Timpanogos Cave National Monument Geologic Resources
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Timpanogos Cave National Monument Geologic Resource Evaluation Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2006/013 THIS PAGE: Chimes room - urchin, Timpanogos Cave NM. Photos by: NPS Timpanogos Cave National Monument Geologic Resource Evaluation Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2006/013 Geologic Resources Division Natural Resource Program Center P.O. Box 25287 Denver, Colorado 80225 July 2006 U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Natural Resource Publication series addresses natural resource topics that are of interest and applicability to a broad readership in the National Park Service and to others in the management of natural resources, including the scientific community, the public, and the NPS conservation and environmental constituencies. Manuscripts are peer-reviewed to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and is designed and published in a professional manner. Natural Resource Reports are the designated medium for disseminating high priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. Examples of the diverse array of reports published in this series include vital signs monitoring plans; "how to" resource management papers; proceedings of resource management workshops or conferences; annual reports of resource programs or divisions of the Natural Resource Program Center; resource action plans; fact sheets; and regularly-published newsletters. Views and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect policies of the National Park Service. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the National Park Service. Printed copies of reports in these series may be produced in a limited quantity and they are only available as long as the supply lasts. This report is also available from the Geologic Resource Evaluation Program website (http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/inventory/ gre_publications) on the internet, or by sending a request to the address on the back cover. Please cite this publication as: Thornberry-Ehrlich, T. 2006. Timpanogos Cave National Monument Geologic Resource Evaluation Report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2006/013. National Park Service, Denver, Colorado. NPS D-30, July 2006 Table of Contents List of Figures .............................................................................................................. iv Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose of the Geologic Resource Evaluation Program ............................................................................................3 Geologic Setting .........................................................................................................................................................3 Geologic Issues............................................................................................................. 6 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................6 Cave Management and Restoration ...........................................................................................................................6 Water Issues...............................................................................................................................................................7 Slope Processes.........................................................................................................................................................8 Seismicity ...................................................................................................................................................................8 Mine Issues ................................................................................................................................................................9 Speleothems.............................................................................................................................................................10 Streamflow, Channel Morphology and Sediment Load.............................................................................................10 Paleontological Resources .......................................................................................................................................11 Wind Erosion and Deposition ...................................................................................................................................11 General Geologic Issues and Potential Research Topics.........................................................................................11 Geologic Features and Processes............................................................................. 13 Charleston Fault Zone ..............................................................................................................................................13 Cave Formation and Speleothems ...........................................................................................................................13 Map Unit Properties .................................................................................................... 22 Geologic History.......................................................................................................... 27 Glossary....................................................................................................................... 36 References................................................................................................................... 39 Appendix A: Geologic Map Graphic .......................................................................... 43 Appendix B: Scoping Summary................................................................................. 45 Attachment 1: Geologic Resource Evlauation Products CD TICA Geologic Resource Evaluation Report iii List of Figures Figure 1. Map of the major faults and other features surrounding Timpanogos Cave National Monument....................5 Figure 2. Map of Timpanogos Cave system.................................................................................................................16 Figure 3. Photograph of frostwork................................................................................................................................17 Figure 4. Photograph of mineralization and speleothems ............................................................................................18 Figure 5. Photograph of stalagtites ..............................................................................................................................18 Figure 6. A drop saturated with dissolved minerals......................................................................................................19 Figure 7. Photograph of soda straw and helictite speleothems....................................................................................20 Figure 8. Photograph of two soda straw speleothems .................................................................................................21 Figure 9. Generalized graphic overview of geologic evolution of Utah.........................................................................31 Figure 10. Geologic time scale.....................................................................................................................................32 Figure 11. Generalized cross section of American Fork Canyon. ................................................................................33 Figure 12. Major uplifts and basins present during the Pennsylvanian period .............................................................34 Figure 13. Segments of the Wasatch fault ...................................................................................................................35 iv NPS Geologic Resources Division Executive Summary This report has been developed to accompany the digital geologic map produced by Geologic Resource Evaluation staff for Timpanogos Cave National Monument in Utah. It contains information relevant to resource management and scientific research. Geology and geologic processes provide the foundation An effort was launched in 1993 to remove some 250 of the ecosystem at Timpanogos Cave National tons of artificial fill in Hansen Cave, left from the Monument. Extreme relief dominates this landscape construction of the tunnel connecting Hansen Cave where the American Fork River has cut down through with Middle Cave. This was done to restore the the layers of rock concurrent with regional uplift of the Hansen Cave Entrance to its natural state, restore Wasatch Mountain Range. The prominent scarp of the hydrologic flow paths, and to improve the aesthetic Wasatch normal fault defines the western margin of the quality of the room (Horrocks 1995). Restoring the Wasatch Mountains. This dynamic area is geologically