Geobulletin alpha

Hiking Along the Headwaters of the Virgin River 

It was a crisp October morning as we zipped up Cedar Mountain in our three–car caravan, bound for an eight–mile hike around Navajo Lake and along the Virgin River rim trail. Interspersed with the grayed skeletal remains of Engelmann spruce (victims of an endemic beetle population and a dubious forest management policy of the past century), the aspen leaves blazed their burnt red–orange and golden yellow brilliance against a cloudless sapphire sky. As we cruised I noticed orange–vested [...]

Geologic Map of the Haycock Mountain Quadrangle, Garfield County, Utah 

By: Robert F. Biek, John J. Anderson, Edward G. Sable, and Peter D. Rowley The Haycock Mountain quadrangle lies in the central part of the Markagunt Plateau in southwest Utah and includes the eastern part of Panguitch Lake, a popular area of summer and winter recreational use. Despite the plateau’s relatively simple structure of a

Geologic Map of the Panguitch Lake Quadrangle, Garfield and Iron Counties 

By: Robert F. Biek, John J. Anderson, Edward G. Sable, and Peter D. Rowley The Panguitch Lake quadrangle lies in the central part of the Markagunt Plateau in southwest Utah and includes Panguitch Lake, a popular area of summer and winter recreational use. Despite the plateau’s relatively simple structure of a gently east-tilted fault block,

POTD April 25, 2014: Dixie National Forest, Iron County, Utah 

Have a great weekend everyone! Dixie National Forest, Iron County, Utah Photographer: Robert F. Biek; © 2012 Hancock Peak (elevation 10,598 feet) is one of many cinder cones that dot the Markagunt Plateau east of Cedar City. Engelmann spruce trees, many of which were killed by spruce bark beetles, and colorful quaking aspen blanket the

Geologic Map of The Brian Head Quadrangle, Iron County, Utah 

By: Peter D. Rowley, Robert F. Biek, Edward G. Sable, Jonathan T. Boswell, Garrett S. Vice, Stanley C. Hatfield, David J. Maxwell, and John J. Anderson The Brian Head Quadrangle straddles the west edge of the Markagunt Plateau and is roughly centered on Brian Head Peak, at 11,307 feet (3446 m) the highest mountain in

POTD July 16, 2013: Dixie National Forest, Kane County, Utah 

Dixie National Forest, Kane County, Utah Photographer: Tyler Knudsen Golden aspen, blue sky, and dark basaltic lava provide dramatic contrast along the Navajo Lake Loop Trail on the Markagunt Plateau. The geologically young Quaternaryage lava erupted from a nearby cinder cone and flowed across Duck Creek, creating a natural dam that formed Navajo