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Show HOPPING TIMES - JULY 1993 - 5 million years ago after the White Rim New Geologic Map of was laid down but before the overlying Northern Castle Valley Moenkopi Formation was deposited. This month the Utah Geological Survey will release a report on the geology of the Big Bend Quadrangle, which includes most of the Ranchos area of Castle Valley. The report— RESOURCES—One drill hole in Castle Valley encountered potash in the Paradox Formation, but the report Interim Geologic Map of the Big Bend Quadrangle, Grand County, Utah, by Hellmut H. Doelling and Michael Ross—includes a geologic map at a scale of 124,000 (1 inch on the map equals 2,000 feet on the ground), a geologic column, two geologic cross sections, and a companion text of about 100 pages discussing the general geology, geologic resources and geologic hazards. In addition to the northern part of Castle Valley, the Big Bend Quadrangle includes a stretch of the Colorado River, Cache Valley, and the Delicate Arch area of Arches National Park. GEOLOGY—Several Castle Valley features of geologic interest are shown on the map or discussed in the text. An example is the discussion of the conspicuous white sandstone in the northwest comer of the valley. the authors conclude that this is an outlier states that the structureunder the valley are: I) insist that the regulations is too complex for the resource to be evaluated from this one drill hole. An oil and gas test well drilled a few hundred feet east of the road leading into Castle Valley found “shows” of hydrocarbons. These shows will likely encourage continued exploration for oil and gas in the area. This well encountered the top of the Paradox Formation at 2982 feet below sea level; a little relative to the location, construction, and maintenance of septic systems over a mile to the southwest at the north end of Castle Valley, the same formation outcrops at an elevation of about 4400 feet above sea level. This more than 7000 feet of rise on the Paradox Formation over a distance of a mile indicates the relief on the salt structure associated with Castle Valley. HAZARDS—The report identifies the same geologic hazards in Castle over much of the Canyonlands area to Valley as were described in more detail in an earlier AGS report by William Mulvey. The present report states again that waste water from septic systems is being discharged into the same alluvial deposits that are the source of the valley’s water supply. the west of Dead Horse Point but has The text states: “The deposits are of the White Rim Sandstone. The White Rim is a prominent white layer second warning to Castle Valley residents regarding the need for special care to protect their culinary water supply. The report does not contain specific recommendations to achieve this, but the obvious ways not been found between Dead Horse relatively permeable and are later- Point and Castle Valley. The thinning of the White Rim to the southeast that is apparent in the cliff face is the result ally and vertically discontinuous, which can cause insufficient filtering, thereby contaminating the local of erosion that occurred about 250 ground water system.” This is the are rigorously enforced, and 2) limit the population density by continuing to allow only one dwelling per fiveacre lot. AVAILABILITY—This interim report makes the information it contains available before the final version is produced, which will likely take more than a year. In the final report the geologic map and sections will be in color, but in this interim report all illustrations are black and white. Some of the material in the report is technical and intended for earth scientists, but much can be understood by people with no geologic training. Anyone can increase their understanding of Castle Valley by reviewing this report. The cost is about $14, and it can be ordered from Utah Geological Survey, 2363 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City UT 84109. Phone 467-7970. —Don Mabey Thanks to this month's C A S H D O N 0 R S : Ko’rhorine Stokes, the Gosflin Fomily, Henry Stokes, and Sally & Jim Roins. We couldn't do it without you. CASTLE CANYON NURSERY Plants for the Canyon Country Landscaping Design Drip Irrigation Headquarters Sprinkler Irrigation Parts Automatic Irrigation Parts System Design 8t Consultation 259-8274 |
