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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

Utah Geological Association

Abstract


Cenozoic Geology of Western Utah: Sites for Precious Metal and Hydrocarbon Accumulations, 1987
Pages 91-104

Geology of the Eastern Great Basin—Past Successes and Future Problems

William Lee Stokes

Abstract

Geologic investigation of western Utah began with the King Survey of the 40th Parallel and the Wheeler Survey West of the 100th Meridian. A by-product of King’s survey was Hague’s pioneer study of the Eureka mining district which stimulated similar studies of all the major mining districts. In western Utah this included Bingham, Park City, San Francisco, and Tintic mining districts. Studies of Stockton-Fairfield, Gold Hill and Thomas-Dugway districts came later.

Possibilities of discovering oil and gas led to investigations of the sedimentary sections in basin areas. In the period from 1948 to present a series of 20 excursions and guidebooks have added greatly to knowledge of the geology. Faculty and graduate students of Utah universities also contributed dozens of dissertations and theses. Geologic maps, scale 1:250,000 appeared in 1963. An aeromagnetic map (1976) and a gravity map (1975) give basic data. The completion of a seismic reflection line along the 40th Parallel by COCORP has greatly added to an understanding of deep-seated structures.

Past experience points to three serious problems for future investigators: 1) Localizing boundaries between the standard series—the top and bottom of the Pliocene deposits, in particular. 2) Identification and dating of exposed landforms—pediments and alluvial fans. 3) Explaining the common alignment, subequal spacing, and similar dimensions of basin-range structures.

The paper is illustrated by portraits of deceased geologists who made significant contributions to the geology of western Utah


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