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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Papers from the University Studies series (The University of Nebraska) University Studies of the University of Nebraska 9-1951 Geology of the Gunnison Quadrangle, Utah William N. Gilliland University of Nebraska - Lincoln Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/univstudiespapers Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons Gilliland, William N., "Geology of the Gunnison Quadrangle, Utah" (1951). Papers from the University Studies series (The University of Nebraska). 55. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/univstudiespapers/55 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Studies of the University of Nebraska at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers from the University Studies series (The University of Nebraska) by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. GEOLOGY OF THE GUNNISO N QUADRANGLE, UTAH * * * WILLIAM N. GILLILAND UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STUDIES September 1951 NEW · SERIES NO.8 University of Nebraska Studies September 1951 GEOLOGY OF THE GUNNISON QUADRANGLE, UTAH * * * * WILLIAM N. GILLILAND NEW SERIES NO.8 PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY AT LINCOLN, NEBRASKA THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA SENATE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS OF UNIVERSITY STUDIES R. W. Goss, Chairman E. N. ANDERSON H. T. BATES K. H. FREEMAN R. W. FRANTZ \"'. G . LEAVITT F. A. LUNDY H. L. WEAVER BOARD OF UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS R. V. SHUMATE, Chairman K. O. BROADY F. A. LUNDY H. F. RHOADES F. W. HOOVER G. S. ROUND L. C. WIMBERLY EMILY SCHOSSBERGER, Secretary CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............ VII INTRODUCTION .............. IX GEOMORPHOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY. GEOMORPHOLOGY DRAINAGE ........................................... 7 CULTURE .. 8 STRATIGRAPHY .................... 10 GENERAL FEATURES 10 JURASSIC SYSTEM 10 ARAPIEN SHALE AND TWIST GULCH FORMATION, UN DIFFERENTIA TED 10 CRETACEOUS SYSTEM 15 PRICE RIVER FORMATION .. 15 CRETACEOUS AND TERTIARY SYSTEMS ....................... 20 NORTH HORN FORMATION .. .................. 20 TERTIARY SYSTEM ... ................. .. ....................................................... 25 FLAGSTAFF FORMATION .................... 25 COLTON FORMATION .................................... 33 GREEN RIVER FORMATION .................................. 37 CRAZY HOLLOW FORMATION ............... ............................................. 40 BALD KNOLL FORMATION :................... ..43 PYROCLASTICS AND ASSOCIATED SEDIMENTS ................ ........ 47 TERTIARY AND QUATERNARY SYSTEMS .......................... 50 AXTELL FORMATION .... ......................................... 50 QUATERNARY SYSTEM ..••..•..•...•.................................................•...•........•..•.... ~ VOLCANIC GRAVELS .. ................................................................. 53 BEACH SAND .................... .............................................................................. 54 RECENT ALLUVIUM ............................................................................................. 56 IGNEOUS ROCKS ................................................................................................................ 58 III STRUCTURE .......... 59 GENERAL FEAHJRES . ......... 59 VALLEY MOUNTAINS .... 59 GUNNISON PLATEAU .62 FOOTHILLS OF THE WASATCH PLATEAU ... 63 REDMOND HILLS ANTICLINE ................... 65 EPISODES OF FOLDING AND FAULTING. 67 GENERAL STATEMENT . .......... 67 MID-CRETACEOUS OROGENY . ............ 67 EARLY LARAMIDE OROGENY ............. 68 PRE-NORTH HORN (?) MOVEMENT ." . 72 PRE-f'LAGSTAFF MOVEMENT ............................... 73 NORMAL FAULTING AND ASSOCIATED DISTURBANCES. ............ 76 GEOLOGIC HISTORY .......... 78 ECONOMIC GEOLOGY 81 SALT ....................... 81 BENTONITE ................ 82 STONE ···... .... H.... ... 82 GRAVEL .............. 83 FUEL ..... .. 83 METALS .......... 84 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................. 85 LOCAL SECTIONS .... ..... 87 IV ILLUSTRATIONS FIGURE 1. INDEX MAP OF PART OF UTAH SHOWING LOCATION OF THE GUNNISON QUADRANGLE ........ ................. ..VIII FIGURE 2. MAP SHOWING PROBABLE EXTENT OF LAKE BONNE· VILLE IN CENTRAL SEVIER VALLEY, UTAH......... ............... 55 FIGURE 3. IDEALIZED SECTIONS ACROSS SEVIER AND ROUND VALLEYS ................ 75 TABLE 1. FORMATIONS IN THE GUNNISON QUADRANGLE... 11 TABLE 2. DIAGRAM SHOWING APPROXIMATE CORRELATION OF UPPER CRETACEOUS AND EARLY TERTIARY FORMATIONS OF CENTRAL UTAH WITH THOSE OF WYOMING. 16 PLATE 1. PANORAMA OF THE GUNNISON QUADRANGLE .................... 3 PLATE 2. FIGURE A-PANORAMA OF THE VALLEY MOUNTAINS AND VICINITY. FIGURE B-VERTICAL JURASSIC SALT BEDS 4 PLATE 3. FIGURE A-PRICE RIVER FORMATION IN MELLOR CANYON. FIGURE B-FLAGSTAFF·PRICE RIVER UNCONFORMITY IN MELLOR CANYON . ................ ................... ........................ ......... 21 PLATE 4. FIGURE A-NORTH HORN FORMATION IN DASTRUP CANYON. FIGURE B-BASAL UNITS OF FLAGSTAFF FORMATION IN HAYES CANYON . ... .......... ................. .... ..... ............. .................. ........ .. 22 PLATE 5. FIGURE A-UPPER UNITS OF THE FLAGSTAFF IN LONE CEDAR CANYON. FIGURE B-GREEN RIVER AND FLAGSTAFF HOGBACKS SOUTH OF WILLOW CREEK... .................... ..................... ......... 35 PLATE 6. FIGURE A-COLTON FORMATION IN THE NORTHERN VALLEY MOUNTAINS. FIGURE B-GREEN RIVER CUESTAS EAST OF GUNNISON ................ 36 PLATE 7. FIGURE A-GREEN RIVER FORMATION ON EAST SIDE OF VALLEY MOUNTAINS. FIGURE B-CRAZY HOLLOW FORMATION ............................................ 45 PLATE 8. FIGURE A-BALD KNOLL FORMATION. FIGURE B-BENTONITE HILL CAPPED BY MEXICAN ONyX ............... 46 PLA TE 9. COLUMNAR SECTIONS OF FORMATIONS IN THE VAL· LEY MOUNTAINS .................................... (IN POCKET) PLATE 10. STRUCTURE SECTIONS OF THE GUNNISON QUAD· RANGLE, UTAH ......... .............................................................. (IN POCKET) PLATE II. GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE GUNNISON QUADRANGLE, UTAH ...... .... ... ........ ... ... .... .. ... ......... .. ...... (IN POCKET) v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer is deeply indebted to the entire staff of the Department of Geology of The Ohio State University for the able assistance given him throughout the course of this work. Edmund M. Spieker has given most freely of his time to further the work. His interest in the many geologic problems of the region and his very extensive know­ ledge of Utah geology have been a constant aid and stimulation. He has read the manuscript and made many very helpful criticisms and suggestions. Carl A. Lamey and John W. Wells have given much help in the petrographic and paleontologic problems respectively. Richard P. Goldthwait has helped with the several problems in geomorphology. Eugene C. Reed and C. Bertrand Schultz, both of the University of Nebraska,_ have critically read the manuscript and offered valuable suggestions. Grateful acknowledgment is also made to the Department of Geology of The Ohio State University for the financial assistance and transportation furnished and to The Research Foundation for the Fellowship awarded for the year 1947-1948. Con­ siderable appreciation is due Siegfried J. Muessig and Howard D. Zeller who assisted with the field work during the summer of 1947. The writer was also assisted in the field work by Charlene Gilliland who typed and proof-read the manuscript. VII : i ,~ Ill" /I" 110· I \o{. L _. !:::,_n!- ______ _ 4'· J 3'· .1,. ,,,. FIGURE I-Index map of part of Utah showing location of Gunnison Quadrangle (stippled). (Modified after E. M. Spieker, 1946.) YJU INTRODUCTION The Gunnison Quadrangle is in central Utah approximately 130 miles south of Salt Lake City at the juncture of the Sevier and Sanpete valleys (see fig. 1). The quadrangle is bounded by 39°00' and 39° 15'N. Lat. and III °45' and 112°00' W. Long. Parts of both Sevier and San­ pete counties are included. The Gunnison Quadrangle is considered important geologically because it lies athwart the juncture of the Sevier and Sanpete valleys and includes portions of three major structural and physiographic units-the Wasatch Plateau, the Gunnison Plateau, and the Valley Mountains. Two of these, the Gunnison Plateau and the Valley Mountains, were virtually unknown geologically prior to the begin­ ning of this investigation. The present report is a description of the geology of the Gunnison Quadrangle. Wherever possible, an attempt has been made to show relations between these major geologic units and between them and adjacent regions. A minor structural and topographic feature, hereafter referred to as the Redmond Hills, ·is also included in the quadrangle. The data in the report pertaining to the Gunnison Quadrangle and adjacent areas to the west were collected by the writer chiefly during the summers of 1946 and 1947. Additional information was obtained during the summers of 1949 and 1950. The field work was supplemented by laboratory work during the academic years of 1946- 1947 and 1947-1948. EARLIER WORK IN THE AREA Only brief mention of the geology of the Gunnison Quadrangle (Gilliland, 1949) has been made prior to this time. However, con­ siderable information has been reported about central Utah east of Sevier Valley and Sanpete Valley. For many miles west of these valleys, little of the geology-except in widely separated areas-was known at the beginning of this work. Thus the present report represents a westward extension of known geology. The more important

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