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.

Rivers typically originate in the mountains, flow away from them in a more-or-less constant direction, enter increasingl...
06/04/2026

Rivers typically originate in the mountains, flow away from them in a more-or-less constant direction, enter increasingly broad river plains, and terminate at an ocean. But many rivers in Utah flow toward and across mountains, run contrary to valleys, make U-turns, and many never reach the ocean. This Glad You Asked article explores four of Utah's streams that run extraordinary courses. http://ow.ly/4r3G50FB2rd

Photo of the Week: Above the Virgin River valley, evening sun strikes outcrops of the Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone. Wea...
06/03/2026

Photo of the Week: Above the Virgin River valley, evening sun strikes outcrops of the Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone. Weathering patterns and alternating bands of chemically oxidized (red) and reduced (white) mineral cements combine to produce interesting patterns of texture and color.
Yant Flat, Washington County
Photographer: Gregg Beukelman

Discover Silver Reef, a historic Utah ghost town and one of the few places on Earth where miners extracted millions of d...
06/02/2026

Discover Silver Reef, a historic Utah ghost town and one of the few places on Earth where miners extracted millions of dollars of silver directly from sandstone. The unique district produced over 219 tons of silver before booming to a halt in 1888. Explore the geology and history of this southwestern Utah marvel in the latest GeoSights article–https://ow.ly/B95W50Z6Ijf

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

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