Formation 7582

Temple Cap Formation 8437

Navajo Sandstone 8542

Kayenta Formation 8793

Wingate Sandstone 8916

Chinle Formation 9267

Moenkopi Formation 9520

Kaibab Formation 10,890

White Rim Sandstone

Methane Producer Seal

Potential CO2Storage Reservoir

CO2 Source

11,135

Block diagram showing terrestrial and geologic sequestration. Geologic sequestration can be oil and gas elds, unmineable coal beds, and saline aquifers such as the Navajo Sandstone. Colorado Geological Survey, 2007, Resource Series 45.

JANUARY2012 7


10/16

By Jim Davis

Great Salt Lake has reef-like structures thatresemble coral and are often called coral, yet they

are not true coral. While true coral is an animal,Great Salt Lake coral is blue-green algae (cyanobac-

teria). These algae build bulbous sedimentary rockstructures known by various names: algal biohermsand stromatolites are two of the most common.

Stromatolites, which are among the oldest fossil evidenceof life on Earth, dominated the shallow seas for billions of

years. Still forming today, stromatolites (pronounced str MAT o lites) are limited to a few locations around the world that

Glad You AskedIs There Coral in

Great Salt Lake?

0 5 Miles

Explanation

4200 (avg. lake level)

stromatolite areas

Great Salt Lake

Bear RiverBay

Spring Bay

FarmingtonBay

Brigham City

Ogden

Salt LakeCity

OgdenBay

AntelopeIsland

StansburyIsland

OquirrhMountains

Lakeside

PromontoryMountains

Wasatch

Ran

ge

CarringtonIsland

BadgerIsland

Hat Island

Cub IslandGunnisonIsland

Strongs Knob

DolphinIsland

FremontIsland

Egg Island

White Rock

LittleMountain

Mountains

Farmington

Weber River

Jorda

nRive

r

Bear

R iver

Rozel Point

Railroad causeway

Stromatolite areas in Great Salt Lake. Although stromatolitesin the north arm of the lake can be seen, their cyanobacteriacolonies no longer exist due to salinities that are about doubleor triple that of the south arm, a condition created when therailroad causeway was constructed in 1959. Map modied fromEardley, 1938; Gwynn and Murphy, 1980.

are inhospitable to other organisms that might otherwiseoutcompete or consume them. These locations are typically shallow, warm, hypersaline waters such as closedbasin lakes where there is no outow, warm springs, orrestricted marine embayments.

Stromatolites are composed of limestone (calcium carbonate) and dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate)Other types of stromatolites, depending on the organisms that create them and the environment in which theylive, can be rich in silica, iron, or manganese. Althoughvarious algae are cited worldwide as contributors tostromatolite formation, the dominant algae in Great SaltLake is a cyanobacteria of the genus Aphanothece.

Great Salt Lake is ideal for stromatolites, and is home tosome of the most extensive reefs of living stromatoliteson Earth. The lakes briny environment precludes organisms that would ordinarily graze or browse on nutritious

stromatolites or burrow and bore into them. Additionallya lack of animals minimizes stirring of sediments fromthe lake bed that would otherwise blanket stromatolitesfrom sunlight. The absence of plants and scarcity ofother algae on the lake oor also reduce competition fornutrients and space.

Most Great Salt Lake stromatolites are broad, circularand domal in shape, measuring around one to threefeet across and four to eight inches high. The largestwas measured at 12 feet in diameter and 3.5 feet tallBecause stromatolites are photosynthetic, their distribution is limited to shallow, sunlit waters of which GreatSalt Lake possesses vast tracts adjacent to its shoreline

and numerous islands. They are most observable whenlake level is near average (4200 feet) or lower and afterplanktonic algae have been grazed out by brine shrimpmaking the water more transparent.

8 SURVEYNOTES


11/16

Stromatolites grow by accretion from chemical precipitates,particularly calcium carbonate, and by the inclusion of sedi-ments that settle out of the water column. Great Salt Lakeprovides plenty of calcium carbonate because it is a closed-basin lake that concentrates elements through evaporation,and the lake has considerable areas of calcium-laden lime-stone and dolomite in its drainage basin.

The process of stromatolite formation begins with mat-likeaccumulations of gelatinous, mucous-covered lamen-tous strands of algaeprocient trappers of sediment.Metabolism of algae and other microorganisms, such asbacterial decomposers, along with water agitation and tem-perature uctuations, drive carbon dioxide out of the water.Removal of carbon dioxide raises the pH, which triggersthe precipitation of calcium carbonate. The calcium car-bonate is then integrated with the algal mats and cements

A sliced stromatolite from Rozel Point, Great Salt Lake, measuring aboutseven inches across, shows a porous structure and contorted laminations.Voids such as these hold hydrocarbons in massive deposits off the coast ofBrazil. Photo by Michael Vanden Berg

UGS geologist Tom Chidsey holds a small, bleached-out (no livingorganisms) stromatolite near Stansbury Island, Great Salt Lake.Photo by Michael Vanden Berg.

A stromatolite reef emerges from Great Salt Lake near Hat Island in Sep-tember, 2007, when lake levels were nearly ve feet below the average of4200 feet. Photo by Jim Van Leeuwen, courtesy of the Utah Division ofWildlife Resources, Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program.

A Great Salt Lake stromatolite was donated to the UGS in the1990s and is housed at the Utah Core Research Center. Periodicsaline spray keeps it healthy, green, and vibrant. The stromatolitemeasures 16 inches in diameter and weighs almost 40 pounds.

the sediments. These physical and biological processes work toenlarge the stromatolite in laminar fashionthe rock grows inne-banded layers.

Since the 2006 discovery of a substantial oil play off the coast ofBrazil, stromatolites have created a buzz in the petroleum industryIn the Brazilian play, petroleum occupies the voids within theporous, stromatolitic rock formed in an ancient lake at the timeAfrica and South America were beginning to break apart, some150 million years ago. Geologists are looking to modern Great SalLake stromatolites as an analogy for the ancient ones that now holdoil. One of the largest oil elds in the Uinta Basin, so far producingnearly a million barrels of oil, is sourced from an ancient reef ofstromatolites that resided in a large lake.

JANUARY2012 9


12/16

Far out in Utahs west desert, 25 milesrom the Nevada border, is a solitary clus-

ter o hills called The Honeycombs, alsoknown as the Honeycomb Hills. Rising justa ew hundred eet above the surround-

ing landscape, the humble Honeycombsare overshadowed by neighboring GreatBasin mountain ranges. The hills barely

draw notice, until examined up close. Theirrough and craggy rocksmostly gray but

also red, orange, lavender, and pinkarepermeated with hollows ranging rompea-sized pits to alcoves large enough toshelter a horse and rider. The pattern o

the hollows and the thin walls that sepa-rate them resemble the hexagonal cellularstructures o beehives that give The Hon-

eycombs their name.

GeologicInformation

The distinctive appearance o the rocks atThe Honeycombs results rom a processknown as honeycomb weathering, alsocalled cavernous or alveolar weathering.This type o weathering produces rock rid-dled with cavities known as taoni, givingthe rock a texture described as lace rock,stone retwork, or stone lattice. Pitting inthe stone can be nestedsmaller cavi-ties within larger ones that are themselves

within larger ones. This type o weather-ing is typically ound on inclined or verti-cal rock aces and occurs worldwide at alllatitudes. Honeycomb weathering is anespecially common eature on cli aces indeserts and along seacoasts.

Honeycomb weathering is likely a combi-nation o physical and biological actors.Salt weathering is oten citedaccount-ing or the prevalence o the weathering ea-tures at ocean and desert localesby way

o pressurization in rock pores rom saltcrystal growth, hydration, or decay

through chemical processes romsalts such as halite, gypsum,

epsomite, sylvite, and mira-bilite. Other mechanismsthat contribute to hon-eycomb eatures includeinternal characteristics othe rock such as beddingplanes and rock heteroge-neity, and external actors

such as microclimate (wind and air pressure, humidity, solar radiation, rost actionand thermal stress). Microorganisms suchas algae and ungi on the rock and withinrock pores protect the thin walls betweenthe cavities and preserve the seeminglydelicate taoni. Honeycomb weathering candevelop within a human time rame, emerging and enlarging on rock walls and stonemonuments in less than a century. Taoneatures orm in a wide variety o rock typesincluding rhyolite at The Honeycombs, butypically is seen on sandstone and granite.

The Honeycombs were created by a volcanic episode 4.7 million years ago. Duringthe eruption, magma oozed upwardthrough limestone and older volcanicrocks, culminating in an explosive eruption o ash and rock ragments ollowed bylava lows. Forty eet o tu (consolidatedash and other volcanic debris) underliesa lava dome o 200 million cubic yards otopaz-rich rhyolitic lava. The lava dome hassince been eroded to orm the hills, and thecentral magma conduit is exposed withinThe Honeycombs. The Honeycombs are a

An outcrop of lace rock; orange lichen covers the rocks at left. Out-crop is about 40 feet high.

The Honeycombs

Juab County, Utah

GeoSights

by Jim Davis

View of The Honeycombs from the Weiss Higlooking to the north-northwest. The Honeycinclude one large elongate and irregularly shhill (right) and one small, circular hill (farunofcially named Big Honeycomb HillBell Hill, respectively. The hills are the eroremnant of a single lava dome.

10 SURVEYNOTES


13/16

Erosion has exposed the central magma conduit with its vertical,concentric, and contorted layering or ow-banding of rhyolite.

Honeycomb weathering on a rhyolite boulder in the northern part of The Honeycom

young component o a swath o volcanism stretching east-ward rom Nevada through Juab County and into southernTooele County. This zone is reerred to as the beryllium beltof western Utah (also the Deep CreekTintic belt) because onumerous occurrences o beryllium mineralization.

The Honeycombs have enticed geologists because o therocks distinctive geochemical signatureenriched in ele-ments such as beryllium, luorine, uranium, tin, rubidium,thorium, cesium, yttrium, and lithium. Since the discoveryo beryllium here in the early 1960s, various companies haveexplored or this metal as well as uranium. In 2010, all min-

eral claims at The Honeycombs were acquired by the Canada-based gold and rare earth metal company Redhill ResourcesCorporation. The Honeycombs have been dubbed a minia-ture Spor Mountain, in reerence to a mountain o similarorigin 20 miles to the east. At Spor Mountain, the majority othe worlds beryllium is produced rom Earths largest knowndeposit. Currently, The Honeycombs are a Bureau o LandManagement public community pit or collecting the sought-ater lace rock that is desirable or display in aquariums.

0 5 Miles

Delta

TheHoneycombs

FISHS

PRINGSRANGE

SPO

R

MOU

NTAIN

WeissHighw

ay

NPaved Road

Dirt Road

Bell Hill

Big

Honeycomb

Hill

WeissH

ighway

0 3000 feet

From U.S. Highway 6 between Delta and Lynndyl, go weState Route 174 (Brush Highway). Ater about 41 milesabout 3miles ater passing the sign or the Topaz Mou

turno, turn let onto a well-graded dirt road (Weiss Highwhich is marked by a sign or Trout Creek, Callao, Gold HilIbapah. Ater about 30 miles you will see The Honeycoa ew hundred eet o to the right (east) o the Weiss Hway. Several dirt roads lead to the hills: the southern roadaround to the back o the hills (east side) and then contion a ew hundred yards as a our-wheel-drive high-clearroad, the middle road goes to the southern side o the and the northern road begins just ater passing Bell Hilends on the north side o the hills. Be sure to have a ull tagasoline, ood and water, a spare tire, and emergency supas services are distant rom The Honeycombs. ContacFillmore Bureau o Land Management Field Oice or inormation and current conditions at (435) 743-3100.

How to get there

UsefulMaps: Fish Springs 30' x 60' quadrangle(1:100,000 scale), Middle Range North7.5' quadrangle (1:24,000 scale)

Location: N 39 42.47' W 113 34.73' W

Elevation: approximately 5100 to 5686 eet

JANUARY2012 11


14/16

A new online catalog is now available orthe Utah Department o Natural ResourcesLibrary. The new system will allow or greatersearching capabilities and provide access tosome o the libraries's collection online. UseQuick Search to ind items by title, author,subject, or series, or use the Advanced Searchunction to search using multiple ields atonce. Contact the Utah DNR Librarian withquestions about how to use the new system at

801-537-3333 or [email protected].

The Energy and Minerals Program welcomes PeterNielsen as a geologist. He has an M.S. in Geology rom BrighamYoung University, and previously worked as a consultant in hydrology and geochemistry, a computer modeler, and aresource evaluator or coal mines.

In September, the Energy and Minerals Program bid arewell to ValerieDavis, who retired. LisaBrown resigned assecretary or the Mapping and Geologic Hazards Programs ater eight years o service. JimOllerton, a geologist withthe Geologic Hazards Program, let in November to pursue other interests.

The UGS congratulates TedArnow (retired, USGS), this years recipi-ent o the Lehi F. Hintze Award! Ted had a distinguished proessionalcareer in the groundwater and hydrology disciplines in Utah. One o

Teds most signiicant achievements was the extraordinary increase inproductivity o the USGS water-resource program, which collaboratedwith the State Department o Natural Resources in the publication o21 major technical reports. Now 90, Ted has also been a lie-long sup-porter o the geologic community; he was one o the ounding mem-bers o the Utah Geological Association and the author o its Constitu-tion. Ted is a well-deserving winner o the Lehi Hintze award.

Named or the irst recipient, Dr. Lehi F. Hintze o Brigham Young Uni-versity, the Lehi Hintze Award was established in 2003 by the UtahGeological Association and the UGS to recognize outstanding contri-butions to the understanding o Utah geology.

2011 Lehi Hintze Award

New Online Library Catalog

Employee News

SURVEYNEWS

UGS Board Chair DonHarris resigned in September when he accepted a new job and moved out o state. TheGovernor appointed MarcEckels as his replacement. Marc is chie operating oicer, vice president, and a directoro Wind River Resources Corporation and Wind River II Corporation. He has considerable oil and gas experience romthe Uinta Basin, as well as diverse minerals exploration and engineering geophysics experience.

UGS Board News

12 SURVEYNOTES


15/16

Paleoseismology o Utah, Volume 21Compilation o198283 seismic saety investigation reports o eight SC

dams in southwestern Utah (Hurricane and Washingtonault zones) and low-sun-angle aerial photography,Washington and Iron Counties, Utah, and MohaveCounty, Arizona, compiled by Steve D. Bowman, Brenna

W. Young, and Corey D. Unger, 6 DVD set (4 p., 2 pl., 78photographs [contains GIS data]), OFR-583 $49

Interim geologic map o the west part o the Panguitch

30' x 60' quadrangle, Garfeld, Iron, and Kane CountieUtahYear 3 progress report, by Robert F. Biek, John J.

Anderson, Peter D. Rowley, and Florian Maldonado, CD(107 p., 1 pl.), 1:65,000 scale, OFR-585 $17

Interim geologic map o the Provo 30' x 60' quadrangleSalt Lake, Utah, and Wasatch Counties, by Kurt N.Constenius, Donald L. Clark, and J. Buck Ehler, DVD (422 pl. [contains GIS data]), scale 1:62,500,OFR-586DM $24

Interim geologic map o the Johnson Lakes quadrangleKane County, Utah, and Coconino County, Arizona, by

Janice M. Hayden, 13 p., 1 pl., 1:24,00 scale,OFR-584 $13

NEWPUBLICATIONS

Last October the UGS celebrated its 10th year of hosting students forEarth Science Week (ESW).* In these 10 years nearly 7,000 studentshave attended! The 4th graders we wowed in 2001 may now be sopho-mores in college.

In 2011, 680 students from seven schools rotated through five 15-minuteactivity stations where they observed erosion and deposition on a stream

table; learned about the properties of rocks and minerals in the mineralidentification room, in the rock talk room, and at the gold panningtroughs; and studied dinosaurs in our paleontology prep lab. Thanksto numerous volunteers from various agencies, universities, corpora-tions, and organizations, this year was another resounding success, asevidenced by the following comments taken from thank-you notes:

Geologic map o the White Hills quadrangle, WashingtonCounty, Utah, by Janice M. Hayden, CD (11 p., 2 pl.[contains GIS data]), scale 1:24,000, ISBN 978-1-55791-847-5, M-250DM $2495

Landslide hazards in Utah, by Gregg Beukelman, 4 p.,PI-98 FREE

Utahs Energy Landscape2010 update, by Michael D.Vanden Berg, 45 p., ISBN 1-978-1-55791-851-2,C-113 $595

Coal resources o the Muley Canyon Sandstone Membero the Mancos Shale, Henry Mountains coalfeld, Utah,by Sonja Heuscher, CD (18 p.), ISBN 978-1-55791-852-9,SS-138 $1495

Geologic map o the Tompson Point quadrangle, KaneCounty, Utah, and Coconino County, Arizona, by JaniceM. Hayden, CD (2 pl. [contains GIS data]), scale 1:24,000,ISBN 978-55791-830-7, M-249DM $2495

LANDSLIDE HAZARDS IN UTAH

ByGregg Beukelman

Slid e Surface

TensionCracks

Toe

F la n k

MinorScarp

MainScarp

Tran slation al lan d slid e

Toe

Rotation al lan d slid e

Sp ee dL imit65

R o c k f al l T o p p le

CreepDeb ris avalan ch e Earth f low

a a a

Block slid e

Deb ris f low

Fig u re3.T h e sesc h e ma tic si llu stra te th ema jo rtyp e so fla n d slid emo ve me n tth ata re described in th epreviouspages .Fo ra d d i tional in fo rma tio no n these pro c e sse sa n dwhere to fin dphotos, p le a se se e h e reto Go Fo ro re I n fo rma tio n a tth ee n do fth isfa c tsh e e t.

Diagramofanidealizedlandslideshowingcommonly usednomenclatureforits parts.

Majortypes oflandslides andtheirphysicalcharacteristics(fromU.S.GeologicalSurvey FactSheet2004-3072[http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2004/3072/fs-2004-3072.html]).

Landslides:SeriousandCommonGeologicHazards

According to the U.S.GeologicalSurvey,landslidesare aserious geologichazardcommonto almost everystate inourcoun-try.Nationwide,estimated lossesfromdam-aging landslidesexceed $2 billionannually.Annuallosses fromlandslide damage inUtahvary,but are ofteninthe millionsofdollars;documented lossesin2001 ex-ceeded $3 millionand estimated lossesin2005 exceeded $10 million.

TypesofLandslides

The termlandsliderefersto adownslopemovement ofrock,soil,and/ororganic de-brisunderthe inuence ofgravity.Specictypesoflandslidesare classied bythe ma-terialinvolved and type ofmovement.Mate-rialina landslide canbe rock,soil,organicdebrisora combinationofthese materials,and movement typesinclude fall,topple,slide,and ow.Typicallandslidesin Utahinclude slides,rock falls,debrisows,andearthows.

InUtah,manylandslides move slowly,butsome move quicklywithdevastating results.Debrisows,whichare atype oflandslidehaving veryhighwatercontent,cantravelatspeedsgreaterthan30 to 50 milesperhour.

CausesofLandslides

Landslidescan be naturallyoccurring orhuman-caused.Landslides oftenresultfromarise ingroundwaterlevels causedbyincreased precipitation,rapid snowmelt,orbyhumancauses suchaslandscape ir-rigationorleakage fromwater-conveyancestructures(reservoirs,ponds, pipelines).Modicationofaslope that resultsinover-

It was a VERY, and I mean very, cool trip.(J.E. Cosgriff student)

*ESW activities at the UGS started in 2001 but were canceled in 2008 due to construction atthe Utah Core Research Center, making this the 10th ESW.

Teacher's Corner Earth Science Week 20a 10 Year Mileston

by Mark Milligan

As a final note, for students such as these whoare anxious to return, UGS will host the 11thannual ESW on October 912, 2012.

Best field trip EVER. (Hawthorne Elementary student)

My favorite activity was the [stream table] model. Sadly, myRange Rover and beach house were washed away.

(J.E. Cosgriff student)

Thank you for sharing the wonders of the world. I never knew thatthere would be so much fun and learning in science.

(Hawthorne Elementary student)

It is the very best field trip in the valley,and we were so lucky to go.

(Sunrise Elementary teacher)

My students had an AMAZING experienceparticipating in all of the Earth Science Week

learning activities yesterday. The staffsenthusiasm and the spectacular specimens werthe foundation of solid science learning. Thankfor making the activities so interactive and forhelping to challenge student thinking.The Rock Cycle poster is the best Ive seen.

(Hawthorne Elementary teacher)

I cannot wait to come again. I loved it.(J.E. Cosgriff student).

JANUARY2012 13


16/16

PRSRT STD

U.S. Postage

PAID

Salt Lake City, UT

Permit No. 4728

UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

1594 W. North Temple, Suite 3110

Box 146100

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6100

Address service requestedSurvey Notes

NATURALRESOURCESMA P & BOOKSTOR E

mapstore.utah.gov1594WNorthTemple

SaltLakeCity,UT84116

801-537-3320or1-888-UTAHMAP

MondayFriday 8:00 a m 5:00 p m

FOLLOWUS!

UGSBlog

geology.utah.gov/blog

UGSFacebook

UGSTwitter

The Utah Geological Survey recently released

an interim geologic map covering ~1800 squaremiles o north-central Utah, rom Strawberry Reservoir on theeast, through the Provo area and Utah Valley, to Utah Lake and the Lake Mountainson the west, and rom Point o the Mountain and Deer Creek Reservoir south to Payson.

The map covers the populated Wasatch Front and Interstate 15 corridor, as well as the less populated backvalley area to theeast. This new map depicts the regional geology in unprecedented detail, and is the irst release in color o the backvalleypart o the map. The open-ile report contains explanatory inormation, including a 40-page booklet describing map unitsand providing geologic reerences, and a second plate with lithologic columns, correlation diagrams, age-data tables, anindex to geologic mapping, and geologic symbols. This DVD release also includes digital geologic data in PDF ormat andGIS (Geographic Inormation Systems) ormat.

Interim Geologic Mapof the Provo 30' x 60'Quadrangle, Salt Lake,Utah, and WasatchCounties, Utah

AvailableattheNaturalResourcesMap&BookstoreOpen-FileReport586DM

$24.95

Survey Notes: January 2012

Documents

Transcript of Survey Notes: January 2012