Utah Geological Survey

Utah Geological Survey Provides timely scientific information about Utah’s geologic environment, resources, and hazards.

Welcome to the Utah Geological Survey page, a growing online community where people can share information and experiences about Utah’s geologic environment. The Utah Geological Survey provides timely scientific information about Utah’s geologic environment, resources, and hazards. While this is an open forum, we ask that all who contribute do so in a manner that is respectful of others. S

ee our comments policy here: https://naturalresources.utah.gov/social-media-comments-policy

You participate at your own risk, taking personal responsibility for your comments, your username, and any information provided. The Utah Department of Natural Resources Map and Bookstore is operated by the Utah Geological Survey; a division of the Department of Natural Resources.

Photo of the Week: Bell Canyon, Emery CountyPhotographer: Elisabeth StimmelWell-developed honeycomb weathering is visibl...
05/28/2026

Photo of the Week: Bell Canyon, Emery County
Photographer: Elisabeth Stimmel
Well-developed honeycomb weathering is visible in the Navajo Sandstone walls of Bell Canyon in the San Rafael Swell. This distinctive type of weathering is most often found in salt-rich environments where salt crystals form in rock pores, weakening the rock, which is then eroded by wind and water.

Happy final Wetland Wednesday of 2026!The last two wetland functions we’ll cover are wildlife habitat and recreation. We...
05/27/2026

Happy final Wetland Wednesday of 2026!

The last two wetland functions we’ll cover are wildlife habitat and recreation. Wetlands provide crucial habitat for a diversity of species, from large mammals like moose to small invertebrates like dragonflies. It is estimated that at least 80% of Utah’s wildlife rely on wetlands at some point during their lifetimes. Why are wetlands such good habitats? Wetlands are a transitional area between deep water and dry land, and provide benefits of both to a variety of animals. They are unique systems where terrestrial animals like deer or nesting birds can thrive alongside aquatic animals like fish and amphibians. Waters in a wetland are often shallow and warm, and can drop nutrient-rich sediments that build up into rich organic soils over time. This mix of factors creates the most productive ecosystem type on earth, and the explosive plant growth provides food for a multitude of animals in a very small space. These systems are especially important for the millions of migratory birds that utilize the Great Salt Lake’s wetlands as they travel. The amount of wildlife and plant growth in wetlands is one of the many reasons they are also great for recreation. Duck hunting and fishing are popular wetland activities that also boost our economy in the form of hunting and fishing license fees. Other recreation opportunities include canoeing or kayaking, birdwatching, and photography.

The Utah Wildlife Action Plan was created to help protect our sensitive wildlife species, and notes that wetlands and saline lakes are important habitat types. Learn more at: https://wildlife.utah.gov/uwap

Building off the enduring secrets of ancient Roman concrete, geologists are mapping natural pozzolan deposits across Uta...
05/26/2026

Building off the enduring secrets of ancient Roman concrete, geologists are mapping natural pozzolan deposits across Utah as a sustainable alternative to traditional cement. By replacing energy-intensive cement with these naturally reactive volcanic rocks, the construction industry could significantly reduce its global carbon footprint while adding resilience to infrastructure projects. Learn more in the latest issue of Survey Notes–https://ow.ly/gjHK50Z1MgW

Photo of the Week: Mesa Arch, San Juan CountyPhotographer: Kayla D. SmithLocated in the Island in the Sky District of Ca...
05/21/2026

Photo of the Week: Mesa Arch, San Juan County
Photographer: Kayla D. Smith
Located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, this iconic arch was sculpted in the Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone and is a window into Buck Canyon, which features Washerwoman Arch and Monster Tower.

Happy Wetland Wednesday! Flood protection is another important function wetlands provide for us. Flooding hazards have c...
05/20/2026

Happy Wetland Wednesday! Flood protection is another important function wetlands provide for us.

Flooding hazards have caused significant damage to structures and property, resulting in at least 101 fatalities in Utah since 1847. Sixteen major flood events since 1923 have caused over $1.3 trillion in damage, and to date, flooding is Utah’s most costly geologic hazard to the economy. How do wetlands help? Wetlands can both slow down and hold back floodwater. The plants in a wetland create drag, slowing the flow, and therefore reducing the power of potentially destructive floods. Many wetlands are also bowl or scoop-shaped and can hold floodwaters like a sponge, reducing flood volume downstream. The captured water then slowly infiltrates through the wetland soil and back into the riverbed, which also helps sustain rivers and streamflows later into the summer. Without wetlands, fast-moving floodwaters can more easily erode soil and damage homes, roads, and other structures.

Did you know UGS helps map wetlands? Mapped wetland data can be used to estimate functions that protect against flooding. Explore our interactive wetland mapping storymap here: https://ow.ly/OLG150Z1Th4

05/19/2026

𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗨𝘁𝗮𝗵: what's the difference between a Gigawatt and a Gigawatt-hour?

No worries if you're not sure — most people aren't 😅. Here's the easiest way to think about it:

🚿 𝗔 𝗚𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘁𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 — 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲.
🛁 𝗔 𝗚𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘁𝘁-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘁𝘂𝗯 — 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱.

Same idea with electricity. Gigawatts measure the rate. Gigawatt-hours measure the total. Utah Geological Survey

Utah generates power from natural gas, solar, wind, geothermal, and more. When you see us talk about GW and GWh, now you'll know exactly what we mean.
Drop a 💡 if this was helpful — and share it with someone who's always wondered!

The Black Rock Desert is a volcanic area, or field, covering more than 700 square miles in eastern Millard County. Episo...
05/19/2026

The Black Rock Desert is a volcanic area, or field, covering more than 700 square miles in eastern Millard County. Episodic volcanic activity has occurred here from a couple of million years ago up to a few centuries ago, leaving intriguing landforms and features, including volcanic cones, lava tubes, pressure ridges, and craters. Learn more about the Black Rock Desert in this GeoSight article. http://ow.ly/lWaO50GClgW

To accelerate energy development and research across the state, the UGS has launched newly upgraded, centralized digital...
05/18/2026

To accelerate energy development and research across the state, the UGS has launched newly upgraded, centralized digital portals for carbon storage and geothermal data. These interactive web applications consolidate decades of scattered subsurface data, making it easier for scientists and industry professionals to explore Utah’s vast energy potential. Learn more in the latest issue of Survey Notes–https://ow.ly/P5xg50Z18Tk

05/14/2026

New Map: Interim Geologic Map of the Summit Quadrangle, Iron County, Utah, by Tyler R. Knudsen, 19 p., 2 plates, scale 1:24,000, OFR-775DM. See publication details at: https://doi.org/10.34191/OFR-780DM

Happy Wetland Wednesday! Wetlands: the kidneys of the earth. One vital wetland function is cleaning contaminants from ou...
05/13/2026

Happy Wetland Wednesday! Wetlands: the kidneys of the earth. One vital wetland function is cleaning contaminants from our waterways.

Wetland plants create drag that slows water’s flow, helping sediments settle and increasing water clarity. Plant roots then anchor the soil in place, stabilizing it during high flow. Wetland plants and microbes also excel at removing extra nutrients from the water as they use them for food. Plant species like chairmaker’s bulrush and hardstem bulrush (pictured below) can even absorb and immobilize toxins and heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and chromium. Without this natural filtration, sediments pollute drinking water, clog storm drains, and reduce reservoir storage capacity. Extra nutrients can create oxygen-depleted zones in the water, killing fish, or grow thick algae mats that kill aquatic plants. Extra nutrients may also cause harmful algae blooms (cyanobacteria) which release cyanotoxins that are dangerous to humans and animals.

The health of our water and watersheds has become a major talking point across the state. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent through both the Watershed Restoration Initiative and Clean Water Act section 319 funds to improve our watershed health. Under the recently passed House Bill 509, the Utah Geological Survey will evaluate the impact of wetland loss on water quality.

Check out the wetland water chemistry data we’ve collected over the years in our Utah Wetland Data Explorer app–https://wetlandsdata.geology.utah.gov/water-chemistry

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