Exploration Branch Uranium Deposits Green Vein Mesa

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Exploration Branch Uranium Deposits Green Vein Mesa R1O-x14 -1- UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION DIVISION OF RAW MATERIALS EXPLORATION BRANCH URANIUM DEPOSITS GREEN VEIN MESA SAN RAFAEL SWELL, UTAH by Howard N. Jensen and Robert K. Pitman AL January 23, 1952 (Grand Junction, Colorado) RMO-$14 URANIUM DEPOSITS, GREEN VEIN MESA SAN RAFAEL SWELL, UTAH Names and Addresses of Property Owners: Elden Bryant Foster Nelson Ferron, Utah Ervin Olsen Thomas Worthen Lyman Staker Howard Staker ) Lawrence, Utah Martin Cullum Wallace Jensen Farne Price Owne Price ) Salt Lake City, Utah Consolidated Uranium Co. ) Frank Blackburn ) Clawson, Utah Bernard Iriart ) Price, Utah James Bean ) Nephi, Utah Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. metadcl393196 -3- URANIUM DEPOSITS, GREEN VEIN MESA SAN RAFAEL SWELL, UTAH CONTENTS Abstract . .page 4 Introduction . 4 History of Operations . 5 Production . 6 General Geology . 6 Ore Deposits . 6 Ore Controls . 7 Structure . 8 Drilling Recommendations . .. 8 Summary . 9 ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1 - Index Map, Green Vein Mesa, San Rafael Swell, Utah . 10 Plate I - Geologic Map, Green Vein Mesa, Emery Co., Utah . Appended II - Consolidated No. 1 and Green Vein No. 5 Mines, Emery Co., Utah . Appended -4- GJEB:HNJ:RKP URANIUM DEPOSITS, GREEN VEIN MESA SAN RAFAEL SWELL, UTAH ABSTRACT Green Vein Mesa in the southwestern part of the San Rafael Swell was examined to determine the extent of uranium mineralization. De- posits of uranium and vanadium in asphaltic and conglomeratic zones of the Shinarump formation are sufficiently large to mine profitably. INTRODUCTION Uranium was discovered on Green Vein Mesa in the spring of 1950. The study of this area was recommended in the summer of 1951, with the view of proving new reserves of uranium and vanadium. As a result an investigation program was carried on during June and November, 1951. Field methods used were: prospecting the rims with a Geiger-Mueller counter and scintillometer, studying the occurrence of the ores, sampling, subsurface mapping, and constructing a map from aerial photographs. Green Vein Mesa is in the southwestern part of the San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah, secs. 19, 20, 29, 30, 31, and 32, T. 23 S., R. 10 E., Salt Lake meridian (fig. 1). It is directly north of Family Butte and about 22 miles northwest of the steel granary on Tan Seep and is reached by traveling 39 miles south from Green River, Utah, over State Highway No. 24, which is a graded road, then 20 miles west over an unimproved road which passes near Temple Mountain and Tan Seep. This road forks one- fourth mile beyond the granary on Tan Seep and the right fork is followed northwest up a wash for 22 miles to Green Vein Mesa. The nearest railroad and source of supplies is Green River, Utah. An excellent airstrip and weather station, maintained by the CAA, is located at Hanksville, Utah, a distance of about 41 miles. The San Rafael Swell is located in a semiarid region. Temperatures range from 200 to 1100 F. Rainfall is from 5 to 10 inches annually. Snow- fall is seldom heavy enough in winter to hamper operations. The following literature concerns the Green Vein Mesa: Bain, George W., Impressions of the San Rafael Swell Area: USAEC, Grand Junction Exploration Branch Memorandum, August 7, 1951. -5- Everhart. Donald L., Comments on the Current Status of Geologic Studies of Uranium Deposits Within the Shinarump Formation: DRM, New York, August 21, 1951. Gilluly, James, Geology and Oil and Gas Prospects of Part of the San Rafael Swell, Utah: U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 806-c, 1929. Reyner, Millard L., Preliminary Report on Some Uranium Deposits Along the West Side of the San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah: USAEC Spokane Extension, Spokane, Washington, pp. 29-39, October 1950. HISTORY OF OPERATIONS Most of the claims on Green Vein Mesa were located in the spring of 1950. Limited development work was done soon after the area was staked, but the most extensive development was between May and November 1951. The Green Vein and Barter (not on map) groups of claims were located in the spring of 1950 by Elden Bryant, Foster Nelson, Ervin Olsen, and Thomas Worthen, all of Ferron, Utah, Frank Blackburn, Clawson, Utah; and Lyman Staker, Lawrence, Utah. Several small cuts were made on Green Vein Nos. 3 and 4 soon after they were staked. In the spring of 1951, all claims were leased to Magnolia Lead and Oil Company, Salt Lake City, Utah. Access roads, a camp, and an airstrip were constructed. Several hundred feet of the Moenkopi-Shinarump contact were stripped with a bulldozer on Green Vein Nos. 3 and 4 and short adits were driven on each. An adit, 100 feet long, was driven on the Green Vein No. 5 at a place called "Pink Face" (because of the abundant cobalt bloom), but mineralization ended about 25 feet in from the portal. Development work on the Green Vein group ceased after September 1951. The Pay Day claim was located by Elden Bryant and Foster Nelson, Ferron, Utah, in the spring of 1950. A 40-foot cut was made along the Moenkopi-Shinarump contact and three short adits were driven. Consolidated Nos. 1 and 2 claims were located in the spring of 1950 by Fane Price and Owen Price, of Salt Lake City, Utah. A 50-foot cut was made along the Moenkopi-Shinarump contact and a 12-foot adit was driven. An ore chute was constructed, but apparently no ore was shipped. In June 1951, these claims were leased to Curtis W. Jones (?),Howard B. Nielson, and Joseph E. Sherman, of Sinbad Mining Co., Price, Utah, who constructed access roads, built an ore bin, and drove a 90-foot adit. The Hertz No. 1 claim was located in April 1950, by Lyman Staker, Howard Staker, Martin Cullum, and Wallace Jensen, all of Lawrence, Utah. A 12-foot and a 4-foot adit were driven soon after the claims were located and in the fall of 1951, the 12-foot adit was extended an additional 8 feet. An ore bin was constructed, but no ore was shipped. Sunset No. 1 claim (not on map) was located on June 6, 1951, by Bernard Iriart, Price, Utah, and Frank Brough and James Bean, Nephi, Utah. No development work has been done. The Green Vein owners located several claims on the western side of the mesa, but the claim names and descriptions are unknown; no work has been done. Consolidated Uranium Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, has located and surveyed a group of claims covering the center of the mesa not claimed by owners on the east and west sides. PRODUCTION Mine Shipper Shipment Date Tonnage 5 U3 Og Green Vein No. 3 E. Bryant April 1950 7.9 0.40 Green Vein No. 3 ) Green Vein No. 4 ) Magnolia Lead May to July 131.9 0.27 Green Vein No. 5 ) & Oil Co. 1951 Consolidated No. 1 Sinbad Mining July to 519.4 0.22 Co. October 1951 GENERAL GEOLOGY The San Rafael Swell is an elliptical dome about 70 miles in length which has been deeply eroded, leaving a topographically low inner core of older rocks completely surrounded by a "reef" of upwarped resistant younger rocks. The "Swell" is asymmetrical; the beds on the eastern flank dip more steeply than do those on the western flank. ORE DEPOSITS Uranium deposits on Green Vein Mesa are confined to the lower part of the Shinarump formation near the unconformable contact with the under- lying Moenkopi formation. Deposits are exposed on the east, south, and west sides of +he mesa, but not on the north side where the mesa adjoins the main "reef." Yellow and green secondary uranium minerals, together with copper carbonates, calcium carbonate, marcasite, pink cobalt bloom, and un- identified vanadium minerals, are usually associated with seams of carbon and hydrocarbon in permeable zones of sandstone and conglomerate directly above the Moenkopi "red beds." The ore on the Consolidated Nos. 1 and 2 claims occurs in hydrocarbon and carbonaceous seams along bedding planes of a light gray porous sand- stone. The lime content of the rock increased as the mining progressed so that in the two drifts farthest from the portal, it is more than 20 per cent. On the weathered surfaces near the mine portal, there are abundant yellow and green stains of uranium and copper, respectively. Also there is pale pink "cobalt bloom", marcasite, and a small amount of vanadium. This mineralization was traced for over 200 feet along the -7- outcrop and was still of ore-grade at the breast of the mine, 90 feet in from the portal. An 8-foot thickness of ore has been mined, and weak radioactivity extends another 10 feet above the mined zone. Hertz No. 1 claim is located approximately 1,500 feet from the Consolidated claims on the opposite side of the mesa. The lithology (hydrocarbon and carbonaceous material along the bedding planes of sand- stone) on Hertz No. 1 is similar to that of Consolidated Nos.
Recommended publications
  • Geology and Stratigraphy Column
    Capitol Reef National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Geology “Geology knows no such word as forever.” —Wallace Stegner Capitol Reef National Park’s geologic story reveals a nearly complete set of Mesozoic-era sedimentary layers. For 200 million years, rock layers formed at or near sea level. About 75-35 million years ago tectonic forces uplifted them, forming the Waterpocket Fold. Forces of erosion have been sculpting this spectacular landscape ever since. Deposition If you could travel in time and visit Capitol Visiting Capitol Reef 180 million years ago, Reef 245 million years ago, you would not when the Navajo Sandstone was deposited, recognize the landscape. Imagine a coastal you would have been surrounded by a giant park, with beaches and tidal flats; the water sand sea, the largest in Earth’s history. In this moves in and out gently, shaping ripple marks hot, dry climate, wind blew over sand dunes, in the wet sand. This is the environment creating large, sweeping crossbeds now in which the sediments of the Moenkopi preserved in the sandstone of Capitol Dome Formation were deposited. and Fern’s Nipple. Now jump ahead 20 million years, to 225 All the sedimentary rock layers were laid million years ago. The tidal flats are gone and down at or near sea level. Younger layers were the climate supports a tropical jungle, filled deposited on top of older layers. The Moenkopi with swamps, primitive trees, and giant ferns. is the oldest layer visible from the visitor center, The water is stagnant and a humid breeze with the younger Chinle Formation above it.
    [Show full text]
  • Part 629 – Glossary of Landform and Geologic Terms
    Title 430 – National Soil Survey Handbook Part 629 – Glossary of Landform and Geologic Terms Subpart A – General Information 629.0 Definition and Purpose This glossary provides the NCSS soil survey program, soil scientists, and natural resource specialists with landform, geologic, and related terms and their definitions to— (1) Improve soil landscape description with a standard, single source landform and geologic glossary. (2) Enhance geomorphic content and clarity of soil map unit descriptions by use of accurate, defined terms. (3) Establish consistent geomorphic term usage in soil science and the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS). (4) Provide standard geomorphic definitions for databases and soil survey technical publications. (5) Train soil scientists and related professionals in soils as landscape and geomorphic entities. 629.1 Responsibilities This glossary serves as the official NCSS reference for landform, geologic, and related terms. The staff of the National Soil Survey Center, located in Lincoln, NE, is responsible for maintaining and updating this glossary. Soil Science Division staff and NCSS participants are encouraged to propose additions and changes to the glossary for use in pedon descriptions, soil map unit descriptions, and soil survey publications. The Glossary of Geology (GG, 2005) serves as a major source for many glossary terms. The American Geologic Institute (AGI) granted the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) permission (in letters dated September 11, 1985, and September 22, 1993) to use existing definitions. Sources of, and modifications to, original definitions are explained immediately below. 629.2 Definitions A. Reference Codes Sources from which definitions were taken, whole or in part, are identified by a code (e.g., GG) following each definition.
    [Show full text]
  • Economic Impact of Mountain Biking in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison National Forests
    Economic Impact of Mountain Biking in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison National Forests JAMES N. MAPLES, PhD MICHAEL J. BRADLEY, PhD Report submitted to Outdoor Alliance: November 2018 Study funded by Outdoor Alliance Image Credit: Carl Zoch 1 Executive Summary of Study Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest (GMUG) is an important American mountain biking destination. Mountain bikers visited the GMUG over 150,000 times per year. An estimated 70% of these visits were from persons living outside the GMUG and surrounding region. Over 576 mountain bikers from around the nation responded to our survey collecting their economic expenditures on their most recent trip to the GMUG. Based on the economic impact analysis and NVUM visitation figures, the research team estimates: 1. Mountain bike visitors who are not local residents annually spend $24 million in the GMUG. 2. Mountain bike visitors’ expenditures in the GMUG support 315 jobs and $7.9 million in job income within the region. REPORT CONTENTS Meet Your Research Team 2 Methodological Notes 3 Study Regions 4 Visitor Mean Expenditures 5 Economic Impact Terminology 8 Economic Impact Modeling 9 Taxation Generation within the Study Areas 10 Visitor Expenditures beyond Study Area but in State 11 Local Resident Expenditures by Study Area 12 Local Resident Expenditures beyond Study Area but Inside State 15 Omissions, Considerations 16 1 Meet Your Research Team DR. JAMES N. MAPLES is an associate professor of sociology at Eastern Kentucky University, where he examines the political economy of renewable tourism. His research interests include the economic impact of outdoor recreation and social change in rural areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Hogback Is Ridge Formed by Near- Vertical, Resistant Sedimentary Rock
    Chapter 16 Landscape Evolution: Geomorphology Topography is a Balance Between Erosion and Tectonic Uplift 1 Topography is a Balance Between Erosion and Tectonic Uplift 2 Relief • The relief in an area is the maximum difference between the highest and lowest elevation. – We have about 7000 feet of relief between Boulder and the Continental divide. Relief 3 Mountains and Valleys • A mountain is a large mass of rock that projects above surrounding terrain. • A mountain range is a continuous area of high elevation and high relief. • A valley is an area of low relief typically formed by and drained by a single stream. • A basin is a large low-lying area of low relief. In arid areas basins commonly have closed topography (no river outlet to the sea). Mountains • Typically occur in ranges. • Glaciated forms –Horn –Arête • Desert Mountains – Vertical Cliffs – Alluvial Fans 4 Mountain Landforms: Horn Deserts: Vertical Cliffs and Alluvial Fans 5 Valleys and Basins • River Valleys – U-shape (Glacial) – V-shape (Active Water erosion) – Flat-floored (depositional flood plain) • Tectonic (Fault) Valleys (Basins) – Tectonic origin – San Luis Valley – Jackson Hole – Great Basin U-shaped Valley: Glacial Erosion 6 V-shaped Valley: Active water erosion Flat-floored Valley: Depositional Flood Plain 7 Desert and Semi-arid Landforms • A plateau is a broad area of uplift with relatively little internal relief. • A mesa is a small (<10 km2)plateau bounded by cliffs, commonly in an area of flat-lying sedimentary rocks. • A butte is a small (<1000m2) hill bounded by cliffs Plateau, Mesa, Butte 8 Colorado National Monument Canyonlands 9 Desert and Semi-arid Landforms • A cuesta is an asymmetric ridge in dipping sedimentary rocks as the Flatirons.
    [Show full text]
  • A Geomorphic Classification System
    A Geomorphic Classification System U.S.D.A. Forest Service Geomorphology Working Group Haskins, Donald M.1, Correll, Cynthia S.2, Foster, Richard A.3, Chatoian, John M.4, Fincher, James M.5, Strenger, Steven 6, Keys, James E. Jr.7, Maxwell, James R.8 and King, Thomas 9 February 1998 Version 1.4 1 Forest Geologist, Shasta-Trinity National Forests, Pacific Southwest Region, Redding, CA; 2 Soil Scientist, Range Staff, Washington Office, Prineville, OR; 3 Area Soil Scientist, Chatham Area, Tongass National Forest, Alaska Region, Sitka, AK; 4 Regional Geologist, Pacific Southwest Region, San Francisco, CA; 5 Integrated Resource Inventory Program Manager, Alaska Region, Juneau, AK; 6 Supervisory Soil Scientist, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, NM; 7 Interagency Liaison for Washington Office ECOMAP Group, Southern Region, Atlanta, GA; 8 Water Program Leader, Rocky Mountain Region, Golden, CO; and 9 Geology Program Manager, Washington Office, Washington, DC. A Geomorphic Classification System 1 Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 5 I. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 6 History of Classification Efforts in the Forest Service ............................................................... 6 History of Development .............................................................................................................. 7 Goals
    [Show full text]
  • A Brief Guide to Parent Material and Landforms Developed for the New Mexico Envirothon Introduction
    A Brief Guide to Parent Material and Landforms Developed for the New Mexico Envirothon Logan Peterson, NRCS Introduction When soil scientists make maps of soil, we search above the ground for clues before we dig holes. As explained in “From the Surface Down,” a soil gets its unique properties from the interaction of five major factors: climate, living organisms, landscape position, parent material, and time. Once we learn how to read a landscape, we can identify differences in each of these factors and, thus, predict differences in soil properties. A steep north-facing slope will be cooler and support different vegetation than a steep south- facing slope of the same mountain. Because these two slopes will differ in their landscape position, microclimate, and living organisms, we can expect that they will have different soil properties. As another example, let’s compare two landforms: a mountain slope and a floodplain along a stream. The mountain slope is made up of bedrock which is several million years old, while the floodplain is made up of sediments which were recently deposited by water. The mountain slope is relatively steep, and water readily runs off of it, while the floodplain is flat and often flooded. Lastly, the hillslope hasn’t changed much in shape for several thousand years, while the floodplain was deposited during a heavy rainstorm just thirty years ago. We can see that the soils on these two landforms differ in their parent material, landscape position, and in the amount of time they have had to form. Because of its landscape position, the floodplain soil receives much more water, so it will grow a very different plant community (organisms) than the mountain slope soil.
    [Show full text]
  • Colorado Plateau
    MLRA 36 – Southwestern Plateaus, Mesas and Foothills MLRA 36 – Southwestern Plateaus, Mesas and Foothills (Utah portion) Ecological Zone Desert Semidesert* Upland* Mountain* Precipitation 5 -9 inches 9 -13 inches 13-16 inches 16-22 inches Elevation 3,000 -5,000 4,500 -6,500 5,800 - 7,000 6,500 – 8,000 Soil Moisture Regime Ustic Aridic Ustic Ustic Ustic Soil Temp Regime Mesic Mesic Mesic Frigid Freeze free Days 120-220 120-160 100-130 60-90 Percent of Pinyon Percent of Juniper production is Shadscale and production is usually usually greater than blackbrush Notes greater than the Pinyon the Juniper Ponderosa Pine production production 300 – 500 lbs/ac 400 – 700 lbs/ac 100 – 500 lbs/ac 800 – 1,000 lbs/ac *the aspect (north or south) can greatly influence site characteristics. All values in this table are approximate and should be used as guidelines. Different combinations of temperature, precipitation and soil type can place an ecological site into different zones. Southern Major Land Resource AreasRocky (MLRA) D36 Mountains Basins and Plateaus s D36 - Southwestern Plateaus, Mesas, and Foothills Colorado Plateau 05010025 Miles 36—Southwestern Plateaus, Mesas, and Foothills This area is in New Mexico (58 percent), Colorado (32 percent), and Utah (10 percent). It makes up about 23,885 square miles (61,895 square kilometers). The major towns in the area are Cortez and Durango, Colorado; Santa Fe and Los Alamos, New Mexico; and Monticello, Utah. Grand Junction, Colorado, and Interstate 70 are just outside the northern tip of this area. Interstates 40 and 25 cross the middle of the area.
    [Show full text]
  • Erosion, Weathering, and Change Activity Guide
    National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Zion National Park Weathering, Erosion, and Change Geologic Events in Zion PHOTO CREDIT Contents Introduction 2 Core Connections 2 Background 2 Activities Earth’s Power Punches 4 Rock On, Zion 5 It Happened Here! 6 Glossary 8 References 9 Introduction This guide contains background information about how weathering, erosion, and other geologic processes such as volcanoes continually shape the landscape, and directions for three activities that will help students better understand how these processes are at work in Utah. This guide is specifically designed for fifth grade classrooms, but the activities can be NPS modified for students at other levels. Theme of deposition (sedimentation), lithification, The Earth’s surface is a dynamic system that is uplift, weathering, erosion, tectonics, and constantly changing due to weathering, volcanic activity make the park a showcase for erosion, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, and changing landscapes. other geologic events. Deposition (Sedimentation) Focus Zion National Park was a relatively flat basin The activities focus on relationship between near sea level 275 million years ago, near the NPS/MARC NEIDIG geologic processes such as weathering and coast of Pangaea, the land area believed to erosion and changes on the Earth’s surface. have once connected nearly all of the earth’s landmasses together. As sands, gravels, and Activities muds eroded from surrounding mountains, Earth’s Power Punches streams carried these materials into the Students view a presentation of digital im- basin and deposited them in layers. The sheer ages showing the forces that shape the Earth’s weight of these accumulated layers caused surface.
    [Show full text]
  • R6 Geomorphology Legend and Glossary
    Geomorphology of the Pacific Northwest Legend and Glossary Definitions and Descriptions of Terms Used in the Mapping of Landforms, Landform Groups, and Landform Associations in Region Six, Forest Service Jay S. Noller Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Sarah J. Hash Forest Service Bend, Oregon Karen Bennett Forest Service Portland, Oregon December 2013 ver. 0.7 DRAFT Note to the Reader This provisional, draft text presents and briefly describes the terms used in the preparation of a map of landform groups covering all forests within Region Six of the US Forest Service. Formal definition of map units is pending completion of this map and review thereof by all of the forests in Region Six. Map unit names appended to GIS shapefiles are concatenations of terms defined herein and are meant to be objective descriptors of the landscape within each map unit boundary. These map unit names have yet to undergo a final vetting and culling to reduce complexity, redundancy or obfuscation unintentionally resulting from map creation activities. Any omissions or errors in this draft document are the responsibility of its authors. Rev. 06 on 05December2013 by Jay Noller 2 Geomorphology of the Pacific Northwest – Map Legend Term Description Ancient Volcanoes Landform groups suggestive of a deeply eroded volcano. Typically a central hypabyssal or shallow plutonic rocks are present in central (core) area of the relict volcano. Apron Footslope to toeslope positions of volcanoes to mountain ranges. Synonymous with bajada in an alluvial context. Ballena Distinctively round-topped, parallel to sub-parallel ridgelines and intervening valleys that have an overall fan-shaped or distributary drainage pattern.
    [Show full text]
  • Alphabetical Glossary of Geomorphology
    International Association of Geomorphologists Association Internationale des Géomorphologues ALPHABETICAL GLOSSARY OF GEOMORPHOLOGY Version 1.0 Prepared for the IAG by Andrew Goudie, July 2014 Suggestions for corrections and additions should be sent to [email protected] Abime A vertical shaft in karstic (limestone) areas Ablation The wasting and removal of material from a rock surface by weathering and erosion, or more specifically from a glacier surface by melting, erosion or calving Ablation till Glacial debris deposited when a glacier melts away Abrasion The mechanical wearing down, scraping, or grinding away of a rock surface by friction, ensuing from collision between particles during their transport in wind, ice, running water, waves or gravity. It is sometimes termed corrosion Abrasion notch An elongated cliff-base hollow (typically 1-2 m high and up to 3m recessed) cut out by abrasion, usually where breaking waves are armed with rock fragments Abrasion platform A smooth, seaward-sloping surface formed by abrasion, extending across a rocky shore and often continuing below low tide level as a broad, very gently sloping surface (plain of marine erosion) formed by long-continued abrasion Abrasion ramp A smooth, seaward-sloping segment formed by abrasion on a rocky shore, usually a few meters wide, close to the cliff base Abyss Either a deep part of the ocean or a ravine or deep gorge Abyssal hill A small hill that rises from the floor of an abyssal plain. They are the most abundant geomorphic structures on the planet Earth, covering more than 30% of the ocean floors Abyssal plain An underwater plain on the deep ocean floor, usually found at depths between 3000 and 6000 m.
    [Show full text]
  • Petrified Forest U.S
    National Park Service Petrified Forest U.S. Department of the Interior Petrified Forest National Park Petrified Forest, Arizona Geology and the Painted Desert Part of the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park features a strangely beautiful landscape. Erosion has sculpted and shaped intriguing landforms, revealing a treasure trove of fossils within multi-colored layers. The rocks reveal an enthralling chronicle of time that is unfolding and ever- changing. What can the rocks tell us? Think of the colorful layers of the Petrified Forest as pages in a massive book. As the pages are turned, we discover that the words are a language we don’t completely understand. The pictures help, but we must put together the story of this ancient book with fragmented clues. The first chapter of the park’s geological text is the Chinle Formation. Chinle Formation The colorful badland hills, flat-topped mesas, Member north of Kachina Point, is and sculptured buttes of the Painted Desert are approximately 213 million years old, based on primarily made up of the Chinle Formation. The radiometric dating. sedimentary rock mainly consists of fluvial (river related) deposits. Within Petrified Forest The Owl Rock Member consists of pinkish - National Park, the layers of the Chinle orange mudstones mixed with hard, thin layers Formation include the Blue Mesa Member, the of limestone. This member is exposed on Sonsela Member, the Petrified Forest Member, Chinde Mesa at the northernmost border of the and the Owl Rock Member. park. The Owl Rock Member is approximately 205 million years old, based on its stratigraphic The Blue Mesa Member consists of thick position and vertebrate fossil record.
    [Show full text]
  • Gooseberry Mesa National Recreation Trail (NRT) Is Located in Recommended Trail Users Southern Utah’S Red Rock Country
    BLM Gooseberry Welcome Site Information Vicinity Map Gooseberry Mesa National Recreation Trail (NRT) is located in Recommended Trail Users southern Utah’s red rock country. At Only the White Trail and other designated roads are open Mesa an elevation of 5,200 feet, views from to motorized users. All other trails are limited to non- Cedar City the mesa rims are spectacular. Rising motorized users. New Harmony! to the north are the massive sandstone Camping National Recreation Trail sentinels of Zion National Park. Spread out Dispersed camping is allowed on public lands. Use only Dixie below the west rim is a panorama of colorful desert mesas sites where previous camping use is evident. National and water carved canyons. Forest Located on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Campfires !"`$ Management (BLM), the Gooseberry Mesa NRT was Campfires are permitted, but discouraged. Use existing developed in the late 1990’s through cooperative efforts. In fire rings when possible and/or choose a durable site. Fire Zion 2006, the trail received National Recreation Trail status. restrictions may apply at any time of year. National The Gooseberry Mesa NRT is designed for technical Toquerville ! Park mountain biking. Singletrack and slickrock wind across the Designated Trails ?£ mesa top in a series of interconnected trails bisected by a The desert environment is fragile. Use only trails that are Virgin LaVerkin ! ! dirt road. Due to the challenging terrain, this trail system Springdale signed and marked as shown on this brochure. ?yHurricane! ?y ! is recommended for mountain bikers and hikers; it is not ! suitable for equestrians.
    [Show full text]