Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Geology – Uinta Mountains'
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1
Webb, Casey Andrew. "Geologic Mapping of the Vernal NW Quadrangle, Uintah County, UT, and Stratigraphic Relationships of the Duchesne River Formation and Bishop Conglomerate." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2017. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6564.
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Detailed mapping (1:24,000), measured sections, and clast counts in conglomerates of the Duchesne River Formation and Bishop Conglomerate in the Vernal NW quadrangle in northeastern Utah reveal the middle Cenozoic stratigraphic geometry, the uplift and unroofing history of the eastern Uinta Mountains, and give evidence for the pulsed termination of Laramide uplift. The Unita Mountains are an EW-trending reverse fault bounded and basement-cored, Laramide uplift. The oldest unit of the Duchesne River Formation, the Eocene Brennan Basin Member, contains 80-90% Paleozoic clasts and <20% Precambrian clasts. Proximal to the Uinta uplift the conglomerates of this member are dominated by Paleozoic Madison Limestone clasts (70-90% of all clasts). Farther out into the basin, Paleozoic clasts still dominate in Brennan Basin Member conglomerates, but chert clasts are more abundant (up to 43%) showing the efficiency of erosion of the carbonate clasts over a short distance (~5 km). Conglomerates in the progressively younger Dry Gulch Creek, Lapoint, and Starr Flat members show a significant upward increase in Precambrian clasts with 34-73% Uinta Mountain Group and 8-63% Madison Limestone. Duchesne River Formation has a significant increase in coarse-grained deposits from the southern parts of the quadrangle (20-50% coarse) to the northern parts (75% coarse) nearer the Uinta uplift. The lower part of the Duchesne River Formation exhibits a fining upward sequence representing a tectonic lull. Clast count patterns show that pebbly channel deposits in the south maintain similar compositions to their alluvial fan counterparts. To the north, the fine-grained Lapoint and Dry Gulch Creek members of the Duchesne River Formation appear to pinch out completely. This can be explained by erosion of these fine-grained deposits or by lateral facies shifts before deposition of the next unit. Starr Flat Member conglomerates were deposited above Lapoint Member siltstones and represent southward progradation of alluvial fans away from the uplifting mountain front. Similarities in composition and sedimentary structures have caused confusion surrounding the contact between the Starr Flat Member and the overlying Bishop Conglomerate. Within the Vernal NW quadrangle, we interpret this contact as an angular unconformity (the Gilbert Peak Erosion Surface) developed on the uppermost tilted red siltstone of the Starr Flat Member sometime after 37.9 Ma. Stratigraphic and structural relationships reveal important details about the development of a Laramide mountain range: 1) sequential unroofing sequences in the Duchesne River Formation, 2) progradation of alluvial fans to form the Starr Flat Member, 3) and the unconformable nature of the Gilbert Peak Erosion Surface lead to the conclusion that there were at least 3 distinct episodes of uplift during the deposition of these formations. The last uplift episode upwarped the Starr Flat Member constraining the termination of Laramide uplift in the Uinta Mountains to be after deposition of the Starr Flat Member and prior to deposition of the horizontal Bishop Conglomerate starting at about 34 Ma. This, combined with 40Ar/39Ar ages of 39.4 Ma from the Dry Gulch Creek and Lapoint member, show that slab rollback related volcanism was occurring to the west while the Uinta Mountains were being uplifted on Laramide faults. These new 40Ar/39Ar ages constrain the timing of deposition and clarify stratigraphic relationships within the Duchesne River Formation; they suggest a significant unconformity of as much as 4 m.y. between the Duchesne River Formation and the overlying Bishop Conglomerate, which is 34-30 Ma in age, and show that Laramide uplift continued after 40 Ma in this region.
2
Poduska, Gabriel J. "Geologic Mapping of Ice Cave Peak Quadrangle, Uintah and Duchesne Counties, Utah with Implications from Mapping Laramide Faults." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2015. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5777.
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Geologic mapping (1:24,000 scale) of the Ice Cave Peak quadrangle, Uintah and Duchesne Counties, Utah has produced a better understanding of the geologic structures present in the quadrangle and has increased our understanding of faulting in northeastern Utah. Map units in the quadrangle range in age from late Neoproterozoic to Quaternary and include good exposures of Paleozoic rocks (Mississippian to Permian), limited exposures of Mesozoic rocks, and good exposures of Tertiary strata (Duchesne River Formation and Bishop Conglomerate) deposited during uplift of the Uinta Mountains. Lower Mississippian strata along the south flank of the Uinta Mountains have typically been mapped as Madison Limestone. Our preliminary mapping suggested that the Madison could perhaps be subdivided into an upper unit equivalent to the Deseret Limestone, and a lower unit separated by a phosphatic interval equivalent to the Delle Phosphatic Member of the Deseret Limestone found farther west. Upon further investigation, we propose not extending the use of Deseret Limestone, with the equivalent to the Delle Phosphatic Member at its base, into the south-central Uinta Mountains. Microprobe analysis revealed no phosphorus in thin sections of this unit. Instead, the unit is composed almost entirely of calcite and dolomite. A zone of northwest-trending faults, called the Deep Creek fault zone, occurs mainly east of the Ice Cave Peak quadrangle. However, our mapping shows that this fault zone extends into the quadrangle. These faults are both strike-slip and normal/oblique faults as documented by mapping and kinematic indicators and cut the folded hanging-wall sedimentary rocks above the Uinta Basin-Mountain boundary thrust fault. These faults may be part of an en echelon fault system that is rooted in the Neoproterozoic and reactivated during Laramide deformation above a possible transfer zone between segments of the buried boundary thrust.
3
Paepke, Betty E. "Controls on Channel Organization and Morphology in a Glaciated Basin in the Uinta Mountains, Utah." DigitalCommons@USU, 2001. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/6724.
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The organization and morphology of Middle Fork Sheep Creek and South Fork Sheep Creek, two mountain streams in the upper Sheep Creek basin, are controlled by the spatial distribution of glacial moraines. Both channels are organized into a reoccurring sequence of steep-gradient reaches changing downstream to low-gradient reaches. Steep-gradient reaches are located where the channels flow through moraine s. Low-gradient reaches are located in meadows downstream of the steep-gradient reaches and immediately upstream of the next moraine. Knickpoints in the longitudinal profiles of both streams coincide with the location of moraines. Large boulder s, beyond the size transportable by the channel at bankfull discharge, are found within the steep-gradient channels, and are presumed to be glacial lag. Between knickpoints, channel morphology follows the conceptual model of Montgomery and Buffington. Unlike mountain channels elsewhere, landslides, debris flows, and alluvial fans do not influence the morphology or organization of Middle Fork Sheep Creek and South Fork Sheep Creek. Large woody debris loading is less than on channels in Washington and Alaska, with debris dams found mainly in reaches with gradients less than cascade and greater than pool-riffle. Middle Fork Sheep Creek and South Fork Sheep Creek are located in a glaciated basin. At time scales of 103 to 104 years, the channels may be classified as in disequilibrium and the system is not adjusted to present conditions. The presence of large, unmovable boulder s within the steep-gradient channels allows the location of the steep-gradient channels to remain static until the large particles are transported during infrequent large discharges. At time scales of 101 to 102 years, the channels may be thought of as equilibrium systems with channel variables adjusted to the present climate.
4
Hillam, Samuel Abraham. "A Quaternary climate record from a Uinta Mountains, USA, fen core with emphasis on sediment pyrolysis." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2017. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6676.
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The northern slopes of the Uinta Mountains, Utah were previously glaciated and contain many landslides. The Tokewanna Landslide is very large and lacks Quaternary faults. Presumably, increased moisture was the failure trigger. A Quaternary climate record from a cored fen, developed in a small basin between hummocks, was reconstructed using sediment pyrolysis, biomass balance, and magnetic susceptibility. Pyrolysis is used to define Hydrogen Indices that are used to delineate wetter and drier conditions based on the kerogen type - Type III being drier, and Type II wetter. The data were matched to a time/depth curve and compared to other Uinta Mountains climate studies. Pyrolysis, biomass balance, and magnetic susceptibility results indicate drier to wetter conditions from ~11,027 to ~8,800 cal yr BP. This was followed by an increase in precipitation, peaking ~8,060 cal yr BP, and then decreasing. Drying conditions ensued after ~4,800 cal yr BP, and from ~1,700 cal yr BP to modern. Regional studies suggest mid-Holocene Epoch warming; some also indicate increased precipitation during those periods. A study at nearby Little Lyman Lake (Tingstad et al., 2011) displays a plankton percent record similar to the wetness record of the study fen. The fen core record does not indicate wet conditions at its base as expected. The record begins ~11,000 cal yr BP and likely represents an incomplete history of this Holocene fen, as the base of the wetland deposits was not reached.
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Leschin, Michael F. "A Hydrogeochemical Study of the Evolution of the Headwaters of the Bear River in the Uinta Mountains, Utah." DigitalCommons@USU, 1997. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/4422.
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The headwaters of the Bear River in the Uinta Mountains of Utah provide a good setting in which to examine the influence of geological materials on stream chemistry. Ionic contributions to the stream-water from soils, vegetation, and the atmosphere generally are sparse enough that they do not mask the geologic contributions. Samples from 37 sites on the four major headwater streams and several minor tributaries were examined geochemically. Data derived from the samples allowed the construction of a hydrogeochemical weathering model specific to the study area. A significant feature of this model is that carbonic acid is the dominant chemical agent involved in geochemical weathering.
The aim of this study was to examine the geologic influences on river chemistry. However, atmospheric contributions dominate the hydrochemistry through at least the first 10 kilometers of stream length for the easternmost three of the four major headwater streams.
Except for the atmospheric contribution, surface-water chemistry is dominated by the groundwater chemistry, which is indelibly marked by the lithology the groundwater passes through. Other geologic factors in the study area that appear to influence groundwater chemistry, and hence stream chemistry, are the glacial till and outwash deposits and a major zone of east-west trending high-angle thrust faults. A technique for estimating the hydrochemistry of the groundwater based on surface-water chemistry and flow measurements was developed in this study.
6
Bradfield, Todd D. "Pre-Historic Landslides on the Southeast Flank of the Uinta Mountains, Utah: Character and Causes of Slope Failure." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2007. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd1743.pdf.
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Counts, Ronald C. "The Quaternary Stratigraphy of the Henrys Fork and Western Browns Park, Northeastern Uinta Mountains, Utah and Wyoming." DigitalCommons@USU, 2005. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/6734.
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The landscape evolution of the northeastern Uinta Mountains and the manner in which climatic and tectonic forcing have influenced it are not well constrained. Surficial deposits covering ~325 km2 below the glacial termini in the Henrys Fork and ~50 km2 along the Green River in western Browns Park were mapped at 1:24,000 scale to develop a Quaternary stratigraphic framework for the northeastern Uinta Mountains.
The Henrys Fork mapping area spans from late Wisconsinan moraines to Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The Henrys Fork stratigraphy contains 10 mainstem gravels, six piedmont gravels, and landslide deposits. Terraces preserved along the Henrys Fork converge downstream and are strath terraces underlain by clast-supported, cobble gravel derived from the Uinta Mountain Group and Paleozoic limestone units. The Henrys Fork terrace stratigraphy was correlated to the Wind River terrace stratigraphy for age control, and incision rates were estimated at 80-110 m/m.y.
The Browns Park mapping area includes Little Hole and continues through lower Red Canyon into westernmost Browns Park, ending at the Warren Draw-Swallow Canyon quadrangle boundary. The Browns Park stratigraphy includes eight mainstem gravels, five piedmont gravels, and various landslide, colluvial, and eolian deposits. A tuffaceous bed with Lava Creek Bash (640 ka) was identified near the top of a deposit at Little Hole that was previously mapped as Miocene basin fill. Minimum Green River incision rates were estimated between 90 and 115 m/m.y. using the Lava Creek Bash for age control. These rates are comparable to estimates for the Henrys Fork, but are about half of the rates reported for the south flank of the Uintas and other central Rocky Mountain ranges.
A series of three distinct deposits in western Browns Park are interpreted as evidence for the landslide impoundment and subsequent outburst flooding of the Green River. These include slackwater deposits at Little Hole, an outburst flood deposit in western Browns Park, and a large paleolandslide deposit that lies between them. Estimates of sediment accumulation rates behind the paleolandslide dam suggest it was stable for ~605 years. Peak discharge estimates from impounded water volume estimates and paleoflow competence indicators suggest that the resulting outburst flood was ~22,000 m3/s.
8
Hurst, Coreen. "Testing Models Related to the Laramide Uplift of the Uinta Mountains and Geologic Mapping of the Jessen Butte 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, Dagget County, Utah and Sweetwater County, Wyoming." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2010. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd3437.pdf.
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Davis, Nathan Robert. "Sequence Stratigraphy of the Lower Pennsylvanian (Bashkirian, Morrowan) Round Valley Limestone, Split Mountain Anticline (Dinosaur National Monument) and in the Eastern Uinta Mountains, Utah." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2010. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2377.
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The Early Pennsylvanian (Bashkirian/Morrowan) Round Valley Limestone of northeastern Utah was deposited on the Wyoming shelf, a slowly subsiding depositional surface located between the Eagle and Oquirrh basins. The 311-foot-thick Round Valley Limestone displays a distinct cyclicity formed by stacked, meter-scale parasequences, comprised of a limited suite of open- to restricted-marine limestones with minor interbeds of siltstone and shale. Open-marine deposits are characterized by mudstone and heterozoan wackestone-packstone microfacies (MF1-4) and comprise the lower portions of parasequences. Rocks of these microfacies were deposited during maximum high-order transgression of the shelf. As sediment filled the limited accommodation, the shelf became restricted, leading to deposition of mollusk-peloid dominated wackestone microfacies (MF6). Grainstones (MF5) microfacies are volumetrically limited in the Round Valley and represent deposition on isolated sand shoals that populated the shallow shelf. The complete Round Valley section at Split Mountain in Dinosaur National Monument is comprised of 5 intermediate-order sequences and 48 higher-order parasquences. Twenty-one of the shallowing-upward cycles are bounded by exposure surfaces as indicated by the occurrence of rhizoliths, glaebules, autobreccia and alveolar structures. Four of these that also indicate a significant drop in sea level (abnormal subaerial exposure surfaces and surfaces with erosional relief) constitute candidate sequence boundaries. The high percentage of cycles capped by exposure surfaces indicates that deposition of the Round Valley took place intermittently and that the Wyoming shelf was exposed during a significant portion of the Bashkirian epoch. Intermittency of deposition is confirmed by comparing the thickness and sequence architecture of the Round Valley Limestone with coeval strata in the eastern Oquirrh basin (Bridal Veil Limestone). The Bridal Veil Limestone is four times thicker and contains 24 cycles not represented on the Wyoming shelf.
10
Jensen, Paul H. "Mapping and piecing together the Triassic/Jurassic stratigraphy along the south flank of the Uinta Mountains, Northeast Utah : a stratigraphic analysis of the Bell Springs Member of the Nugget Sandstone /." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2005. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd983.pdf.
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Khatun, Salma. "An integrated geological and geophysical study of the Uinta Mountains Utah, Colorado and a geophysical study on tamarix in the Rio Grande river basin, West Texas." To access this resource online via ProQuest Dissertations and Theses @ UTEP, 2008. http://0-proquest.umi.com.lib.utep.edu/login?COPT=REJTPTU0YmImSU5UPTAmVkVSPTI=&clientId=2515.
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Haddox, David A. "Mapping and Kinematic Structural Analysis of the Deep Creek Fault Zone, South Flank of the Uinta Mountains, Near Vernal, Utah." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2005. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd819.pdf.
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Myer, Caroline Amelia. "Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, and Organic Geochemistry of the Red Pine Shale, Uinta Mountains, Utah: A Prograding Deltaic System in a Mid-Neoproterozoic Interior Seaway." DigitalCommons@USU, 2008. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/167.
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The Red Pine Shale (RPS; ~1120m), uppermost formation of the Neoproterozoic Uinta Mountain Group, Utah, is an organic-rich sedimentary succession that represents marine deltaic systems delivering mature sediment from the east and immature sediment from the north. Multiple data sets suggest regional climate and sea-level changes associated with changing organic carbon burial rates. Six facies identified represent wave-, tidal-, and river-influenced parts of the distal prodelta to delta front. The shale facies is interpreted as distal prodeltaic deposition in a marine environment. The concretion facies is interpreted as prodeltaic deposition to distal prodelta. The shale-sandstone facies represents suspension settling with dilute density currents in a proximal prodelta to delta front environment. The slump fold facies was deposited on the proximal prodelta or delta front. The sandstone facies represents deposition on the delta front and shows marine- and river- influences. The pebbly sandstone facies is representative of a delta front environment. C-isotope values from this shale range from -29.46 / to -16.91 / PDB and TOC from 0.04% to 5.91%. Combined H/C, TOC, and local-regional isotopic correlations suggest that these values are representative of C-isotope composition of Neoproterozoic seawater. The composite C-isotope curve for the RPS is less negative values near the base, followed by a long decline to a thick interval of homogeneous lower values. Petrographic analyses reveal immature arkosic sandstone and mature quartz arenite populations. Detrital zircon data show an Archean population from the Wyoming Craton to the north and a mixed Proterozoic/Archean population from the east-southeast. Measured sections show north to south delta progradation with a proximal source to the north and a mature sediment source to the east. The composite section shows one low-order regressive cycle and ~11 high-order cycles. There is a relationship between C-isotope values, shale geochemistry, and lithostratigraphy. Less negative C-isotope values correspond with increased kaolinite and facies indicating higher sea-level. These relationships are seen in the correlative Chuar Group, Arizona, and a similar model is suggested for their origin: humid climate, high organic carbon burial rates, and high sea-level. This paper meets the requirements to revise the RPS as a formalized unit in accordance with the Stratigraphic Code guidelines.
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Jensen, Paul H. Jr. "Piecing Together the Triassic/Jurassic Stratigraphy Along the South Flank of the Uinta Mountains, Northeast Utah: A Stratigraphic Analysis of the Bell Springs Member of the Nugget Sandstone." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2005. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/649.
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Nomenclature for the Upper Triassic and Lower Jurassic strata along the south flank of the Uinta Mountains has been somewhat confusing because of the position of the study area between southern Wyoming, where one set of names is used, and central/southern Utah where a different set of formation names is used. The Nugget Sandstone or Glen Canyon Sandstone of the eastern Uinta Mountains overlies the Upper Triassic Popo Agie or Chinle Formation. The nature of the contact between these two formations is unclear both in stratigraphic location and conformability. The Chinle Formation consists, in ascending order, of the Gartra Member, the purple unit, the ocher unit, and the upper red unit. The overlying Nugget Sandstone consists of two members, the lower Bell Springs Member and the overlying unnamed cross-bedded member, typically believed to be Navajo Sandstone equivalent. These two units of the Nugget Sandstone are thought to represent the Glen Canyon Group of the Colorado Plateau, although no obvious Wingate or Kayenta Formation equivalents have been recognized. The Bell Springs Member contains abundant fine-grained, ripple-laminated sandstones, red and green mudstones, occasional mudcracks and salt casts, evidence of burrowing and exposure, and some medium- to coarse-grained sandstones with small-scale (30-40 cm high) cross-beds. This member was deposited in a marine tidal flat environment, quite different from the mainly eolian environment of the rest of the Nugget Sandstone. The Bell Springs Member appears to be entirely Upper Triassic, based upon dinosaur tracks, while the upper windblown unit's age is unknown, but probably straddles the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. During mapping in the Donkey Flat, Steinaker Reservoir, Dry Fork, and Lake Mountain quadrangles, the Bell Springs Member of the Nugget Sandstone was mapped as a separate unit.
15
Anderson, Alvin D. "Geology of the Phil Pico Mountain Quadrangle, Daggett County, Utah, and Sweetwater County, Wyoming." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2008. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd2384.pdf.
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Wilcox, William Thomas. "SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE CURTIS, SUMMERVILLE AND STUMP FORMATIONS, UTAH AND NORTHWEST COLORADO." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1177422597.
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Rybczynski, Daniel J. "Correlation, Paleogeography, and Provenance of the Neoproterozoic Eastern Uinta Mountain Group, Goslin Mountain Area, Northeastern Utah." DigitalCommons@USU, 2009. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/364.
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Geologic mapping, facies analysis, sedimentary petrography, and detrital zircon analyses of undivided eastern Uinta Mountain Group stratigraphy are presented to better understand the depositional environments and tectonic setting of the Uinta Mountain Group basin. Subdivided units have been modified and correlated from previous work and include the Red Pine Shale, Hades Pass, Crouse Canyon, Outlaw Trail, and Diamond Breaks formations. Three lower-order maximum flooding surfaces associated with the lower Outlaw Trail formation, lower Hades Pass formation, and Red Pine Shale are interpreted. The relative magnitude of each lower-order transgression increases up section along with increasing diversity of palynomorph assemblages found in organic shale intervals.
Six facies associations exist within the section and are interpreted as braided fluvial conglomerate, braided fluvial sandstone and conglomerate, braided fluvial sandstone, low-energy braided fluvial sandstone, mudflat, and offshore depositional environments. Both marine and non-marine interpretations are plausible for mudflat and offshore environments; however, previous interpretations of correlative Red Pine Shale exposures suggest a marine environment. The coarsest fluvial environments are restricted to the northern half of the study area and likely coincide with proximity to a tectonically-active northern basin margin. Paleocurrent analysis and the restriction of some subaqueous deposits to the north show northward-dipping depositional slopes, which suggest a tectonic control.
Provenance work suggests three general sediment sources existed: an eastern source where ~1.1 Ga and lesser ~1.4 Ga detritus dominate, an east-northeastern source where ~1.8 Ga detritus dominate, and a north-northeastern arkosic source where ~2.7 Ga detritus dominate. Results suggest that during lower-order lowstands, sediments derived from eastern sources dominate. Higher concentrations of ~1.8 Ga and ~2.7 Ga detritus is likely coincident with proximity to the northern basin margin. During lower-order highstands, eastern or northern sources may dominate; northern sources appear more prominently within the Outlaw Trail formation, while eastern sources appear more prominently within the Red Pine Shale. Reasons for this may be linked to the magnitude of the transgressive interval sampled.
These relationships, in conjunction with observations of previous studies, suggest the eastern Uinta Mountain Group was deposited in a half-graben style rift, a strike-slip basin, or some combination of the two.
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Hayes, Dawn Schmidli. "Stratigraphic, Microfossil, and Geochemical Analysis of the Neoproterozoic Uinta Mountain Group, Utah: Evidence fo a Eutrophication Event?" DigitalCommons@USU, 2011. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/874.
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Several previous Neoproterozoic microfossil diversity studies yield evidence for arelatively sudden biotic change prior to the first well‐constrained Sturtian glaciations. In an event interpreted as a mass extinction of eukaryotic phytoplankton followed by bacterial dominance, diverse assemblages of complex acritarchs are replaced by more uniform assemblages consisting of simple leiosphaerid acritarchs and bacteria. Recent data from the Chuar Group of the Grand Canyon (770‐742 Ma) suggest this biotic change was caused by eutrophication rather than the direct effects of Sturtian glaciation; evidence includes total organic carbon increases indicative of increasing primary productivity followed by iron speciation values that suggest sustained water column anoxia. A new data set (this study) suggests that this same eutrophication event may be recorded in shale units of the formation of Hades Pass and the Red Pine Shale of Utah’s Neoproterozoic Uinta Mountain Group (770‐742 Ma). Results of this study include a significant shift from a higher‐diversity (H’= 0.60) fauna that includes some ornamented acritarchs to a lower‐diversity (H’ = 0.11) fauna dominated by smooth leiosphaerids and microfossils of a bacterial origin (Bavlinella/ Sphaerocongregus sp.). This biotic change co‐occurs with a significant increase in total iii organic carbon values that directly follows a positive carbon‐isotopic excursion, suggesting increased primary productivity that may have been the result of elevated sediment influx and nutrient availability. Both the biotic change and period of increased total organic carbon values correspond with the onset of an interval of anoxia (indicated by total iron to aluminum ratios above 0.60) and a spike in sulfur concentration. Like those reported from the Chuar Group, these biotic and geochemical changes in the upper Uinta Mountain Group are independent of changes in lithofacies , and they suggest that either a eutrophication event or direct inhibition of eukaryotes by sulfide (or perhaps both) may have been the cause of the biotic turnover. These findings support current correlations between the Uinta Mountain and Chuar Groups, the idea that the biotic turnover preserved in both strata was at least a regional phenomenon, and current models of punctuated global ocean anoxia during mid‐ to late‐Neoproterozoic time. Whether or not this hypothesized eutrophication event was more than regional in extent remains a very interesting question and will certainly be a focus of future research.
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Hokanson, William H. "Identifying Complex Fluvial Sandstone Reservoirs Using Core, Well Log, and 3D Seismic Data: Cretaceous Cedar Mountain and Dakota Formations, Southern Uinta Basin, Utah." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2011. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2597.
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The Cedar Mountain and Dakota Formations are significant gas producers in the southern Uinta Basin of Utah. To date, however, predicting the stratigraphic distribution and lateral extent of potential gas-bearing channel sandstone reservoirs in these fluvial units has proven difficult due to their complex architecture, and the limited spacing of wells in the region. A new strategy to correlate the Cedar Mountain and Dakota Formations has been developed using core, well-log, and 3D seismic data. The detailed stratigraphy and sedimentology of the interval were interpreted using descriptions of a near continuous core of the Dakota Formation from the study area. The gamma-ray and density-porosity log signatures of interpreted mud-dominated overbank, coal-bearing overbank, and channel sandstone intervals from the cored well were used to identify the same lithologies in nearby wells and correlate similar stratal packages across the study area. Data from three 3D seismic surveys covering approximately 140 mi2 (225 km2) of the study area were utilized to generate spectral decomposition, waveform classification, and percent less-than-threshold attributes of the Dakota-Cedar Mountain interval. These individual attributes were combined to create a composite attribute that was merged with interpreted lithological data from the well-log correlations. The overall process resulted in a high-resolution correlation of the Dakota-Cedar Mountain interval that permitted the identification and mapping of fluvial-channel reservoir fairways and channel belts throughout the study area. In the future, the strategy employed in this study may result in improved well-success rates in the southern Uinta Basin and assist in more detailed reconstructions of the Cedar Mountain and Dakota Formation depositional systems.