Leo T. Brown and Dr. Alvin K. Benson, Geology The Wasatch fault zone extends from southern Idaho into central Utah, and approximately ninety percent of Utah’s population live in or near this fault zone. Surface rupture and ground shaking associated with earthquake events represent the biggest geologic hazards to people and structures within this fault […]
The Earthquake History of Eastern Indonesia
Jonathan Major, Jamie Robinson and Dr. Ron Harris, Geological Sciences Indonesia is the fourth largest country in the world by population and encompasses thousands of islands. The tropical climate, fertile soil, and vast natural resources continue to fuel rapid population and economic growth. Much of the natural abundance of Indonesia can be attributed to its […]
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS OF MANTLE-DERIVED MINERALS FROM EOCENE ALKALINE INTRUSIONS IN NORTH-CENTRAL UTAH
Daniel T. Maughan and Dr. Jeffrey D. Keith, Geology Mafic alkaline magmas are unusually oxidized, volatile-rich, primitive magmas that are derived from the earth’s mantle when portions of the crust are being extended (stretched). The occurrence of alkaline magmatism is beginning to be recognized as one of the main criteria necessary for the formation of […]
Titan as a Laboratory for Linear Dune Formation
Christopher Savage and Dr. Jani Radebaugh, Geological Sciences Introduction Synthetic Aperture Radar images of Titan collected by the Cassini spacecraft show that dunes are abundant on Titan’s surface, covering almost 20% of Titan’s surface [1,2]. Nearly all of the dunes found on Titan are linear in form, are found near the equator (30°), and have […]
Using Thermodynamic Modeling to Predict Fractional Crystallization Paths of Andesite to Trachydacite
Tara Albertson Allen The Isom formation is a package of distinctive ignimbrites found in an Oligocene caldera complex along the Utah-Nevada border (Best and Christiansen, 1991). Similar high-alkali rocks are also found in other caldera complexes and imply their generation is a fundamental part of the evolution of large volcanic systems (Dorais, Whitney, and Stormer, […]
ANALYSIS OF A MULTIPLE GENERATION FLUID ESCAPE STRUCTURE: GREEN RIVER FORMATION, UTAH
Todd D. Gibbs and Dr. Thomas H. Morris, Geology In order to find natural resources, whether it be precious metals or fossil fuels, one must understand the geological history. Further, one must be familiar with how different environments will affect where the resource is found. When dealing with fossil fuels, it is vital that the […]
The Deformation Path of the Metamorphic Complex, near Santaquin, Utah
Charity M. Phillips and Dr. Ron A. Harris, Geology and Dr. Steve Nelson, Geology The Precambrian rocks on Dry Mountain have been previously mapped by Davis (1983) and Witkind (1985) as Farmington Canyon Complex, found in the Wasatch Mountains near Farmington, Utah. Bryant in 1986 said that these rocks were “probably Farmington Canyon Complex” (FCC). This […]
Improving Seismic Awareness and Earthquake Preparedness in Utah Valley Schools
Rachel A. Dunn and Dr. Ron A. Harris, Geology The purpose of this ORCA project was to provide guidelines specific to Utah Valley schools to protect students from seismic hazards along the Wasatch fault. In the proposal I stated that “At least 74% of the schools in Provo are not built to seismic code” (Robinson […]
Paleostream channels of the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation
Mariah Chambers and Dr. Brooks Britt, Department of Geology The purpose of my ORCA project is to determine the nature of the stream systems represented by the Morrison Formation, a unit of sediments deposited 150-million-years-ago (Jurassic-age) that is famed for its dinosaurs, such as Stegosaurus and Allosaurus. Despite the unit’s importance to paleontology, oil and […]